BI bans 'Merry Christmas' greeting at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines - Bureau of Immigration (BI) officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma yesterday barred the agency’s employees from greeting arriving and departing passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) “Merry Christmas” so they would not be perceived to be soliciting gifts.

In a statement, Ledesma said the order does not only apply to those assigned to the airport counters, but it also covers the BI supervisors and intelligence agents who are detailed at NAIA.

“Such a gesture, even if sincere, might be misconstrued as asking for a tip so it’s better that they refrain from extending the greeting,” he said. “They can just give the passengers a warm and friendly smile, and a very efficient service above all.”

He admitted that some people might interpret his directive as extreme, but he believed that protecting the reputation of the bureau and its employees is a paramount concern.

BI Airport Operations Division chief Maria Antonette Bucasas said the ban on Christmas greetings would remain in effect until the end of the season.