(NAR) VOL. 25 NO. 1 / JANUARY - MARCH 2014
I. SCOPE
This Order, which revokes Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 37- 2011, dated 08 November 2011, revises the guidelines and procedures in the accreditation of journalist and other media practitioners who cover the Bureau of Customs (BOC) on a regular basis to ensure that only bona fide media professionals and bona fide media organizations or entities are allowed entry to BOC premises nationwide and cover events therein.
“Accreditation” means recognition by the Bureau of Customs of the bona fide media professionals for the purpose of access to sources of information in the Bureau and also to news materials released by, or on behalf of the Public Information and Assistance Division (PIAD) of the BOC. Accreditation is valid for one (1) year and is renewable. Requests are assessed regularly on the basis of the documents submitted.
“Journalist” or “media practitioners” are defined as persons who have as their main profession the dispatch, on a regular basis, of news reports, commentaries, articles, etc, to news agencies, radio/television networks or stations, newspapers, online media entities and other specialized publications.
“Regular basis”, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, is defined as a journalist or media practitioner with current, continuous and sustained journalistic work about the Bureau of Customs and related stakeholders. These may include beat reporters of nationally-circulated broadsheets, correspondents of tabloids or provincial or local publications and writers or reporters of specialized or trade publications.
II. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION
It is the policy of the Bureau of Customs to provide true, objective and accurate information about the agency, its policies, orders and other directives, especially as these are imbued with public interest.
Only legitimate media practitioners and legitimate media entities hall be accredited by the Bureau of Customs. The Chief of the Public Information and Assistance Division (PIAD) shall be directly responsible for the approval or revocation of the accreditation of media practitioners nationwide.
The Chief, PIAD shall submit a list of all accredited media practitioners to the Commissioner; the Deputy Commissioners of the Intelligence Group and Enforcement Group; the Director, Enforcement and Security Service; and all District Collectors.
III. OPERATIONAL PROVISIONS
A. |
Procedures for accreditation –
Applications for accreditation shall be filed in writing, any time from
the date of effectivity of this Order with the following offices: |
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1) |
With the Public Information
and Assistance Division (PIAD), BoC in the case of media practitioners
with coverage in Metro Manila or media entities with nationwide reach or
circulation. |
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2) |
With the office of the nearest District
Collector/Port of the Bureau in the case of regional and provincial
correspondents of national publication/ broadcast media entities and
members of the news/editorial staff of publications/broadcast media
entities with regional, provincial, city or municipality reach or
circulation. The District/Port Collector will submit to PIAD the
applications of accreditation received with his/her recommendation. |
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3) |
PIAD shall process the applications for
accreditation and act upon these within five (5) days from the
submission of complete requirements. Upon approval, PIAD shall prepare
and issue BOC Identification Cards to the accredited media practitioners
to be signed by the Commissioner within 5 days from the date of
accreditation, subject to the schedule of ID cards issuances by the
Internal Administration Group of the Bureau. |
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4) |
Only two (2) journalist/media practitioners per media organization/ publication
can be accredited per year, which includes photographer. In the case of
re-assignment, resignation or any other circumstance that creates a
vacancy in the accredited media practitioners for a particular media
organization/publication within a given year, the PIAD can process
accreditation for their replacements, subject to compliance with the
requirements and rules stated in this order. |
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B. |
Requirement for accreditation
– All journalists or media practitioners applying for accreditation
should complete the Application Form and submit this together with the
following documents. |
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1) |
Publication/Media Entity
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2) |
Reporter/Writer/Correspondent
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3) |
Photographer/Videographer/Multi-media producer
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C. |
Issuance of Ad Hoc/Temporary Passes – Bona fide journalists and other media practitioners from bona fide media organizations or entities who do not cover the Bureau of Customs on a regular basis are allowed entry to BoC premises nationwide, provided: |
|
1) |
That the journalists/media practitioners
have a specific purpose for entering BoC premises. These may include
conducting one-on-one interviews; attending briefings, meetings or other
events; shooting video for documentaries; or taking photographs for
publications. |
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2) |
That media organizations who are doing
documentaries and other special reports on the BoC submit a synopsis of
the report; list of crew and equipment; and shot list. |
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3) |
Issuance of the Ad Hoc/Temporary Passes shall be done through the PIAD |
IV. DENIAL OF ACCREDITATION - The Public Information and Assistance Division (PIAD) must be satisfied that the individuals applying for accreditation are bona fide media professionals and represent bona fide media organizations. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis and the decisions of the PIAD are final.
