QuestionsQuestions (MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 24)
It cites Section 31, Title III, Book IV of Executive Order (EO) No. 292 (Administrative Code of 1987), which provides that the Bureau of Immigration shall be principally responsible for the administration and enforcement of immigration, citizenship, and alien admission and registration laws.
It relates to Republic Act No. 10964, the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for Fiscal Year 2018 (FY 2018 GAA).
It is the special provision that authorizes the express lane fees and charges collected by the Bureau of Immigration to be used to augment the salaries of BI personnel.
They must be deposited in a Special Trust Fund Account with a government bank; the collections comprise the “Express Lane Fund” (ELF).
64% for augmentation of organic personnel who render service beyond regular office hours; 25% for salaries of contractual personnel; and the remaining 11% remitted to the National Treasury as income of the General Fund.
They must render service beyond regular office hours (overtime), consistent with the guidelines stated in the Memorandum Order and referenced circulars.
25% of the ELF.
They must be remitted to the National Treasury as income of the General Fund.
Organic personnel must render service from 7:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M., Monday to Friday, or the equivalent work hours for those working beyond 5:30 P.M. and/or Saturday, Sunday, and Holiday, with BI rendering service continuously through the work day/period without lunch break.
Immigration Administrative Order (IAO) No. JHM-2018-002 is referenced for determining monthly augmentation pay; and Immigration Administrative Circular (IAC) No. JHM-18-003 is referenced for compliance conditions (including work-hour requirements).
It is determined based on the designation of personnel, the amount of monthly ELF collections, and the total number of organic personnel.
The base pay of an Assistant Division Chief in the BI (Salary Grade 22), reduced by 20%, is set as the cap or limitation on augmentation pay rates.
It states that augmentation pay covering January to May 2018 for entitled organic personnel shall be immediately released.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) must adopt the guidelines.
It takes effect immediately and continues until 31 December 2018, or until the passage of an Immigration Modernization Law, or a law that would increase the base pay rates of BI personnel—whichever comes first.
It aims to provide an interim solution to low BI basic pay and disparity with comparable agencies, address resignations and service prejudice, and promote continuous and unhampered delivery of basic government services pending immigration modernization.