BI agents banned from saying 'Merry Christmas'

[sharkey360]

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BI agents banned from saying 'Merry Christmas'

In this season of greetings, personnel of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) are directed not to greet arriving and departing passengers "Merry Christmas" to avoid the impression that they are soliciting gifts, whether in cash or kind, it was learned Tuesday.

BI acting Chief Ronaldo Ledesma, in a statement, said a warm and friendly smile of an immigration officer is enough to express his or her desire to express the Christmas season to an arriving or departing passenger.

Ledesma said the prohibition applies not only to immigration officers manning the counters but also to BI supervisors and intelligence agents assigned at the premier port.

“While it is mandatory for all immigration officers in our airports to always smile while on duty, they are forbidden from greeting passengers ‘Merry Christmas’,” Ledesma said.

The BI chief said the directive aims to avoid the impression that the BI personnel extending the greetings are asking for a gift from the passengers.

“Such gesture, even if sincere, might be misconstrued as asking for a tip so it’s better that they refrain from extending the greeting,” he added.

Ledesma said that while some quarters might view the ban as extreme, protecting the reputation of the bureau and its employees is a paramount concern.

“It is not good for our immigration officers at the airports, who are the first to meet arriving Filipino and foreign travelers, to be perceived as gift solicitors,” he explained. “They can just give the passengers a warm and friendly smile and a very efficient service above all.”

BI personnel chief Fellino Quirante Jr. said the ban on Christmas greetings will last until the end of the season, during the influx of foreigners, returning balikbayan, and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are coming home to spend the holidays with their families.

The BI expects a significant increase in the number of foreign tourists who will spend the Christmas season in the Philippines during the season.

BI agents banned from saying 'Merry Christmas' | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online

[pepponeskie]

pakapinan sad unta na nila ug cctv + record kay aron makita kung kinsa ang pinaka buaya nila...

[necrotic freak]

Bisan pag way christmas, mangayo jud na sila diha!

[masakiton]

dili pwede mo sulti ug merry chrismas
pwede rapud "sir.. walai para ako diha?"

[Dax101106]

Para kana rang storyaha... Nara na sa gi-greetan if mo hatag siya or dili... Sa pag greet ug in-ana it doesnt mean nga nangayo kah... Simple Greetings raman nah... Unsa may naa ana...

[I-lab-Iero]

If only their reputation was well preserved,
then there will be no misconception against them.
There is always something macabre when a crocodile smiles,
somehow makes you think it wanted to rip out all your limbs.heheheh

[Dax101106]

Simple raman nah siya... They should greet our kababayan nga ari mag pasko sa pinas para pud they would feel that they are home again... Tagsa rah baya nah sila mag -pasko ngari same sa akong parents... Basta if naay dawaton kay dili lang jud dawaton kay its another story najud baya nah siya... In-ana na jud siya ang meaning anang mo greet kah ug Merry Christmas kay nangayo nah diay nah... Sa ilang pang huna2x ngali in-ana kay palangayo pud ngali ang nag-pasingugda ana...

[masakiton]

If only their reputation was well preserved,
then there will be no misconception against them.
There is always something macabre when a crocodile smiles,
somehow makes you think it wanted to rip out all your limbs.heheheh

mao nang dili ko ganahan mag dugay sa immigration sa arrival kai murag dili jud ka welcome inig agi nimo immigration counter

atleast departure nga immigration kai naai mga kahibaw mo smile (dili smile nga naa meaning) ang IO

[masakiton]

Simple raman nah siya... They should greet our kababayan nga ari mag pasko sa pinas para pud they would feel that they are home again... Tagsa rah baya nah sila mag -pasko ngari same sa akong parents... Basta if naay dawaton kay dili lang jud dawaton kay its another story najud baya nah siya... In-ana na jud siya ang meaning anang mo greet kah ug Merry Christmas kay nangayo nah diay nah... Sa ilang pang huna2x ngali in-ana kay palangayo pud ngali ang nag-pasingugda ana...

kanus a pa kaha na ma hitabo sa mga immigration officers diha sa arrival

[sharkey360]

"Welcome home, balikbayans!"