Defining The Status Of, And Authorizing The Grant Of Tax Exemption And Other Privileges To, The Aquaculture Department Of The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center In The Philippines

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Presidential Decree No. 292

Defining the Status and Authorizing Tax Exemptions for the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department

- The Aquaculture Department of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) is exempt from the following taxes and fees (Section 1):
• Gift taxes
• Franchise taxes
• Specific taxes
• Percentage taxes
• Real property taxes
• All other taxes, duties, and fees under existing laws
• This exemption extends to goods imported and owned by the Department, and goods imported for personal use of foreign personnel paid by the Department.

- Gifts, bequests, donations, and contributions received by the Department are exempt from taxes under the National Internal Revenue Code, and are considered allowable deductions for the donor's income tax (Section 2).

- Non-Filipino citizens serving on the technical and scientific staff of the Department are exempt from paying income tax on salaries and stipends received for their service (Section 3).

- Aliens entering the Philippines to work for the Department are exempt from immigration restrictions and quotas, as necessary for the Department's operation, if they fall under the following categories (Section 4):
• Officials
• Instructors and researchers
• Trainees
• Spouses, children, or dependent relatives living in the same household as officials, instructors, or researchers.