Bong Go stresses need to properly assist travelers
While continuing efforts to modernize Bureau of Immigration
SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go renewed his appeal for the Bureau of Immigration and other concerned agencies to prioritize the welfare of Filipinos, which includes the protection of their rights as passengers.
Citing numerous incidents wherein thousands of migrant workers and tourists are affected, the senator suggested that the government should be able to assist and guide travelers properly and not add to their burden.
“Alam n’yo, naiulat nga na more than 6,000 na passengers na po ang nai-offload kaya nakikiusap po ako sa ating POEA, OWWA, na i-guide po nang mabuti ‘yung mga pasahero. Pupunta po ‘yan ng airport, kulang ang mga papeles at ang nakakalungkot dito, kung kulang turuan, i-guide, alalayan natin,” Go said in an ambush interview after personally leading a relief operation for fire victims in Parañaque City on Wednesday, April 12.
“Kawawa naman po ang mga kababayan nating sasakay ng eroplano, pupunta ng airport, kulang ang papeles at io-offload. Nakapag-book na ito ng ticket, gumastos na po ito, pinagpawisan po ang perang ginastos nila para lang po makabili ng ticket. Sa mga OFWs, may penalty na naman sila, umpisa na naman sa zero. Dapat po ang checklist kumpleto, i-guide natin sila nang mabuti. Kung kulang, turuan para maiwasan po itong pag-offload,” he highlighted.
Furthermore, Go asked authorities not to take advantage of their fellow Filipinos, and likewise stressed that they should perform their mandated duties of protecting the rights and interests of passengers and ensuring their welfare and safety during air travel.
“Kinokondena ko po ang mga ganitong balita at hindi lang po isang beses akong nakarinig ng gano’n, marami pa pong iba na narinig ko na ganun po na nangingikil,” Go cited.
“Please lang po, nawala na ang laglag bala nu’ng panahon ni (dating) pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte. Huwag naman po itong mga panibagong naiulat na pangingikil. Kung kailangan pong imbestigahan sa Senado, handa po akong sumali kung sakaling may reklamo po na formally (iimbestigahan) sa Senado,” he urged.
In line with this, Go has once again called for support for his filed Senate Bill No. 1185, or the proposed “Bureau of Immigration Modernization Act”, which aims to improve the country’s immigration system.
“Bilang inyong senador, nakapag-file din po ako sa Senado, itong Senate Bill 1185 or the proposed Bureau of Immigration Modernization Act.
Kung maisabatas po ang panukalang ito, mas mapapabuti natin ang compensation scheme ng mga nagtatrabaho sa BI. Mas maiiwasan ang katiwalian, mas mabibigyan sila ng kapasidad na pagbutihin pa ang kanilang trabaho,” explained Go.
“Mas maiiwasan po itong pangingikil po. Wala pong dahilan na kikilan n’yo po ang mga kababayan nating mahihirap at ang ating mga OFWs sa pinagpawisan nila. Alam n’yo, bawat pag-a-apply nila, pinagpawisan nila. Ang iba diyan, inuutang pa ‘yung pera, nagsasangla para lang po makapunta sa ibang bansa. Please lang, ‘wag n’yo pong pagsamantalahan ang mga maliliit nating kababayan,” he urged.
If passed into law, the bill will also authorize the BI Board of Commissioners to retain and use every year 30% of its collections from immigration fees, fines and penalties, and other income that may be collected by the bureau to implement the measure and support its modernization efforts. An Immigration Trust Fund may also be created and sourced from the collections.
