Dellosa bringing in military personnel to BOC

MANILA, Philippines - Newly appointed Customs Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Group (EG) Jessie Dellosa yesterday said that he is considering bringing military personnel into the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Dellosa, a retired chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), admitted that he is thinking of assigning some soldiers to the bureau.

But before he could utilize military men to augment the operations of the EG and the Customs Intelligence Group (IG), which he also supervises, he would have to inquire with the agency’s Human Resources Department, the Department of National Defense and Department of Finance (DOF).

The BOC is an attached agency of the DOF.

“I am still studying the organizational setup in the different offices, the personnel requirements, and we will relay our request to the bureau’s Human Resource Department soonest,” said Dellosa.

Dellosa said he is also considering hiring some retired military officers subject to provisions compliant with BOC policies.

He has also met his predecessors, former BOC deputy commissioner for EG Horacio Suansing Jr. and former deputy commissioner for IG Danilo Lim and they would have a “more comprehensive meeting soon and I hope to gain more knowledge on the systems and procedures in the bureau.”

When Lim joined the bureau he reportedly brought four military officers with him.

Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon said that Dellosa could learn from the experience of Lim.

Biazon said that apart from implementing a spiritual formation program, the BOC would strictly implement the Civil Service Commission (CSC) work ethics.

Since Biazon assumed the top post at the bureau more than two years ago, he has embarked on a moral recovery program by holding a mass for Catholics during lunch break every first Friday of the month. Other religious denominations are also allowed to hold their own services.

However, with half of the Aquino administration term over it seems that corruption remains prevalent at the bureau and Biazon wants to have a more aggressive approach for employees engaged in bribery and corruption, and convince them to kick these bad habits.

He had given instructions to the new Deputy Commissioner for Internal Administration Group (IAG) Myrna Chua to study the implementation of the moral recovery program or values training program for the BOC employees and how they could increase their capabilities.

When asked if there was a need to come up with more moral recovery ideas, Biazon said, “It is always never enough when it comes to spiritual guidance. We would allow activities that would promote spirituality and increase in values formation.”

When asked how important a moral recovery program is for the bureau, he said, “I believe it sets the tone of what is right and what is wrong in the minds of individuals.”

But in thinking of ways to beef up their moral recovery program, he took into consideration a program that would complement their function as trade facilitators.

“I have asked the IAG to first tap the CSC on whatever programs they have on values formation. It could be work ethics that would be much easier to implement because it is non-denominational, non-religious and it could be incorporated during the work hours since it’s Civil Service. But I would like to have a spiritual activity whether it’s a Christian faith, an Islamic faith or Buddhist according to the individual’s beliefs. That is where the IAG creativity (comes in) on how to incorporate it to the daily lives (of the employees) without violating any standard, legal or social.”

Work ethics could cover basic regulations such as reporting to work on time, be in proper attire, and observe rules and regulations, particularly specific laws on corruption.