No Christmas greeting at BOC, too

Customs officials can smile and be jolly towards brokers and importers in the season of joy but they can’t greet them a “Merry Christmas.” 

Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales has prohibited Bureau of Customs (BOC) employees, especially those in the frontline at port districts (seaports and  airports), to greet BOC’s clients because this might be misinterpreted as soliciting gifts.

“The commissioner is reiterating this call to prevent the gesture from being interpreted as a form of soliciting money from Customs brokers and importers having transactions in the agency,” said Verne Enciso, spokesman of Morales.

Enciso clarified that although assessors, examiners, appraisers and law enforcers assigned at the Enforcement and Security Service and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service are banned from greeting clients, they are encouraged to serve clients with a smile.

“The greetings are okay but there should be no gestures indicating you are expecting something in return,” he said.   – Edu Punay