RIYADH: Filipino expatriates have urged the country’s president-elect Rodrigo R. Duterte to abolish procedural hurdles at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Duterte had said during his Presidential election campaign that welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs would be among his top priorities.
His pro-OFW stand played a key role in mobilizing their support in the May election.
According to OFWs, said the previous administration aggravated the situation when it imposed terminal fee (P550 around $12) on Filipinos, including OFWs both first timer and those returning to their work site abroad. Already they have to go through the tedious procedures when traveling abroad for work.
“One has to wait at various queues for verification of his documents, including visa, Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), birth certificates of accompanying children and marriage contract, if the OFW traveling with his family members to avail discounted travel tax,” and OFW said.
Compounding their problem is the terminal fee, which should be paid when purchasing the ticket, said another OFWs. “The new system, which came into effect in 2015, requires that OFWs with OEC to refund such extra amount at the airport after the immigration check. It creates a long queue every day and even confuses other nationalities whether they have to do the same or not.”
The Congressman-elect, John Bertiz of ACTS OFW, described the issue as unconstitutional and said he would look into the problem.
“I saw long queues and difficulties. I am moving a house resolution for investigating this problem as well as the unconstitutional implementation of charging terminal fee,” Bertiz told Arab News in a text message.
“That should be one among first priorities of the new administration to handle and need to rectify that system,” said Soler Garlan, the overall chairman of the United Bangsaranao Council.
Duterte had said during his Presidential election campaign that welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs would be among his top priorities.
His pro-OFW stand played a key role in mobilizing their support in the May election.
According to OFWs, said the previous administration aggravated the situation when it imposed terminal fee (P550 around $12) on Filipinos, including OFWs both first timer and those returning to their work site abroad. Already they have to go through the tedious procedures when traveling abroad for work.
“One has to wait at various queues for verification of his documents, including visa, Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), birth certificates of accompanying children and marriage contract, if the OFW traveling with his family members to avail discounted travel tax,” and OFW said.
Compounding their problem is the terminal fee, which should be paid when purchasing the ticket, said another OFWs. “The new system, which came into effect in 2015, requires that OFWs with OEC to refund such extra amount at the airport after the immigration check. It creates a long queue every day and even confuses other nationalities whether they have to do the same or not.”
The Congressman-elect, John Bertiz of ACTS OFW, described the issue as unconstitutional and said he would look into the problem.
“I saw long queues and difficulties. I am moving a house resolution for investigating this problem as well as the unconstitutional implementation of charging terminal fee,” Bertiz told Arab News in a text message.
“That should be one among first priorities of the new administration to handle and need to rectify that system,” said Soler Garlan, the overall chairman of the United Bangsaranao Council.
