US embassy cable - 05MANILA3760

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 003760 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SINGAPORE FOR FAA - DAVID A. SMITH 
TOKYO FOR FAA - CHRIS METTS 
DOT FOR FAA - MICHAEL DANIEL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2015 
TAGS: EAIR, PREL, RP 
SUBJECT: LOOMING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL STRIKE POSES RISKS FOR 
PASSENGERS AND PLANES 
 
Classified By: Economic Counselor Robert P. Ludan, 1.4 b and d. 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (C)  The Air Transportation Office (ATO) and the 
Philippine Air Traffic Controllers Association (PATCA) appear 
locked in an on-going dispute about overtime pay that erupted 
into several recent work slowdowns last week and the imminent 
threat of a strike.  If the accusations of undermanned 
control stations and overworked controllers are true and a 
strike or further slow-downs are looming, the situation poses 
enhanced risks in flight delays and passenger safety. 
Embassy will be meeting with the ATO and Department of 
Transportation and Communications this week for a read-out on 
the purported labor problems and efforts to ensure the safety 
of all planes into and out of the Philippines.  End Summary. 
 
 
2.  (U)  The Manila Bulletin reported on August 12 that the 
air traffic controllers (ATC) in the Philippines are planning 
an imminent strike to underscore their demand for higher pay 
and additional personnel.  The Philippine Air Traffic 
Controllers Association (PATCA) claimed many experienced 
flight controllers have left the country and are now making 
the equivalent of their former annual salary each month 
working as air traffic controllers abroad.  The head of the 
Philippine Air Transportation Office (ATO), Assistant 
Secretary Nilo Jatico, downplayed the potential for a strike 
 
SIPDIS 
but warned flight controllers not to take drastic action that 
could compromise the safety of planes and passengers.  He 
said the ATO has contingency plans to ensure the continuation 
of safe aviation operations in the country. 
 
3.  (C)  Embassy substantiated the seriousness of this labor 
dispute between the Philippine Government and the air traffic 
controllers.  Econoff obtained a confidential letter from ATO 
A/S Jatico to Secretary of Transporation and Communications 
(DOTC) Leandro Mendoza dated August 7.  In the letter, Jatico 
informed Secretary Mendoza that the air traffic controllers 
(ATC) initiated a work slowdown at 0715 on August 6.  All the 
controllers on duty, including one supervisor, "absented 
themselves without prior notice."  Forewarned, Jatico said he 
pre-empted the action by calling a safety and security alert 
and augmenting the controllers with volunteers and retirees 
from the provinces, members of the Philippine Air Force, and 
select ATC students.  Jatico successfully pre-empted the 
controllers again when they tried to delay local flights 
early on August 7 and promised that "those involved and 
liable will be immediately investigated and sanctioned within 
the full force of law."  He requested a DOTC order giving him 
blanket authority to deal with "strikers and destabilizers in 
the ATO." 
 
4.  (C)  Embassy recently received another confidential 
letter from Senator Francis Pangilinan to DOTC Secretary 
Mendoza, dated April 20, 2005, noting complaints of "undue 
delays in departures and arrivals of all airlines operating 
in Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)."  An attachment 
to the Senator's letter blames these delays on inadequate 
staffing and inefficiency in air traffic control.  Although 
the control stations must be manned 24 hours a day, the 
"already limited staff refuses to work extra hours because of 
NAIA's failure to pay overtime."  The attachment complains 
that the high workload and the lack of air traffic 
controllers has caused not just inconvenience and delays but 
has placed passengers and planes at risk.  For example, the 
letter cites cases in which insufficient staffing resulted in 
unmanned controller stations, caused several flights to run 
low on fuel while waiting for landing clearance, and led to 
"instances of near misses due to lack of sufficient 
monitoring."  Senator Pangilinan asked Secretary Mendoza to 
"submit a report on the alleged incidents and a plan of 
action" to address these urgent concerns. 
 
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COMMENT 
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5.  (SBU)  If the accusations of undermanned, overworked, and 
disgruntled air traffic controllers are true, the country may 
face potential safety hazards and an interruption in its air 
operations.  Embassy officials will be meeting this week with 
Assistant Secretary Jatico from the Air Transportation Office 
and Undersecretary of Air Operations Pagunsan at DOTC for a 
read-out on the labor situation and status of plane and 
passenger safety. 
JOHNSON