By Junex Doronio

MANILA — At long last, after more than 12 long years that the Lateral Attrition Law (LAL) of 2005 stayed “suspended in animation”   — from the Aquino to Duterte administrations — comes now the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel.”

Taking from the latest order of Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Bienvinido Y. Rubio, the suspended LAL is now coming down to fruition.

Rubio has already ordered to fast-track its approval and subsequent distribution of Employee Rewards for the agency’s 2018 revenue collection performance.

Under the LAL or Republic Act  9335, officials and employees of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and BOC who exceed their respective revenue targets of the year would be given incentives in proportion to their relative contribution to the aggregate amount of the excess collection.

On the other hand, those who fail to meet their collection targets by at least 7.5 percent will be removed from office, subject to civil service laws, rules, and regulations and in compliance with substantive and procedural due process.

On November 22, 2023, the Revenue Performance Evaluation Board (RPEB) convened to deliberate the BOC’s application.

The RPEB, established under RA 9335, is composed of the Secretary of Finance as the Chairperson, the Secretaries of Budget and Management, and the National Economic and Development Authority as voting members.

On the other hand, representatives from the BOC and the BİR serve as non-voting members.

As a significant milestone, the RPEB favorably resolved to approve the allocation and distribution of rewards and incentives to eligible BOC officials and employees.

“Our commitment to recognizing and rewarding the dedication of our employees is a key element in fostering a culture of excellence within the Bureau. Through incentives enshrined under the Attrition Act, we aim to motivate our team to consistently achieve and surpass their respective targets that ultimately redound to the benefit not only of our organization but as well as the entire country as a whole,” Rubio said.

He then pushed for the expeditious processing of all prerequisites related to the BOC’s application for rewards for the agency’s 2018 revenue collection performance to boost the morale and welfare of employees in line with his priority programs.

(ai/mnm)