Binay wants Customs to scrap $1 to $2 fee for Filipino workers

VICE President Jejomar Binay yesterday asked the customs bureau to reconsider its plan to charge an additional $1 to $2 fee for departing airline passengers to cover for the payment of the overtime of its employees.

Binay who is also the presidential adviser on Filipinos working abroad, said the planned fee will be an added burden to overseas Filipinos.

Based on the executive’s budget submission to Congress, the Bureau of Customs expects to increase its collection of nontax revenues to P1.96 billion next year, up from the P1.56 billion it expects this year.

A huge part of the increase in the BoC’s nontax revenues will come from fees and charges that it wants to almost triple next year to P662.7 million from this year’s P271 million.

In a letter to Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez, Binay said he is bothered by the plan as Filipino workers make up a large number of departing airline passengers.

“If your plan indeed covers OFWs, then I urge you to seriously reconsider,” Binay said in a statement.

The plan to charge the additional fee is contained in a draft memorandum of understanding to be signed by the customs bureau, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the Bureau of Immigration and other concerned agencies.

There are close to 10 million Filipinos working abroad who are expected to send home $20 billion in remittances next year. Acording to Binay 3,897 Filipino workers leave the country daily based on records of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

While overtime work of government employees should be compensated, Binay said the customs bureau should look at other means of raising the funds for the overtime pay and not pass on the cost to OFWs. –Eileen A. Mencias, Manila Standard Today