THIS MONTH'S HIGHLIGHTS

Senate Concurs to RP Accession to the Revised Kyoto Convention
Coco Coir Technology Center in Eastern Visayas Operational
DENR Registration Required for Imported Wood Materials 

Senate Concurs to RP Accession to the Revised Kyoto Convention

 

The Senate has finally concurred to the Philippine accession to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures, also known as the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC), in Senate Resolution 220, issued last February 1, 2010. RKC prescribes the principles of good governance in customs operations, primarily designed to increase trade efficiency & competitiveness.

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, principal sponsor of the treaty, expressed optimism that with the adoption of the rules by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and other agencies involved in the country’s international trade, foreign investors who have been shying away from the country in previous years may come back. She likewise said that with customs practices, forms and systems at par with those practiced by our major trading partners, the Philippines will have an effective tool in bolstering its export and import trade.

Massive reforms are expected within three years, as RP will be required to align its existing legislations to RKC. This includes amendment of laws (the Tariff and Customs Code) and other administrative issuances by the BOC and other concerned agencies. It is also expected that the computerization of import & export documentation systems and operations will be completed. These measures are contained in the National Strategy for RKC Accession, Compliance and Implementation, fully supported by the Export Development Council, under Resolution 6-2007.

Once the Instrument of Accession (IA) and the Resolution containing the Senate Concurrence to RKC, are transmitted to the World Customs Organization (WCO), the Philippines will be the third member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to accede to the Convention, along with Vietnam and Malaysia.

Coco Coir Technology Center in Eastern Visayas Operational

 

The Export Development Council’s Project Monitoring Team recently visited the project sites of he Philexport XI project: the Establishment of a Regional Coco Coir Technology Training and Productivity Center in Eastern Visayas.

The said project was envisioned to help train and increase the productivity of the Coco Coir industry in the region. The four (4) beneficiary sites are University of Eastern Philippines in Catarman, Northern Samar; Padang Maunlad Farmers Coop in Hernani, Eastern Samar; Jaro Farmers Coop in Jaro, Leyte; and Panaoan Island Farmers Federation Inc. in San Francisco, Southern Leyte. Each site received a set of defibering, carding and twining machines under the Export Promotion Fund. Also, successive trainings have been conducted since 2009 on the use of the machines and product development of various coco coir products.

To date, 124 cooperative members benefited from the trainings and 264 additional jobs have been generated. Also, a total sales of Php299,405.00 has been realized while Php470,000.00 are still under negotiation.

DENR Registration Required for Imported Wood Materials

 

DENR reminds importers, including exporters who import wood as raw materials, to secure first a Certificate of Registration as Importer of Woods Materials before importation. This is in compliance with DENR Department Administrative Order (DAO) 99-46 and the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP). Failure to do so will result to detention and possible seizure of their importation by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Sec. 3 of DAO 99-46 or “The Revised Regulations Governing the Entry and Disposition of Imported Logs, Lumber, Veneer, Plywood, Other Wood Based Panels, Poles, and Piles, Pulpwood and Wood Chips” (published in 1999) defines who may import wood materials. For further details, visit their website at www.denr.gov.ph

Clarification and Agreement among stakeholders were arrived at in the meeting facilitated by The Export Development Council-Netwoking Committee on Trade Policy and Procedure Simplification (EDC-NCTPPS) last 12 January 2010. DENR clarified that their office has taken cognizance of the observation that their issued registration can be interpreted to apply for dealership of imported materials and not for importation. Hence, in future issuances, “Authority to Import Wood Materials” will likewise be indicated in the Certificate of Registration to avoid confusion. The committee also tasked the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT) to conduct an information campaign particularly on this requirement among the furniture industry.