Directing All Departments, Bureaus, Commissions, Agencies, Offices And Instrumentalities Of The National Government, Including Government-Owned And/or Controlled Corporations, To Improve The Competitiveness Of The Country's Export Sector By Eliminating The Fees And Charges Imposed On Export Clearances, Inspections, Permits, Certificates, And Other Documentation Requirements

MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

EXECUTIVE ORDER No. 554

DIRECTING ALL DEPARTMENTS, BUREAUS, COMMISSIONS, AGENCIES, OFFICES AND INSTRUMENTALITIES OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT-OWNED AND/OR CONTROLLED CORPORATIONS, TO IMPROVE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THE COUNTRY’S EXPORT SECTOR BY ELIMINATING THE FEES AND CHARGES IMPOSED ON EXPORT CLEARANCES, INSPECTIONS, PERMITS, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS

WHEREAS, the country’s fiscal condition calls for the creation and enhancement of opportunities that will generate revenue and spur further economic growth;

WHEREAS, the country’s economic recovery program recognizes the role of exports in hastening the attainment of economic goals;

WHEREAS, the sustained increase in exports which posted an average growth rate of 6.5% between CYs 2001 and 2005 presents a strong potential for further economic growth;

WHEREAS, there is a need for concerted and collective effort between the government and the private sector to improve the competitiveness of the country’s export sector;

WHEREAS, fees for inspection, commodity and export clearance, permits, certificates and other documentary requirements of government commodity offices and related agencies, including government-owned and/or...

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Summary of Executive Order No. 554

Objective: To improve the competitiveness of the Philippines' export sector by eliminating fees and charges imposed on export clearances, inspections, permits, certificates, and other documentation requirements.

- Section 1: Directs all departments, bureaus, commissions, agencies, offices, and instrumentalities of the Executive Branch, including government-owned and/or controlled corporations, to eliminate fees imposed on export-related permits and clearances, except those imposed by specific laws.

- Section 2: Directs the same entities to submit proposals to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Export Development Council (EDC) on how to further streamline export documentation procedures for improved efficiency.

- Section 3: Dispenses with all export clearance requirements on Philippine commodity exports, except for:
• Those required due to import quotas in other countries, such as sugar. (Section 3.1)
• Those covering items banned for export. (Section 3.2)
• Those covering exports of logs, copper, and coffee. (Section 3.3)
• Those covered by international agreements to which the Philippines is a signatory. (Section 3.4)

- Section 4: Assigns the DTI, through the EDC, to ensure the effective implementation of this Executive Order.

- Section 5: Repeals or modifies any inconsistent provisions of other laws, decrees, rules, or regulations.

- Section 6: States that the Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon publication in a newspaper of general circulation.