PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1679

AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1464, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE TARIFF AND CUSTOMS CODE OF 1978

WHEREAS it is the policy of government to continually simplify and facilitate trade documentation and procedures;

WHEREAS, the consular invoice required under Sections 1309 and 1310 of the Tariff and Customs Code of 1978 causes delays in the importation of essential materials and likewise constitutes an added financial burden to importers;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order and direct that:

Section 1. The consular invoice as a documentary requirement for importation to the Philippines as required under Sections 1309 and 1310 of Presidential Decree No. 1464, otherwise known as the Tariff and Customs Code of 1978, is hereby eliminated. Sections 1309, 1310, 1311, 1312, of the aforementioned decree are hereby amended to conform with the provisions of this decree.

Section 2. In lieu of the consular invoice, the commercial invoice required under Section 1308 of Presidential Decree No. 1464, shall be presented at the time of or before or immediately after the shipment of the articles to a consular officer of the Philippines for authentication. The seal of the Philippine Consulate shall be stamped on the commercial invoice and signed by the Consular Officer or his duly designated representative. Only commercial invoices which have a dutiable value of three thousand pesos (P3,000.00) and above shall be subject to authentication and to payment of a fee of thirty dollars (US$ 30.00).

Section 3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Bank and the Bureau of Customs shall revise all existing rules and regulations covering the consular invoice accordingly.

This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 6th day of March, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty.