David issued last week a memorandum order prohibiting employees at the BI building in Intramuros, Manila from entering nearby cafes, restaurants, including the two canteens inside the bureau’s premises.

 

             David stressed that “idling and loitering” during office hours violate civil service rules and regulations and is punishable with suspension and dismissal from the service.

            The said establishments are off-limits to BI employees from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 to 5:30 p.m. on regular working days.

 

            David instructed the bureau’s civil security unit to strictly enforce the order and report the names of employees caught defying the same.

 

            It was learned that a similar directive was issued by then BI officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma in 2010 due to reports that some BI employees frequent the restaurants to transact with foreign “clients” and engage in anomalous transactions.

 

            David said he was prompted to reiterate the ban on loafing and loitering during office hours after he was informed that BI employees were again being spotted inside the restaurants during office hours.

 

            There were also reports that money intended for immigration transactions were handed out in the restaurants in full view of the public.

 

            BI acting administrative chief Alberto Braganza explained that under civil service rules, Frequent unauthorized absences constitute loafing while hanging out along hallways and stairways amounts to loitering and idling.

 

            “Such acts are prejudicial to the interest of the service as it hampers the delivery of basic services to the public,” Braganza said.

 

             David likewise issued a separate memorandum reiterating the “no lunch break” policy for employees of BI offices rendering frontline services.###