BOC spokesperson Arnaldo dela Torre Jr. (Screengrab from PTV)
MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday said the government is the one shouldering the overtime pay of its employees deployed at airports since 2012.
In a Laging Handa briefing, Arnaldo dela Torre Jr., BOC spokesperson, said the bureau started paying employees rendering extra hours of work upon the implementation of a Customs Administrative Order (CAO).
“Since the implementation of Customs Administrative Order No. 7-2011, the Bureau of Customs, is the one paying the overtime of personnel who rendered work beyond office hours. This is funded by the government. So, the airline is not the one paying since 2012,” said dela Torre, who is also BOC operations chief.
Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that the BOC cannot charge airlines and other private companies for the overtime pay of its airport personnel.
The 14-page decision penned by Associate Justice Ricardo Rosario said charging such payment to private firms is a violation of Republic Act 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
The ruling stemmed from the petition filed by the BOC Employees Association in 2013 to render invalid administrative orders issued by former Commissioner Rufino Biazon and former Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima. (PNA)
