Exit Fee at NAIA (Manila)

Hi All - I stay in Manila with a 9G Visa with Multiple Exit Re-entry Permit (MERP). I was exiting PH with family around a month back and was asked by the Immigration officials at NAIA to pay P2.8K per passenger as exit fee? Is that something that needs to be paid every time one leaves PH? I'm curious since I used to stay in Indonesia prior to PH (with a similar permit) and never had to pay such a fee. Appreciate any inputs.