THE continuous absences of Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials assigned in airports could affect the country's security and economy, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Monday.
"Totoo yun kasi last week tumawag sakin si Secretary (Leoncio Evasco Jr.) sinasabi niya because of the queue, naapektuhan ang operation ng DOTr (Department of Transportation) at syempre ganyan din ang mangyayari sa DOT (Department of Tourism) kaya economy will be affected," Aguirre said.
The government is now facing mass leave and resignation threats from immigration officials guarding the entrance and exit of the country's airports who have not yet received their overtime pay and allowances since January.
Aguirre said more than 32 employees have already resigned and more than 50 employees plan to take months-long leave. An average of 20 employees also take absences everyday.
According to Aguirre, he will try to convince President Rodrigo Duterte to act on the case of the employees as the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) "unfortunately" did not accept their proposal as they have "legal reservations."
He added that Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno offers creating new items for 887 employees of the BI. The salary, however, just like their current take home pay, is still meager.
"Ang offer ni Sec Diokno mag-create ng 887 new items. Ang problem dito ganun din mabababa din...P14,000 din ang maximum nun, di rin makakasapat sa pangagailangan ng mga immigration officers."
Aguirre said the DBM has also offered P200 million to be allocated for the employees' overtime pay to give them temporary relief, but this, however, could still not suffice.
"May inoofer ang DBM na P200 million, pero napakaliit din para sa overtimep pay. Sabi sakin ng mga taga immigration kung yan ay makakatulong, at the most makakuha lang ng P5,000 for overtime pay, di katulad nung mga nakaraan na they could render overtime everyday, whether Saturdays or Sundays."
Aguirre said he hopes the matter will be tackled in the next cabinet meeting in MalacaƱang.
Duterte last January barred the BI from using express lane fees to compensate for the overtime hours rendered by its officers. As a result, immigration employees have received nothing but their basic salary amounting to P14,000. (SunStar Philippines)