Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _____ 
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Introduced by  
ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO,  
GABRIELA Women’s Party Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS,  
and KABATAAN Party-List Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL 
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AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A UNIFORM SCHEME FOR REFUND AND REBOOKING OF 
AIRLINE TICKETS IN FLIGHTS AFFECTED BY PROLONGED NATURAL 
DISASTERS OR PANDEMICS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Freedom of movement or right to travel is one  of the most affected activities and rights 
of  people during the COVID-19 pandemic as restrictive measures are imposed to help prevent 
its further spread. 
As a result, in the airline industry, for instance, many passengers who have booked 
their trips in advance could no longer use their tickets as  flights were canceled or transferred 
to a later date. This situation was compounded by the fact that many have lost their jobs and 
sources of income and may have to look for other sources of funds.  
While travel is put on halt, one of the issues that will arise is the procedure of refunding 
or rebooking tickets, as there is no uniform policy as set by law to give guidance to airlines, 
especially with the situation that would entail massive flight cancellations such as the one 
brought by this pandemic.  
Current rules and regulations on rebooking and/or travel refund relies only on the 
unilateral guidelines set by the airlines themselves. Regulators and authorities have not 
anticipated the massive effect of the pandemic to the airlines and its passengers. The current 
Air Passenger Bill of Rights did not anticipate this pandemic, and as legislators, we shall 
institutionalize measures that the situation may see fit.  
June 21, 2023
9:53 am
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This Bill aims to provide a uniform procedure to the passengers whose flights are 
affected by the pandemic.   
It needs to be given further stress that the pandemic and the resulting travel restrictions 
should not and cannot mean the unwarranted suspension of the rights of consumers and airline 
passengers. Those rights should at all times be protected, more especially during times of 
crises or pandemic.  
This Bill was first filed as HB 9516 in the 18th Congress by Bayan Muna Party-List 
Reps. Carlos Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite and Eufemia Cullamat, ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. 
France Castro, Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan Party-List Rep. 
Sarah Elago. 
To provide assurance and temporary relief to airline customers that their unused fares 
can be immediately refunded or to be reused eventually, the immediate enactment of this Bill 
is earnestly sought. 
________________________________ 
Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO 
ACT Teachers Party-List 
________________________________ 
Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS 
GABRIELA Women’s Party 
________________________________ 
Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL 
KABATAAN Party-List 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _____ 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by  
ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO,  
GABRIELA Women’s Party Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS,  
and KABATAAN Party-List Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A UNIFORM SCHEME FOR REFUND AND REBOOKING OF 
AIRLINE TICKETS IN FLIGHTS AFFECTED BY PROLONGED NATURAL 
DISASTERS OR PANDEMICS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title.  — This Act shall be known as the “An Act Providing for a Uniform 
Scheme for Refund and Rebooking of Airline Tickets in Flights Affected by Prolonged 
Natural Disasters or Pandemics” or simply the “Pandemic Airfare Relief Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy.  — To ensure public safety, the State shall introduce 
measures to regulate human activity. One of the current restrictions imposed during 
pandemics is travel, and any further restrictions may affect the flight tickets of those who 
booked it in advance. The law aims to give a uniform procedure to be followed by all airlines. 
SECTION 3. Uniform Procedure.  — Upon declaration of a travel ban, health emergency or 
a prolonged natural calamity in a local destination as determined by competent government 
agencies. Passengers who are affected by such ban may choose to avail an outright refund, 
free rebooking, or deposit to a travel fund. 
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Refund 
 
a. The passengers can avail of the refund through payment reversal, no fees shall be 
imposed by the airline or the payment processor. 
b. The refund can be initiated up to one year after the ban is in place. 
 
Rebooking 
 
a. The passengers can rebook their tickets for other destinations at any time, no additional 
fees shall be charged, except for the fare difference, if there’s any. 
b. The rebooking can be initiated at any time 
 
Travel Fund 
 
a. Passengers may opt to have their ticket value converted into a travel fund which can 
be used to book another flight, or to avail of any allied services provided for by the 
airline in their respective booking portals 
b. The travel fund shall not expire, and must be enabled for an actual cash refund by the 
passenger, if they see it fit. 
 
SECTION 4. Helpdesk. — 
 
a. Airlines are encouraged to resolve concerns regarding refund and rebooking through 
their internal systems. For unresolvable disputes, an inter-agency helpdesk shall be 
established to resolve such disputes. 
b. This agency shall be under the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) 
with technical guidance with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). 
 
SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department of Transportation 
(DOTr), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Department of Trade 
and Industry (DTI) shall craft the IRR of this law, within 60 days upon its effectivity 
 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, resolutions, revenue 
regulations, ordinances or circulars inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly or declared null and void and inoperative.  
 
SECTION 7. Effectivity.  — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
Approved,