CONGRESS must enact a new law to finance the overtime pay of Immigration officers and the lack of personnel at the airports, which has caused long queues and put the national security at risk, an official said Thursday.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said there was a need to speed up the passage of the law amending Commonwealth Act 613, or the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, and rationalizing the bureau by increasing its workforce and their compensation.
“We will fast-track the enactment of the new BI law. Of course, the President should certify it as urgent,” Aguirre said.
Since the proposed law is an appropriation measure, Aguirre said, the bill should first be passed in the House before it could be taken up by the Senate.
He made his statement even as lawmakers prodded Malacañang to reconsider reinstating the overtime pay of Immigration personnel, with one of them urging Immigration to give priority to the hiring of personnel who will man the airport terminals.
Rep. Tobias Tiangco said additional staff would help prevent Immigration personnel from working overtime, and Rep. Rodolfo Albano echoed him.
Reps. Gus Tambunting and Harry Roque made the same appeal.
Meanwhile, an official said stricter security measures will be enforced at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport beginning Saturday to ensure the safety and convenience of passengers going to or coming from Manila to observe Lent.
Eddie Monreal, general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority, said his office had also prepared a contingency plan to help Immigration officers process arriving and departing passengers.
Aguirre, who exercises administrative supervision over Immigration, said that Senator Loren Legarda had already committed to support the new bill in the Senate.
“I talked with Senator Loren Legarda about this matter last night. She called me from Europe and she’s very much worried,” Aguirre said.
“She suggested to have the bill initiated in the House right away and she will take charge when it reaches the Senate.”
Aguirre said the proposed measure hoped to address the insufficiency in the workforce of Immigration, which has been the main reason why its personnel are forced to work overtime.
He said the bureau needed 4,000 personnel but only had 1,700. With Maricel V. Cruz and Joel E. Zurbano