Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina will meet with district collectors to discuss the possibility of reviving a 2005 memorandum that implements flexible work hours at the Bureau of Customs (BOC), in which two work shifts are followed within a timeframe of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“I’m calling a command conference on May 8 to discuss the 7 (a.m.) to 7 (p.m.),” Lina said during a meet-and-greet with media on April 29.
The returning commissioner said he plans to revive Customs Memorandum Order No. 12-2005, which he signed during his term in 2005 and remains unrevoked to this day.
The move is to further expedite Customs transactions, and “I hope with that congestion will ease,” according to Lina.
Under CMO No. 12-2005, the flexible working hours will be implemented in all ports and sub-ports pursuant to Section 6, Rule XVII of the Omnibus Rules Implementing Book V of Executive Order 292 and other pertinent Civil Service Laws.
Section 6 states that “flexible working hours may be allowed subject to the discretion of the head of the department or agency.”
The proposed regular work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday, without noon break.
According to the plan, the division or office chief will be responsible for arranging the work schedule of each staff under a two-shift scheme: a first shift of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. with lunch break at 11 a.m. to 12 noon, and a second shift of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with lunch break at 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Shift assignments will be changed every 30 days.
“The shift schedule shall ensure that full and complete transaction services are rendered by the division/office throughout the regular working hours, without interruption of service,” the CMO stated.
On the other hand, regular work hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. will be maintained in the divisions and offices under the Office of the Commissioner except that services will be rendered continuously.
The CMO was supposed to have taken effect on March 16, 2005.
The strict implementation of the 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. work schedule has in particular led to traffic congestion at the Subic-Tipo expressway, with trucks getting into the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) trying to beat the 5pm daily deadline.
Shippers have earlier petitioned resigned commissioner John Phillip Sevilla to extend the work hours at the SBFZ. – Roumina Pablo
Image courtesy of renjith krishnan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
