Solon calls for swift reimbursement of offloaded passengers

According to BI records, 32,404 Filipino passengers were not allowed to proceed with their flights last year, of which 472 were found to be victims of human trafficking or illegal recruitment. (File Photo: Ninoy Aquino International Airport/Facebook)

By Filane Mikee Cervantes, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – A party-list lawmaker on Monday called for the swift implementation of a Bureau Immigration (BI) policy to reimburse the expenses of Filipino passengers whose travels were deferred or denied without sufficient basis.

During the plenary deliberations on the proposed 2025 budget of the Department of Justice, OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino said BI Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2024-001, which has yet to be implemented, is vital for affected passengers waiting for clear steps on the reimbursement process.

She noted that the 2024 national budget includes a special provision that mandated the reimbursement of passengers who were left behind by their flights after being subjected to lengthy interrogation by immigration staff for one reason or another.

“Kailangang tiyakin na ma-ipapatupad ito sa lalong madaling panahon upang masiguro ang kanilang karapatan at maibsan ang kanilang gastusin (We need to make sure that this will be implemented at the soonest possible time to protect their [passengers] rights and reduce their expenses),” Magsino said.

Magsino recommended revisions to the draft guidelines, particularly suggesting the reimbursement of additional legitimate expenses of offloaded passengers, such as food and lodging, rather than just the departure ticket.

Magsino also questioned the lengthy reimbursement process, which can take up to 75 days.

She further emphasized the need to include other expenses incurred by passengers, such as food and lodging, which are often necessary due to flight delays.

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), in particular, bear these additional costs, which should be recognized as legitimate expenses eligible for reimbursement, she pointed out.

“Hindi natin dapat balewalain ito dahil dagdag na pasanin ito sa mga pasahero. Dapat kilalanin ng mga patakaran ang kabuuang epekto ng flight deferment at maglaan ng reimbursement para sa lahat ng lehitimong gastusin (We should not overlook this because they are additional burdens on the passengers. Policies should recognize the overall impact of flight deferments and provide reimbursement for all legitimate expenses),” she said.

According to BI records, 32,404 Filipino passengers were not allowed to proceed with their flights last year, of which 472 were found to be victims of human trafficking or illegal recruitment.

While Magsino acknowledged the BI’s role in combating human trafficking and illegal recruitment, she stressed that the agency must also show compassion to passengers, particularly OFWs, wrongly offloaded without legal justification.

“Nauunawaan natin ang hirap at sakripisyo na pinagdaraanan ng offloaded passengers, lalo ng OFWs, kapag sila’y hindi pinayagang makapalipad nang walang court order o dahil sa maling batayan. Kaya’t nararapat lamang na maibalik sa kanila ang kanilang travel expenses upang kahit paano’y maibsan ang bigat ng kanilang sitwasyon (We understand the difficulties and sacrifices offloaded passengers, especially OFWs, endure when they are denied boarding without a court order or on invalid grounds. Therefore, they deserve to have their travel expenses reimbursed to ease their burden),” she said.