THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has explained the "no noon break" policy being implemented by its Revenue District Office (RDO) in Bacolod City following the spread of a social media post of a taxpayer expressing his ire against the agency.
On Tuesday, the taxpayer posted a photo of a clock printed with a "no noon break" text near a table with a "lunchtime" notice.
The taxpayer expressed dismay upon knowing that, when it is already his turn to transact, the concerned staff will have to take a break for lunch.
He posted "pinaasa lamang tayo."
Hours after it was posted, it gained at least thousands of shares. It also drew mix reactions from the netizens.
Some defended the BIR, saying that the RDO observes "no noon break" policy, in fact, some of its personnel stays to accommodate clients during lunch time.
The post also got the sympathy of some netizens, claiming that it is unprofessional for personnel to put the "lunchtime" notice despite the "no noon break" policy among government offices.
BIR Region 12 Director Eduardo Pagulayan Jr. said the "no noon break" policy refers to the whole office.
Pagulayan said this means that even during lunch break some of the staff is still on duty to attend to taxpayers while the rest will have to take their lunch.
When those who took their lunch return, those who were on duty during lunch time will also have their break, the regional director explained.
"If you will look closely at the post, you will notice that our other staff at the back of the vacant table are still entertaining taxpayers even during noon break," he said, adding that the staff who owns the table where the "lunchtime" notice was placed was really on lunch break.
According to the Civil Service Commission, the "no noon break" policy is mandated by Republic Act 9485 of 2007 or the Anti-Red Tape Act.
It seeks to enhance the delivery of services in government offices and smoothen the processing of documents.
For BIR Region 12, which also covers other RDOs in Negros Island and Siquijor, their employees are in rotation to serve the taxpayers during lunchtime so as not to shut off the office between 12 to 1 p.m.
"We cannot also deprive our employees of their break to take a lunch. I hope you will understand that we are also human and we have to rest and eat during lunch," Pagulayan said.
He added that no sanctions were given to the concerned personnel as "she was just being transparent about taking a lunch" as a reason why no one is on the table during that time.
Instead, the "lunchtime" notice was already taken from the table.
Meanwhile, the said post was already deleted by the taxpayer around 8 p.m. of the same day.
