The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it will impose sanction against employees and other individuals who regularly transact business at the agency’s main building in Intramuros, Manila if they continue to violate health protocols designed to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente issued the warning after receiving reports that some liaison officers of BI accredited travel agencies and law offices have been defying the health safety regulations.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Reports said some visitors do not pass through the disinfection chamber at the main building entrance and entering the premises even if they have no approved online appointments.
On the other hand, it was also reported that some BI employees and job order personnel do not wear face masks, face shield and practice social distancing.
Others were seen going from one office to another in violation of a standing directive prohibiting office hopping.
BI chief approved a recommendation by the BI administrative division to ban offenders from entering the building for two weeks.
BI regular employees who defy health safety protocols will be slapped with administrative cases for insubordination and violating office rules and regulations.
The same punishment will also be applied to errant job order personnel.
Morente issued a similar warning to employees of concessionaires at the BI main building that they will be suspended also from operating their business for two weeks if they make the same violation.
Earlier, the BI regulated the number of people entering its main building by banning walk-in applicants and launching an online appointment system for its clientele.
The BI adopted the tough policy due to the increasing number of immigration employees catching the virus.
As of last week, the BI said the number of COVID-positive cases among its employees already stood at 78.