FOLLOWING complaints, budget carrier Cebu Pacific now aims to be more sensitive to the needs of passengers with disabilities.
At the company’s request, National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) Acting Executive Director Carmen Zubiagalast week led in the orientation of flight cabin staff and reservation officers of the airline.
“Discussed during the seminar workshops were international treaties and commitments of the Philippines, disability laws and common perspectives on disability,” said Zubiaga.
“Thehighlightof the activity weresharings and lectures by persons with different types of disabilities on how they should be treated as customers and the assistance they need to avoid inconvenience during travel.”
Some 25 supervisors from different Cebu Pacific departments such as flight services and ticketing attended the training.
The airline made the request for a disability awareness and sensitivity seminar in preparation for their international flights to US and Europe, Zubiaga told Vera Files.
Cebu Pacific is currently under intense public scrutiny following widespread complaints of botched flightsand undermanned counters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) during the recent holiday season.
Over 10,000 passengers were affected by the fiasco, which the airline blamed on air traffic congestion and bad weather.
Persons with disabilities (PWDs) were among those inconvenienced, said NCDA Deputy Executive Director Mateo Lee Jr. He added that many from the sector have been complaining about how they were being treated by the company.
Apart from a P52-million fine imposed by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), Cebu Pacific could face other sanctions as well for what Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Jun Abaya called “an appalling number of delayed flights from Dec. 24 to 26.”
During a House probe last week, Cebu Pacific CEO Lance Gokongwei issued an apology, saying he is “profoundly sorry” that the airline failed its passengers.– Jake Soriano, VERA Files
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