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Friday, March 29, 2024

Travel group slams Customs order on airport staff overtime fees

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A travel industry group is opposing an order by the Bureau of Customs requiring airlines to shoulder the overtime fees of the agency’s airport officers.

The Philippine Travel Agencies Association said a draft Customs administrative order would soon become a part of the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

PTAA president Marlene Jante said overtime pay for customs officials should be shouldered by the government and not by the airlines.

“If the Bureau of Customs wants to implement an overtime system instead of the 24/7 shifting schedule that was specified under CAO 7-2011, then airlines under any circumstances should not be ordered to provide service fees, dues and other charges,” Jante said.

Former PTAA president Aileen Clemente said it was unacceptable for the government, especially in a globalized economy, to only provide customs services during working hours.  

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“It is not right for tourists, investors and Filipinos coming back into the country to not be cleared by the BOC for entry unless the airlines pay for it,” Clemente said.

Both Jante and Clemente said that enforcement of Customs laws was an obligation of the government that should be provided all the time.

Under Section 3 of the draft CAO, customs services shall not be less than eight hours work per day for five days a week exclusive of lunch time or from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Under the general provisions of Section 4, Customs can charge aircraft supervision fee of P30,000 from airlines or their agents for every aircraft engaged in foreign commerce that landed and departed from an international airport of entry and where customs services are rendered.

Section 4.2 states that all fees collected shall be placed in a trust fund and will be used for overtime fees and those for meal, transportation and accommodation allowances for employees who need to travel outside their worksite to render customs services.

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