Unrefunded NAIA terminal fees from OFWs amount to P500 million

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Monreal

 

The total amount of unrefunded terminal fees from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has reached P500 million, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Ed Monreal said.

Monreal said the unclaimed terminal fees were deposited with the general fund of NAIA and can be claimed anytime by OFWs by presenting their used overseas employment certificate (OECs) from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, passport, and used airline tickets.

“OFWs are exempted from paying the terminal fee. All they need to do is present their OECs and passport when the claim their refund,” Monreal said, adding that there was no deadline for OFWs to get their refund.

Monreal said OFWs may claim their refund at the MIAA administration building in front of NAIA Terminal 2 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

He said airlines had stopped collecting terminal fees from OFWs since March 15, 2017 upon orders of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Our OFWs are our modern heroes for helping our country’s economy to grow through their remittances; hence, their exemption from the terminal fee,” Monreal said.

Meanwhile, the MIAA will increase the NAIA terminal fees starting June 2019 from P550 to P750 for international passengers and from P200 to P300 for the domestic passengers.