The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is strengthening its drive against nepotistic practices in government with a newly issued administrative order barring employees with relatives up to the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity from working in the agency.
“This is a step in the right direction as we try to wipe out the culture of corruption that has plagued the Bureau since time immemorial,” Customs Commissioner John Sevilla said in a statement.
“I am not saying that those with relatives working in the Bureau are corrupt, but we are eradicating any suspicion on our employees,” Sevilla added.
Signed on July 31 and effective on September 4, Customs Administrative Order (CAO) 03-2014 details anti-nepotism rules on appointments and designations within the country’s second biggest revenue-generating agency.
“The policy will prevent conflict of interest or even the appearance of conflict of interest in the performance of BOC employees’ duties and responsibilities,” Sevilla explained.
“We have already made progress in our fight against corruption, like in the filing of administrative cases against 16 BOC employees. Now we are putting (in place) policies that will further nip corruption in the bud. The anti-nepotism policy is aimed (at promoting) integrity, professionalism, and work excellence among Bureau employees,” Sevilla added.
According to the policy, no relative of a current BOC officer or employee, whether regular, temporary, or casual, can be appointed or designated to any position in the agency.
Exemptions are relatives already holding positions at BOC before the CAO came into effect. However, such personnel cannot be promoted, designated, assigned, or detailed to any BOC office, service, or section where a relative is holding office.
In addition, employees with relatives working in the same office, service, or section shall be reassigned or transferred elsewhere based on specific guidelines to be promulgated by the commissioner and applicable with Civil Service laws.
Persons applying to the customs agency shall now disclose under oath in his or her application the identities of relatives currently working at BOC.
The CAO augments the rules on nepotism laid down in Section 59, Book V of the Revised Administrative Code of 1987 (also known as Executive Order No. 292) and other Civil Service regulations. – Roumina Pablo
