BI waives fines of overstaying aliens after Taal eruption shuts down airports
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced on Wednesday that it is waiving the overstaying fees of aliens affected by the closure of airports following the eruption of Taal Volcano that started on Sunday.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente recounted that several international flights were canceled, as aircraft were not able to depart Sunday evening until Monday, due to the heavy ashfall and volcanic debris in the airspace and airport runways.
“This was a natural disaster that nobody wanted to experience. Hence, to ease the burden of our tourists whose flights were canceled during the closure, we are waiving the overstaying fee for those affected,” he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Port Operations Division Chief Grifton Medina explained that only those who had overstayed because their flights were supposed to depart during the two-day closure will be exempt from paying the fines.
To be exempted from the charges, aliens must present at least one of the following to airport officers: boarding pass within the affected period, outbound ticket dated January 12 or 13, or canceled immigration departure stamp bearing the same date, according to Medina.
