Manila: Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III has called on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to implement a policy that mandates automatic cash refunds for passengers affected by flight delays and cancellations. This initiative is inspired by a similar policy in the United States, where airlines are required to issue refunds without passengers having to request them. According to Philippines News Agency, the US policy also includes provisions for refunds related to delayed baggage. Pimentel believes that adopting such a policy in the Philippines would push airlines to enhance their services, thereby preventing flight disruptions from affecting travelers' experiences. He emphasized that both local and international travelers should be compensated for the inconvenience caused by these disruptions. Pimentel referenced a specific incident on July 19, when a Microsoft system outage led to widespread disruptions in airline operations, affecting numerous flights and causing significant inconvenience to passengers worldwide. He stressed the importance of holding airlines accountable for delays, considering it unjust if the government does not address these ongoing issues. Highlighting the benefits of the US Department of Transportation's new policy, Pimentel noted that travelers can now receive automatic refunds if they choose not to take rebooked flights due to significant disruptions, making the refund process more straightforward.