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<div data-offset-key="8gsoh-0-0">A House lawmaker on Wednesday urged Congress to suspend the legislative franchise of low-budget flight carrier Cebu Pacific Air following thousands of complaints from the public on its "lousy and terrible" service.</div>
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<div data-offset-key="8gsoh-0-0">Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez made the suggestion during the Senate investigation into the complaints filed against the airline.</div>
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<div data-offset-key="8gsoh-0-0">"A congressional franchise is a privilege that should not be used and enjoyed at the expense of the public. Congress should temporarily withdraw such privilege from Cebu Pacific until such time that it can provide satisfactory service to the riding public," Rodriguez said.</div>
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<div data-offset-key="8gsoh-0-0">He noted that a franchise should not be used and enjoyed at the expense of the public.</div>
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<div data-offset-key="8gsoh-0-0">Among the complaints shared by passengers on their respective social media accounts were overbooking, offloading, and failing to address their grievances.</div>
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<div data-offset-key="8gsoh-0-0">During the Senate hearing on Wednesday, the President and chief commercial officer of Cebu Pacific&nbsp; Xander Lao apologized to passengers affected by flight delays and cancellations.</div>
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<div data-offset-key="8gsoh-0-0">Lao said that the grounding of 120 Pratt and Whitney (PW)-powered Airbus planes worldwide has impacted the operations of Cebu Pacific and other carriers.</div>
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<div data-offset-key="8gsoh-0-0">"We expressed our sincerest apologies to our passengers for the disruptions and assure you that we are committed to resolving these challenges," he said.</div>
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<div data-offset-key="8gsoh-0-0">Apart from Pratt &amp; Whitney engine issues, he also said the airline is encountering delays from Airbus aircraft deliveries.</div>
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<div data-offset-key="8gsoh-0-0">&ldquo;These delivery delays necessitate changes to our flight schedules, including flight cancellations and equipment changes from larger to smaller aircraft &ndash; which may cause some passengers to be disrupted and cause the perception of overbooking,&rdquo; Lao added.</div>
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<div data-offset-key="8gsoh-0-0">However, Rodriguez did not buy the airlines' explanation, saying they are just making excuses.</div>
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<div data-offset-key="8gsoh-0-0">&ldquo;That is just palusot," he said. "The issue is not about the availability of spare parts or maintenance but Cebu Pacific selling plane tickets when they don&rsquo;t have the necessary aircraft to carry passengers for whatever reason."</div>
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<div data-offset-key="8gsoh-0-0">"The airline says, &lsquo;Every Juan can fly.&rsquo; I say with their kind of deteriorated service, every Juan cannot fly," he continued.</div>
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<div data-offset-key="8gsoh-0-0">Rodriguez said that the airline should be ready for these realities on the ground.</div>
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<div data-offset-key="8gsoh-0-0">&ldquo;Even if that is true, that&rsquo;s their own lookout. The public should not be made to suffer for their inefficiency," the lawmaker stated.</div>
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<div data-offset-key="8gsoh-0-0">Rodriguez appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to allow foreign airlines to operate locally, as provided for under the recently-amended Public Service Act.</div>
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<div data-offset-key="8gsoh-0-0">&ldquo;The government should now open the country and invite foreign airlines to serve Filipinos, who should have options other than being forced to take Cebu Pacific with its terrible service,&rdquo; he said.</div>
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<div data-offset-key="8gsoh-0-0">Cebu Pacific was granted a 40-year franchise to operate in 1991.</div>
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<div data-offset-key="8gsoh-0-0">Based on the law, Congress may amend or repeal the franchise when the common good requires it.</div>
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