MANILA, June 2 -- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday clarified that the Civil Aviation and Immigration Security Services (CAISS) project is still a proposal and has not yet been signed or finalized.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado issued the statement amid reports suggesting that the agency would start collecting a PHP480 fee from travelers.

"The reports were based on a proposal that has not yet received the final approvals," he said.

Viado ordered a comprehensive review and stakeholder consultation process regarding the project's proposed user fee component -- a USD4 user fee or around PHP247.

The review will focus on whether the proposed user fee is necessary, reasonable, and justified by tangible benefits to tra...