The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is enforcing a five-day work schedule with a skeletal workforce and allowing its personnel to work from home, according to BOC assistant commissioner and spokesperson Atty. Vincent Philip Maronilla.
Regular workdays are from Monday to Friday. Employees who will form part of the skeletal workforce on a given day will report to their respective offices from 8AM to 5PM, according to a March 17 memo of Customs commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero.
Work-at-home employees should ensure availability to accept calls, conduct video conferencing (if possible), and respond to emails. Calls should be answered immediately to facilitate work-related communications, the memo said.
Previously, the BOC implemented a flexi work schedule, with some personnel reporting for work on Monday to Thursday, and others Tuesday to Friday, 7am to 6pm.
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The memo said all officials and employees will be included in the skeletal workforce within the enhanced community quarantine period, with assignments on a rotational basis, except those prescribed to under self-quarantine by any government or private physician.
Officials and employees rendering services during the period may avail of transport services provided by BOC. Group heads, or their authorized alternates must enforce and monitor the compliance of the skeletal workforce schedules.
Office heads are directed to submit their authorized signatories in their absence.
For offices rendering 24/7 services, such as airport, port, and intelligence and enforcement operations, existing shifting schedules will continue to be in force and effect.
All other employees not be included in the skeletal workforce on a given day will adopt a work-from-home arrangement.
Online services
Maronilla said the bureau is also encouraging stakeholders to use the agency’s online services, such as the BOC Portal and Goods Declaration and Verification System, (GDVS), for transactions to avoid physical contact and prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while the entire Luzon region is placed under enhanced community quarantine.
The BOC Portal and GDVS are both accessible through BOC’s website (www.customs.gov.ph).
Through the BOC Portal, stakeholders may communicate with all BOC offices for following-up of documents, renewal of accreditation, electronic submission of letter requests such as lifting of abandonment, among others.
Stakeholders may also refer to the GDVS to check the status of their entry or if they encounter any problems in their goods declaration.
BOC said it is encouraging online transactions to facilitate trade while controlling the spread of COVID-19. BOC has also disinfected its offices and has heightened health and safety measures. – Roumina Pablo
