By Brian Campued
The proposal to impose a P240 fee on inbound and outbound passengers is still under study, Malacañang clarified on Tuesday.
During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro cited Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado’s statement, saying that the proposal has not yet been approved.
“Sa ngayon ito ay proposal pa lamang po, ayon kay Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, so wala pa po itong anumang desisyon, wala pa pong nararating ito. Ito ay mere proposal, so ‘wag po muna mag-aalala ang ating mga kababayan,” she said.
“So, puwedeng barilin, puwedeng hindi ipatupad, puwedeng hindi matuloy. So, kaya ‘wag muna tayong maalarma dahil wala pa po talaga ito,” she added.
While the proposed immigration fee would help fund the upgrades on the BI’s border control systems, Castro stressed that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has yet to express his support for the said proposal.
“Alam naman natin po kung ano po ang layunin nito, ang layunin nito ay magkaroon ng mas ligtas at mas modernong border control system, ngunit dapat itong maisakatuparan sa paraang malinaw, makatarungan, at may tiwala ang publiko, iyan po ang sinasabi ni Commissioner Viado,” she said.
In a separate statement, Viado issued clarifications on the Civil Aviation and Immigration Security Services (CAISS) Project, wherein a user fee component of $4 or around P247 was proposed.
Viado said that he has directed a comprehensive review and stakeholder consultation process regarding the proposal, noting its possible impact on the traveling public.
The review will focus on whether the proposed user fee is necessary, reasonable, and justified by tangible benefits to travelers.
“We recognize the importance of modernizing our border management infrastructure to better combat transnational crimes, human trafficking, terrorism, and other emerging security threats,” Viado said.
“At the same time, we understand the sentiments of our kababayan, especially during challenging economic times. Any proposal that may affect travelers financially must undergo proper review, consultation, and clear public communication,” he added.
The CAISS project is a proposed public-private partnership aimed at enhancing immigration operations through advanced biometric systems, real-time risk assessment, data integration, and automated border control technologies.
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