13TH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
lST 
REGULAR SESSION 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
The national government has been pursuing the policy of 
streamlining the bureaucracy by promoting effective governance and 
simplifying governmental procedures. Under the said policy, public 
entities performing similar functions are either abolished, or being 
studied for merger or consolidated as one unified body for purposes of 
economy and better public service. 
This legislation is in accord with the said policy. Through fiat 
(Executive Order No. 565, as amended by EO 133), the Bonded Export 
Marketing Board (BEMB) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 
is accorded the power to adopt appropriate approaches and services in 
line with the national export strategy by encouraging and promoting 
investments directed at expanding local manufacturing base through the 
bonded export manufacturing facilities. On the other hand, the Board of 
Investments (BOI) is mandated under EO 226, the Omnibus Investments 
Act, to regulate and promote investments in the Philippines. With this 
legislative measure, the BEMB is hereby merged with the BO1 for 
purposes of streamlining governmental functions is hereby merged with 
the BO1 for purposes of streamlining governmental function 
and of 
evolving a single body to undertake export and investments promotions. 
The restructuring shall be effected within the realm of Civil Service 
Law, particularly the recognition of security of tenure. Under the 
proposed merger, the BO1 shall assume the regular functions of the 
BEMB including the formulation of investments promotion strategies 
through a focused and integrated approach to promote sector specific, 
country specific investments and the provision for assistance and 
support through joint venture matching and identify possible sites for 
the project and bonded warehouse. Likewise, it shall establish 
networking system with different government agencies, industry 
organizations, and the private sector to better implement export and 
trade strategy. 
Early cognizance of this bill is earnestly sought. 


‘04 
13TH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
J 
lST 
REGULAR SESSION 
I 
. 
I 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Conqress assembled: 
eeti 
. Declaration of Purpose---The Department of Trade and 
Industry (BTI) 
pursues the government the policy of promoting effective 
bureaucracy by reorganizing the Department through the merger of the 
functions of several agencies attached to it. Agencies of DTI performing 
similar functions of promoting investments and export promotions are 
merged in one unified body for purposes of economy and better public 
service. 
ection 2. Merger of the Bonded Export Marketing Board and the 
Board of Investments---Subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Law, 
rules and regulations, the Bonded Export Marketing Board (BEMB), an 
attached agency of the DTI is hereby merged with the Board of 
Investments (BOI) for pur@oses of streamlining government functions 
and of evolving unified body to undertake export and investments 
promotions. 
e Transfer of Functions---Under the merger, BO1 shall 
assume the regular functions of the BEMB, including but not limited to 
the following: 
Formulate investment promotion strategies through a focused 
and integrated approach to promote sector specific, country 
specific investments; 
Provide assistance and support through joint venture matching 
and identifjr possible sites for the project and bonded 
warehouse; 
Provide technical assistance and logistic support to organized 
missions in coordination with the BO1 Industry Planning Group; 
Conduct 
investment 
promotion 
activities 
such 
as 
outbound/inbound missions, seminars, participation in fairs 
and other similar activities; and 
Establish networking with different government agencies, 
industry organizations, embassies, private sector institutions 
and other similar bodies. 


Y 
. Transfer of Assets, Liabilities, Properties and 
, appropriations, 
properties, facilities and equipment of the 
MB are hereby 
transferred to the BOI. 
ctions, assets, liabilities, rec 
e Transfer, Absorption and/or Separation of BEMB 
Personnel---BEMB personnel shall, in a holdover capacity, continue 
to perform their respective duties and responsibilities and receive 
the corresponding salaries and benefits; Provided, That any 
personnel, whose position is not included in BOI’s new position 
structure and staffing pattern approved and prescribed by the DTI 
Secretary and who is not reappointed, shall be deemed separated 
from the service and shall be entitled to the benefits provided 
under existing laws, rules and regulations. 
. New Structure and Functions---The new position 
structures and staffing pattern of the Board of Investments 
carrying out the functions of BEMB shall be approved and 
prescribed by the DTI Secretary within one hundred twenty (120) 
days from the enactment of this law, and the authorized positions 
created shall be filled with regular appointments made by the BO1 
Governing Board or the President, as the case may be. 
. Appropriations---Pending 
the effectivity of this Act, 
the amount necessary to carry out this merger shall be charged 
against the current fiscal year appropriations of the Department of 
Trade and Industry. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary in 
the BO1 operation and the performance of the additional functions 
provided herein shall be included as augmentation top the regular 
budget 
of 
the Board 
of 
Investment under the General 
Appropriations Act. 
. Separability Clause---If, for any reason, any 
section or provision of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional, 
other provisions hereof shall not be affected and shall remain in 
full force and effect. 
. Repealing Clause--- All laws, issuances, decrees 
or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed. 
. Effectivity Clause--- This Act shall take effect 
upon its approval.