"We are appealing to them to be less myopic and weigh the economic benefits progressive liberalization would bring to the local aviation industry," said the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas) in a statement.

"We are seeing again the footprints of FFC in its latest bid to allow unlimited flights in Clark. Myopic, in the sense, that they see the growth of DMIA will hinge on the operation of foreign carriers there," it said.

Robert Lim Joseph, chairman emeritus of Naitas, said they support the campaign of the government and private sector to bring in more tourists, provided the country’s airports are not used by foreign carriers as mere hubs to poach on the traffic of Philippine airlines.

"For example, we do not see Singapore Airlines bringing tourists, for that matter Singaporeans, to Clark," he said. "The problem with the foreign carriers is that they would fly the so-called tourists to Clark and then bring Filipino passengers from Clark to another country."

Pampanga-based stakeholders led by the Angeles International Travel Center and the Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry last Wednesday pushed for the issuance of Executive Order (EO) 500B, that will grant fifth freedom rights to airlines serving Clark.

Fifth freedom rights allow a foreign carrier to pick up passengers in its country of origin. For example, Singapore Airlines bringing them to Clark, pick up Filipino passengers there, then ferry them to a third country before going back to Clark.

A business newspaper last Thursday reported that President Arroyo would not amend EO 500A that restricts the entry of non-designated budget airlines into Clark and the Subic Bay Freeport.

Joseph warned that the Philippines would lose its negotiating leverage since countries guard fifth freedom rights as valuable bargaining chips. "Why surrender your rights for free?"

Unilateral open skies, Joseph added, would serve as a hindrance to market access that makes it unattractive and uncompetitive for Filipino carriers to operate international flights to DMIA or Subic Bay International Airport.

"We do not oppose the entry of foreign airlines into DMIA. We only want reciprocity and equal opportunity for our Filipino carriers," he said.

Joseph said moves to make DMIA as a regional hub would be laid to waste unless the Bases Conversion Development Authority builds exits along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway leading to the freeport.