A. |
Applicants for accreditation must not have any derogatory record with the Customs Police |
B. |
Applicants with business dealings of any
kind with organizations, entities or companies who transact with the
Bureau of Customs can be accredited, provided that proper, accurate and relevant disclosures are made |
C. |
Applicants may be required to
submit proof of payment for regular and sustained journalistic work that
clearly shows that the application for accreditation and coverage at
the Bureau of Customs is not merely a cover for other activities. |
IV. CANCELLATION OF ACCREDITATION – The Bureau of Customs, through the PIAD, reserves the right to cancel or revoke or withdraw accreditation of journalists/media practitioners whose activities run counter to ethical practices and conduct as professional journalists/ media practitioners, or who abuse the privileges so extended or put the accreditation to improper use
A. |
Grounds for cancellation or revocation of accreditation |
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1) |
Violation of any of the guidelines set forth in this Order |
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2) |
Violation of the Philippine Journalists’ Code of Ethics |
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3) |
Involvement in smuggling activities |
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4) |
Involvement in altercations or any acts that violate the rules and regulations inside BoC premises |
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5) |
Use of accreditation as proof of
professional qualifications or as authorization or credential to conduct
any other transaction with the Bureau of Customs |
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6) |
Willfully allowing another person to use his/her BoC-issued ID |
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7) | Other offenses similar to the above-mentioned | |
B. |
Procedures for cancellation or revocation of accreditation |
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1) |
A valid complaint must be filed against the concerned BoC-accredited media practitioner by any interested party with the PIAD |
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2) |
The complaint shall be deliberated by a Grievance Committee composed of the following:
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3) |
The Grievance Committee shall set the case for hearing within five (5) days from receipt of complaint |
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4) |
After due notice and hearing, the
Grievance Committee shall render its decision on the basis of evidence
presented and the testimonies/ statements of the parties concerned |
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5) |
Notice of the Decision shall be sent to all parties concerned |
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6) |
Revocation of the accreditation of the
journalist/media practitioner concerned shall result in the confiscation
of his/her BOC-issued ID. Formal notice shall also be sent to the
publisher and/or editor-in-chief of the dis-accredited journalist/media
practitioner |
IV. TERMS AND CONDITIONS
A. |
Wearing of BOC-issued IDs |
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1) |
The Bureau shall strictly enforce the “NO
ID, NO ENTRY” policy. BOCissued media IDs must be visibly worn at all
times while inside BoC premises |
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2) |
Should a BOC-accredited journalist/media
practitioner forgets or misplaces his/her ID, he/she shall be required
to secure an Ad Hoc/ Temporary Pass on a daily basis |
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3) |
In case of loss of the BOC-issued media
ID, it is the responsibility of the BOC-accredited journalist/media
practitioner to inform the PIAD and to file an Affidavit of Loss to
secure a replacement ID |
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B. |
Duly-accredited BOC journalists/media practitioners have the following the privileges: |
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1) |
Use of the BoC Media Lounge and its facilities |
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2) |
Access to the PIAD office to browse media archives or for research purposes |
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3) |
Request BoC officials and other key
personnel for interview or briefing on customs-related issues/matters,
provided, that interviews are prearranged to avoid disruption of work |
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4) |
Inclusion in the email/text list of PIAD
for Media Advisories/Invitations to BoC events and activities, press
releases and other items for external communication |
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5) |
Access to photographs and other video materials of the PIAD that have been cleared for external release. |
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C. |
Access to BoC offices and facilities |
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1) Aside from the Media
Lounge and the PIAD office, all journalists and media practitioners,
whether or not they are BOC-accredited, are not authorized to enter any office/area within the BOC offices nationwide. Loitering within BoC premises nationwide is strictly prohibited |
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2) Prior authorization for
access by any journalist or media practitioner, whether or not they are
BOC-accredited, to other areas/offices within BoC premises nationwide
are to be given on a case-to-case basis. |
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3) Units/Divisions/Groups
under the BoC reserve the right to identify areas where all media is
restricted for security purposes and to avoid disruptions in operations. |
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D. |
Privacy policy-Required
information provided to the PIAD is used solely for accreditation and
record-keeping purposes. These are confidential and will not be
published for general access. The Bureau of Customs, however, assumes no
responsibility for the security of this information. |
V. REPEALING CLAUSE – All Memoranda, Orders and other Issuances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed/superseded and/or modified accordingly.
VI. DISSEMINATION – The Public Information and Assistance Division (PIAD) shall furnish the Office of the Press Secretary, the Department of Finance, Philippine Information Agency, the BOC Press Corps and all relevant media organizations copies of this Order. The Order shall also be posted in the BOC website.
VII. EFFECTIVITY – This Order shall take effect immediately and shall last until revoked.
(SGD) JOHN P. SEVILLA
Commissioner