Latest news with #VinceDizon
Malay Mail
42 minutes ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Philippines to sue AirAsia Move for ‘economic sabotage' over inflated airfares in typhoon-hit region
MANILA, June 4 — The Philippine government will be filing an economic sabotage case against AirAsia Move. This is after the online travel booking platform was found selling its flight tickets at a much higher rate than they should be. In a statement, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said AirAsia Move has taken advantage of the dire transport situation that was caused by the partial closure of the San Juanico Bridge which was implemented to prevent structural deterioration. As the 2.16km bridge is the primary link between Samar and Leyte islands, the restriction has a major effect on the economy in the region. Vince has highlighted the experience of Richard Gomez, the Leyte 4th District Representative, who has to pay almost PHP40,000 (~RM3,053) for a 1-way ticket from Tacloban to Manila. As a comparison, the actual air fare for the 1 hour 25 minutes is said to be around PHP12,000 (~RM916). The case will be filed by the country's Department of Transport (DOTr) and Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), while the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines will also look into the pricing issue. At the same time, Vince has instructed the Philippine National Police's Anti-Cybercrime Group to shut down access to the AirAsia Move app for the time being. AirAsia Move: We didn't set the price manually Meanwhile, AirAsia Move has provided its side of the story through a statement by its CEO, Nadia Omer. The company said that the discrepancies in the airfare for certain routes, including domestic flights operated by the national carrier Philippine Airlines, were caused by a temporary data synchronisation issue with flight pricing partners. AirAsia Move also pointed out that the pricing discrepancy has also affected other booking platforms such as Agoda, and Traveloka. The company further insists it does not set or manipulate the airfares manually. The statement also highlighted that AirAsia Move has taken immediate action once it noticed the discrepancy by highlighting it to the 3rd party pricing provider. In addition to that, the platform has implemented several measures to prevent such incidents in the near future. — SoyaCincau
Independent Singapore
17 hours ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Philippines orders shutdown of AirAsia Move site for excessively high ticket prices
INTERNATIONAL: AirAsia Move, the booking arm of Malaysia-based budget carrier AirAsia, has come under scrutiny in the Philippines, with authorities requesting that the police shut down the booking website due to allegations of unlawfully charging high fares. A cease-and-desist order has been issued by the country's Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), according to Vince Dizon, the Secretary of Transportation, on Monday (Jun 2). Mr. Dizon has asked the CAB to file criminal charges against AirAsia Move due to the excessively high prices it has charged for plane tickets for local carriers to travel to Eastern Visayas, a region in the Philippines currently experiencing a transport crisis. A congressman from the region, along with his wife, a Mayor, had purchased a pair of Philippine Airlines tickets to the capital, Manila, and were charged Php77,704 (S$1,796). The Philippine News Agency (PNA) quoted Mr Dizon as saying that the two tickets were priced at about three times the price they cost on the airline's website, where they had been offered at Php12,000 (S$277.30) each. See also Apple iPad Air 2022 review - "Device is too cool for school" 'Clearly, this is just absurd, and actually criminal. I have asked the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group to take this website down today, so this AirAsia Move can no longer scam others,' he said, adding that he was certain that the congressman and his wife were not the only ones who had been charged excessively high prices. AirAsia Move's executives have been summoned to a hearing on Jun 5. Mr Dizon has also ordered a 'criminal economic sabotage case' to be charged against AirAsia Move, given the circumstances. He explained that the crisis affecting the region is due to the partial closure of a bridge connecting two provinces. 'They are taking advantage of the situation,' he added, and has asked the CAB to look into other booking sites if they are similarly charging high fees not only to the affected region but to other areas as well. 'We will really put the full force of the law on these unscrupulous online platforms who are taking advantage of our people,' Mr Dizon said. See also Suicide bomber killed at Philippine army base Meanwhile, AirAsia Move has stated that it will comply with the cease and desist order, but added that the CAB's jurisdiction applies to air carriers, not to foreign-based travel agencies. In a statement, Nadia Omer, the chief executive officer for AirAsia Move, said that the company 'also clarifies that it does not manually set or manipulate airfares in light of the fare discrepancy issues.' The price discrepancy has been attributed to 'temporary data synchronization issues with flight pricing partners,' according to the statement. Ms Omer said that the technical discrepancy caused by the third-party provider also affected booking platforms, including Agoda, and Traveloka, and added that the company took 'immediate steps' with the third-party pricing provider for immediate resolution.' /TISG Read also: Street artist to sue AirAsia after carrier used his mural without his knowledge
Filipino Times
18 hours ago
- Business
- Filipino Times
LRT, MRT to launch cashless fare payments starting July, says DOTr
Starting this July, commuters using the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) systems can pay their fares using debit cards, credit cards, or e-wallets, eliminating the need for Beep cards and reducing long queues, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr). Instead of purchasing and reloading stored-value Beep cards, passengers will be able to simply tap their phones or cards at the turnstiles to access the train platforms. DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon announced that the implementation of cashless turnstiles under the automatic fare collection (AFC) system will begin next month. 'This should be rolled out around July. We're bringing it to the MRT and other trains. Even credit cards will be accepted. You just tap your phone—no need to buy a Beep card,' he said. Dizon also expressed surprise that such a system hadn't been implemented earlier, noting that the technology for a cashless MRT has been ready for immediate deployment. He added that the initiative follows the directive of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr., who had instructed the DOTr to create an open-loop payment system compatible with various financial platforms. Some commuters welcomed the change, saying that the cashless option would eliminate long lines, inconvenience, and potential health risks at train stations.
