De Lima questions proposed P480 immigration fee, urges careful review

August 27, 2026

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila De Lima questioned the necessity of the proposed P480 fee for roundtrip tickets, or P240 per ticket, to be collected from international travelers to fund the maintenance of modern immigration infrastructure.

The fee would be for the P10.74 billion Civil Aviation and Immigration Security Services (CAISS) project intended to modernize border control and security.

The proposed fee would support the project’s operations.

“Why should the cost of modernizing immigration infrastructure be passed on to the traveling public if it’s under Public-Private Partnership?” De Lima said.

She said this should be studied carefully because it would be an added burden for passengers who also have to pay the travel tax.

De Lima raised her concerns with the Bureau of Immigration during the recent budget hearing for the Department of Justice and its attached agencies.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the bureau needs a more integrated program covering a border security platform with biometrics, advanced analytics, and passenger information systems to enhance national security and immigration control.

Viado said collecting a similar fee is done in other countries and the proposed amount in the Philippines is even lower.

But he also said the contract for the CAISS is still under review.