Transpo companies urged to respect rights, welfare of passengers
'Be more compassionate to passengers with special needs'--Nancy

Senator Nancy Binay expressed her dismay over the recent incident of a passenger seeking medical attention abroad was "off-loaded" by an airline bound for Vietnam.

This is after reports of an airline company that off-loaded a 12-year old child who is suffering from a congenital deformity over claims of a defective passport. The child was supposed to go Vietnam for his pectus excavatum (Latin term for 'hollowed chest') treatment.

Binay appealed to transportation companies to be more compassionate to passengers, especially to those with special needs.

"Marami na po tayong naririnig at nababasang mga balita tungkol sa mga 'horror stories' ng mga pasahero, lalo na po yung may mga special needs," Binay said.

"Kaya umaapela po ako sa mga transportation companies--di lang po yung mga airlines--na irespeto ang mga karapatan at kapakanan ng mga pasahero nila," the lady senator added.

Binay said that the right to travel is enshrined in the Constitution.

"Ginagarantiyahan ng ating Saligang Batas ang karapatang maglakbay ng mga mamamayan, maliban na lamang kung interes ito ng national security, public safety, o public health," Binay said.

The company, which drew flak from netizens, then allowed the boy and his family to fly the next day after the Department of Foreign Affairs said that the passport had no defect and issued the boy a temporary passport.

Binay said that transportation companies--be it on land, sea and air--have an obligation to their passengers.

"Bilang serbisyo publiko, may obligasyon sila sa atin bilang mga pasahero na dalhin tayo sa ating mga destinasyon ng maayos at matiwasay," said Binay, who advocates the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities (PWDs)," said.