GMA Network
21 hours ago
- Business
- GMA Network
Common station, MRT-7 finished by 2027 — DOTr's Dizon
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon on Tuesday committed that the common station for LRT-1, MRT-3, and MRT-7 lines will open in 2027, coinciding with the start of the operation of MRT-7 which connects Metro Manila and Bulacan. Dizon said this prior to the approval of his ad interim appointment as secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) by the transportation committee of the Commission on Appointments (CA). 'Ang goal po natin is makahanap na tayo ng bagong gagawa at magtatapos ng istasyon ng common station ngayong 2025 at ang timeline natin is kasabay sana ng opening ng MRT-7 ay tapos na rin ang common station, para by 2027 tapos na po finally,' he said. (Our goal is to find a new contractor to build and finish the common station by 2025. Our timeline is to finish the common station at the same time as the opening of the MRT-7, so that by 2027 it will finally be finished.) 'Parang 15 years na itong mga proyektong ito between common station, MRT-7, at ang koneksyon ng LRT-1 at MRT-3. Mahigit isang dekada na ito, halos 15 years na. Tingin ko, within the term of the President, lahat ng prokeytong ito ay matatapos na at operational,' he added. (These projects—the common station, MRT-7, and the connection of LRT-1 and MRT-3—have been going on for 15 years. It's been more than a decade, almost 15 years. I think, within the term of the President, all these projects will be completed and operational.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
EDSA rehab not canceled despite postponement —DOTr's Dizon
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon on Tuesday clarified that the rehabilitation of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) is not technically canceled despite its month-long postponement. Dizon made the clarification upon the interpellation of Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel during the Commission on Appointments' (CA) panel meeting to consider his ad interim appointment as chief of the Department of Transportation (DOTr). NOW: The Commission on Appointments considers the ad interim appointment of Vince Dizon as Secretary of Department of Transportation. @gmanews — Giselle Ombay (@giselleombay_) June 3, 2025 'Hindi naman po ibig sabihin canceled... Pero sabi lang talaga ng Pangulo, nakinig siya sa ating mga kababayan, for us to find a better way and a faster way,' Dizon explained. (It doesn't mean it was canceled... But the President really just said—he listened to our countrymen—for us to find a better way and a faster way.) According to DOTr secretary, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. wants to expedite the rebuilding of the major thoroughfare from two years to six months. 'When he (the President) said a better way, he essentially meant a way that would be faster para hindi masyadong mahirapan ang ating mga kababayang dumadaan sa EDSA [so that it will not cause too much trouble to our countrymen passing EDSA],' he added. The Department of Public Works and Highways is the lead agency in the EDSA rehabilitation, which was supposed to begin on June 13. Marcos announced on Sunday the postponement of the project, saying it needs to be studied for one month to know if there are new technologies that can be used to hasten the rehabilitation of the 23.8-kilometer road. The estimated budget for the EDSA rehabilitation which aims to modernize the major thoroughfare and make it flood-free is P8.7 billion, until the end of 2026. Dizon said that by 2027, the DPWH estimated that the budget would total to P15 billion. 'Advanced stages na ng procurement, meron na atang mga natapos na ang procurement pero alinsunod dito sa utos ng ating Pangulo na i-pause muna at maghanap ng mas maganda at mas mabilis na paraan, eh baka kailangan is mag-adjust ang DPWH dito. But again I have to defer to DPWH on this,' he said. (I think the procurement is already in advanced stages, some of the procurements have already been completed. But according to our President's order to suspend the project and find a better and faster way, the DPWH may need to adjust also. But again I have to defer to DPWH on this.) The EDSA rehabilitation was supposed to pave the way for the 24-hour odd-even scheme and the waiving of toll in parts of Skyway Stage 3, among other interventions. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
