BI fills shortage of personnel at international ports

AIRPORT DUTY A woman immigration officer welcomes arriving passengers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. —LYN RILLON

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will augment its personnel at international ports following the exodus of its employees due to unpaid overtime.

Ma. Antonette B. Mangrobang, immigration spokesperson, said on Tuesday that 171 of the bureau’s personnel stationed in various ports would be deployed at international ports.

Of the 171 personnel, 150 will be deployed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The BI had laready augmented its personnel at international ports in preparation for the Holy Week.

The BI is suffering from shortage of personnel because 32 of its officials had already resigned and 50 others had already given a notice that they would take a six month leave to look for a new job.

According to BI records, more than 3,000 of its personnel have been on leave since Feb. 17.

The exodus of immigration employees started following President Rodrigo Duterte’s veto of BI’s use of express lane fees to pay for the overtime hours of immigration officers and contractual employees.

In January, Duterte vetoed the use of express lane fees to pay for the overtime hours rendered by immigration officers and the salary of contractual employees. He directed BI to remit the fees instead to the national treasury as part of its income.

The Department of Budget and Management agreed with Duterte’s decision.

“The BI was previously allowed to tap into the fund for the overtime pay of its workers on the condition that the grant will be consistent with the pertinent laws and rules on allowances for government employees,” Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said. “Given that huge amount, it seems the BI did not comply with the law. They are insisting on using the express lane fund so they can continue enjoying the huge allowances they were used to, over and above what they are entitled to.”

“They cannot hijack the government into giving them all their demands through threats of work stoppage and thereby endanger public safety,” he added. “We recognize their right to overtime allowances, but this must be compliant with pertinent laws and rules that apply equally to all government agencies.” /atm/rga

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