The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has extended operating hours at its offices at the Port of Manila (POM) and the Manila International Container Port (MICP) from May 13-16.
An email announcement from the bureau’s Public Information and Assistance Division said POM and MICP will be “open to the transacting public from 8 A.M. to 8 P.M.” on those dates.
The BOC directive coincides with the temporary suspension of the metro-wide truck ban from May 13-20 to help address the serious problem of container congestion.
On May 13, Customs Commissioner John Phillip Sevilla issued a memo directing relevant BOC officials to “implement measures to ensure that pertinent units under your respective offices render overtime services until 8:00 in the evening at the Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port (MICP)” from May 14 to 16.
Earlier, the bureau laid down guidelines for overtime work by its personnel at the POM and MICP if the agency needs to extend its operating hours to help clear cargo backlog created by Manila’s truck ban.
Sevilla signed Customs Memorandum Order No. 09-2014 dated May 8 allowing paid overtime work for personnel at both ports but only for “incumbents of plantilla positions of division chief and below, and for casual employees.”
Such pay will “be charged against savings of the BOC which may be determined at the end of every quarter based on the quarterly Statement of Appropriations, Allotments, Obligations, Disbursements and Balances prepared by BOC’s Budget Division.”
Sevilla said: “In the interest of the service and in view of the approval by the Office of the President to pay overtime services in cash for FY 2014 to personnel who are directly involved in the needed extended operating hours in light of the ‘Truck Ban Policy’ implemented by the City Government of Manila, the personnel of the POM, MICP, and personnel of x-ray units and MISTG (Management Information Systems and Technology Group) in these ports duly authorized to render overtime services may be paid in accordance with the guidelines prescribed herein.”
Under the CMO, overtime services include those beyond eight hours of work from Monday to Friday, rest days on Saturday to Sunday, and holidays.
The CMO took effect on May 1 and will last until revoked. –– Roumina M. Pablo
