Biazon issues personnel orders sans DOF chief’s nod

MANILA, Philippines - Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon reportedly issued 82 customs personnel orders (CPOs) that covered 612 rank and file bureau personnel even though Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima did not approve the directives.

Purisima had questioned the CPOs that were issued during the time of the implementation of the return to mother unit (RMU) order.

All concerned personnel should have complied with the RMU on or before Sept. 27.

Biazon said that the 82 CPOs were “battlefield decisions” that he had to make in order not to disrupt the day-to-day operations at the agency.

“You can call it battlefield decisions. As the field commander you make decisions in order to save the day, especially in the BOC, any delay in the processing of business of our stakeholders result as cost to these stakeholders. That is one thing we are trying to avoid as well,” he said.

Biazon added that the CPOs were crucial to the operations of the bureau. Without these orders, there would have been loopholes and operational disruptions in the agency.

“Even from the start of the implementation of the RMU order, we already felt the effects. In fact, I submitted a recommendation to even suspend or calibrate the implementation of the RMU order because of the operational disruptions that we encountered,” he added.

Biazon assured Purisima that the CPOs were merely interim measures since they are prohibited from moving personnel while the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ban is in effect because of the barangay elections on Oct. 28.

The BOC chief also said that since the matter was still being clarified, the 612 rank and file personnel would be allowed to stay on in their current positions.

Besides, he added that while Purisima called his attention for not seeking his approval on the CPOs, there was no categorical statement nullifying the 82 CPOs.

He also pointed out that there were cases that some previous Customs commissioners issued and implemented CPOs without gaining the approval of the DOF secretary.

They are also contemplating on establishing a technical working group to ensure the proper vetting of personnel assignments and designations.

Biazon decided to push through with the CPOs to prevent the closure of businesses.

He said a company was forced to shut down its operations just because the raw materials that it ordered from abroad did not arrive on time because there were no BOC personnel who could sign the documents.

The Customs employee could no longer release the shipment because he believed he has lost his authority to sign after he returned to his mother unit.

Biazon added, “We issued the CPO during the middle of the implementation of our personnel movement to cover the vital day-to-day operations that is needed by our stakeholders. The implementation of the RMU resulted to vacancies in some of the functions.”

He said that among the offices affected by the RMU order were the X-ray Inspection Project (XIP), Risk Management Office, Office of the Commissioner staff, and ad hoc units.

There were also instances when an employee retired and no one has yet been appointed to take over his position.

Biazon mentioned the predicament of the bureau in a letter dated Oct. 10 but was sent only yesterday to Purisima.

“Given the urgency of the situation, with stakeholders anxiously complaining over stoppage of processes, increasing demurrage cost for each day of delay in the ports, and non-processing of export declarations due to absence of plantilla personnel, the undersigned had to promptly respond to prevent massive disruption of services,” he said.