Use of express lane funds OKd for BI pay

In the absence of a law to increase the pay of Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel, Malacañang issued an order allowing the use of revenue from the BI’s express lanes at airports to augment BI salaries.

On June 13, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued Memorandum Order No. 24 setting the guidelines to be followed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Budget and Management in enforcing Special Provision No. 1 of the 2018 General Appropriations Act, or national budget, “as regards the use of express lane fees and charges to augment salaries of BI personnel.”

The BI is under the DOJ. Under the guidelines, express lane fees collected by the BI will be deposited in a special trust fund account in a government bank to be called Express Lane Fund. —Christine O. Avendaño