ANGELES CITY – The Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM) is now calling for the transfer of duty-free stores (DFS) from the main zone of the Clark Freeport to the Clark International Airport (CIA) “where they should really be.”
According to PGKM Chair Ruperto Cruz, the DFS have been allowed to locate at the then special economic zone as an added come-on and to enhance the viability of the place, then just rising out of the ravages of the MNount Pinatubo eruptions.
But the times have changed now since “we are now pushing for the full and immediate development of the CIA.”
Cruz said the DFS should be inside the civil aviation complex if not inside the airport terminal itself like in other countries. “The real justification for the DFS is the airport,” Cruz said. “All over the world, we probably have the biggest duty-free stores outside the airport. It is now time to transfer them inside the airport,” he added.
Duty-free stores are retail establishments licensed by the government to sell duty- and tax-free merchandise for the convenience of travellers. Government earns revenues from the operation of these stores which are often utilized to defray tourism and other related projects.
But some DFS are allowed by the government to prosper inside economic and freeport zones like Clark and Subic.
The PGKM said the DFS pose unfair competition and promote smuggling. Cruz said since non-airline passengers could also avail themselves of DFS shopping privileges, it is now time to transfer them inside the airport complex.
“The terminal at Clark will likewise look better with DFS there, unlike now with only food stalls that make it look like a curbside carinderia,” Cruz added.
