ACTS-OFW Rep. John Bertiz II has lauded Manila International Airport Authority general manager Ed Monreal for his decision to stop collecting the P550 terminal fee from overseas Filipino workers starting next year.
He said Memorandum Circular No. 8, which Monreal revoked, violated a law granting exemption to overseas workers from paying the airport terminal fee.
“I commend Monreal’s move to stop the collection of airport terminal fee for our OFWs starting March next year. This is long overdue because its continued collection disregards the exemption granted by law to our OFWs,” he added.
Section 35 of the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act exempts OFWs from paying travel tax, documentary stamp and airport terminal fee.
Monreal said starting March 2017, OFWs will no longer have to queue at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to refund the P550 terminal fee integrated in their airline tickets.
He said MIAA is now coordinating with the international airlines to be able to complete the technical details of the refund system.
“Finally, our hardworking OFWs need not have to queue at the refund counters. This is indeed a very welcome development as we have been fighting for years to revoke the illegal memorandum issued by the previous administration,” Bertiz said.