CLARK FREEPORT— All’s well that ends well.
The change of hands from the state-owned Clark International Airport Corp. to the private consortium to the Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD) of the Clark International Airport’s operation and management (O&M) went smoothly Aug. 16.
This, as 215 CIAC employees were reported to have agreed to receive separation pay for positions that were abolished under the O&M agreement.
Labor issues rose soon as the LIPAD consortium of JG Summit Holdings Inc., ., Filinvest Development Corp., the Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions, Inc., and Changi Airports Philippines Pte. Ltd. was awarded last Dec. 19 the contract to run Clark airport for 25 years.
CIAC employees, concerned with their security of tenure, even conducted protest rallies for a time.
The CIAC employees’ union filed with the Department of Labor and Employment a motion for reconsideration seeking regular employment for those to be absorbed by LIPAD. Union president Dennis Lumanlan has been quoted in media reports as saying that the measure is still pending at the DOLE.
At Friday’s turnover rites, LIPAD CEO Bi Yong Chungunco praised the “remarkable acceptance rate” from the CIAC workers, announcing that 179 of them have been absorbed by LIPAD.
Reportedly on probationary status, their continued employment status will be performance- based. “We have to get to know each other,” Chungunco was quoted as saying.
With Clark airport now under LIPAD, the CIAC is reported to have been reduced to handling other real estate properties in the Clark aviation complex.
