Malacanan on Tuesday, October 10, released Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 27 directing all concerned government agencies to strengthen the implementation of the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP).
MC No. 27 also put to task other relevant agencies to get involved in the development of the export sector, particularly those that can provide support to information and communications technology infrastructure, tourism, and manpower development, in a bid to ensure efficient, responsive, and well-coordinated strategies.
Eighteen (18) government agencies were directed to collectively work and review relevant policies to facilitate export.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is tasked to monitor and implement strategies to attain external trade targets, particularly exports of goods and services, while the Department of Agriculture (DA) is to ensure the availability of supply of agricultural and fishery products and raw materials for manufacturing and sale of export products.
“The Department of Energy (DOE) shall formulate and implement policies and programs to ensure sustainable, stable, secure, sufficient, accessible and reasonably-priced energy,” the Memorandum Circular stated.
The Memorandum Circular directed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to assist the exporters of forest-based export products to comply with the requirements of international markets and facilitate issuance of necessary documentation for environmental compliance.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the DOH being responsible for the facilitation of application and issuance of License to Operate and Certificate of Product Registration is tasked to streamline and automate its systems and procedures. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) under the Department of Finance (DOF), shall implement, among others, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) as well as implement policies on tax reforms.
MC No. 27 also mandated the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to provide support to promote trade and investment opportunities especially in the ICT and ICT-Enabled Services sectors; and push for the use of ICT to automate government regulatory processes and synchronize government systems. Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is charged in ensuring the streamlining of business permitting systems of local government units, draft regulatory policies and guidelines to ensure local government units’ (LGUs’) compliance of all related laws affecting exportation and ease of doing business.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) shall prioritize road connectivity through various road infrastructure programs, and construction or improvement of access roads leading to airports/seaports in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOTr). The latter shall provide effective and efficient land, air, and maritime transportation systems to reduce time and cost in the delivery of goods and services.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) to increase the country’s market share in international tourism shall initiate policies that encourage the development of competitive tourism facilities and services. On the other hand, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall continuously organize tripartite industrial peace councils at the industry and regional level.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) shall continuously provide innovative solutions; set the pace for science, technology and innovation activities towards global competitiveness. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) shall oversee policies on the prioritization and implementation of technical vocational education and training (TVET) and keep abreast with competency standards by the implementation of a quality dual training system in concerned industries.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) shall be in charge of overseeing monetary and foreign exchange policies, promoting and maintaining stability and the convertibility of the peso, while the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) shall advocate the Philippine Accession to the Customs Convention on the Admission Temporair/Temporary Admission (ATA) Carnet’s temporary admission of goods as well as continue efforts to enter into new Free Trade Agreement (FTAs) with other countries to boost exports.
MC No 27 said that “the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall continuously advocate for purposive investments that: steer career interest towards science, technology, engineering, agri-fisheries and mathematics which are the building blocks of the knowledge economy, among others.
Lastly, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) shall promote the use of Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) and other related tools by regulatory agencies to improve the quality of new regulations in a way that will facilitate the free flow of goods and services in accordance with the PDEP.
“The EDC shall oversee the implementation of PDEP and coordinate the formulation and implementation of policy reforms and promotion strategies,” MC No. 27 stated adding that “the EDC shall ensure the biannual validation and updating of the PDEP pursuant to the provisions of RA No. 7844.”###PCO-Content
