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7th April 202114th July 2021

Free Pesticide Residue Analysis test for agricultural export products reinstated by DA

Secretary of Agriculture William Dar directed the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and its satellite laboratories to reinstated the free Pesticide Residue Analysis (PRA) tests to duly accredited exporters and farmers in order to boost the country’s agricultural exports.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) released Administrative Order No. 11, discontinuing the charging of fees for all fresh and primary processed fruits and vegetables for export. This came about as the result of an appeal to the DA and BPI made by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT), and the Philippine Food Exporters (PHILFOODEX), led by EDC Vice Chair Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr. and EDC Agriculture Sector Representative Roberto Amores.

7th April 202114th July 2021

BOC temporarily suspends the Automated Bonds Management System on transit shipments

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) temporarily suspends the Automated Bonds Management System (ABMS) implementation on transit shipments under CMO 30-2020 from 15 March 2021 up to 04 April 2021.

CMO 30-2020 applies to all Transit Bond Accounts opened under the electronic-to-mobile (E2M) Customs System in all Collection Districts, including sub-ports and other BOC offices.
This policy deferment was adopted to avoid further delays in the delivery of raw materials needed for export. The Value-Added Service Providers (VASPs) encountered system glitches wherein transit shipments bound for PEZA zones cannot be seen in the system to be tagged “ARRIVED” as it reaches the zone.

7th April 202114th July 2021

ARTA mandates the on-boarding of 73 TRGAs to the TradeNet platform

The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) directs the mandatory onboarding of the 73 Trade Regulatory Government Agencies (TRGAs) to the TradeNet through the issuance of Memorandum Circular (MC) 2021-01 last 05 March 2021. TradeNet is an online platform that harmonizes all licenses and permits for imports and exports.

7th April 202114th July 2021

Philippine Airports Authority bill approved by House committees

The House Committees on Transportation and Government Enterprises and Privatization have jointly approved the bill creating the Philippine Airports Authority (PAA). Said bill is still subject to change based on the written positions submitted by different agencies.

7th April 202114th July 2021

Central Business Portal Rolled-out to boost PH Ease of Doing Business

The Central Business Portal (CBP) was rolled out to boost the Philippines’ Ease of Doing Business. CBP is a one-stop-shop for all business-related transactions such as securing business permits, licenses, and clearances. This is one of the primary initiatives of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and other government agencies.

8th March 202114th July 2021

Bicameral Committee passes the CREATE Act

The Bicameral Conference Committee has approved the reconciled version of House Bill No. 4157 and Senate Bill 1357 of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act on 01 February 2021. Both Houses had respectively settled the disagreeing provisions of the act. The ratified final version is now ready for the signature of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

8th March 202114th July 2021

Bureau of Customs accords the five years validity period of the Product Evaluation Report

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) accords the five years validity period of the Product Evaluation Report (PER) of exports conforming with the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and all the other Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

This amended policy transpired after the exporters protested the issuance of AOCG Memo No. 67 2021 ‘Evaluation of Goods Applying for Certificate of Origin (CO)’ on 05 February 2021, which shortened the PER validity from five years to three years. BOC released a memorandum on 10 February 2021 in response to the exporter’s clamor to amend the said AOCG memo reverting the five-year validity period instead of three years.

8th March 202114th July 2021

Shorter free storage period proposed in PPA’s policy revision

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has proposed revisions on their current rules on the commencement of the free storage period (FSP) and the start of the calculation of storage charges.

The proposal depicts shorter FSP for import cargoes, outbound-domestic cargoes, and cargoes entering any domestic port.

The existing five (5) day FSP rule for import cargoes starts after the last day that the last item of cargo is discharged from the vessel. While the proposal prescribes that FSP shall immediately commence on the actual day and time the import cargo is discharged from the ship.

4th February 202114th July 2021

EDC sets new export targets amidst pandemic

The Export Development Council (EDC) in its Joint Council and Executive Committee Meeting on 20 January 2021, adjusted the export targets in the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2018-2022. The new targets are US$91.7B in 2021 and US$105.3B in 2022.

The adjustments were recommended by the Export Marketing Bureau after a thorough review and simulation considering the world economic situation due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the assumptions of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) and the data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

4th February 202114th July 2021

TIEZA promotes the online release of the Travel Tax Exemption Certificate

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) promotes the online release of the Travel Tax Exemption Certificate (TEC). This initiative makes it easier for the traveling exporter to get their TEC online.

Once TIEZA approves the online application, exporters can print the TEC at the convenience of their home or office. The following requirements are to be observed by exporters in applying for the online release of TEC: