Republic of the Philippines

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES © REC EIV
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Quezon City $ DATE
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS fel TIME,
Second Regular Session ag
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House Bill No. 8375

Introduced by HON. ROZZANO RUFINO B. BIAZON

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This piece of legislation seeks to exempt the importation of critical medical products,
essential goods, equipment and supplies to address public health emergencies from import
duties, taxes and other fees. It is a crucial proposal intended to fill a policy gap on how the
country responds to such emergencies.

The country must always be prepared to deal with situations that threaten the health and
endanger the lives of our people. Government must, at all times, be ready to respond to public
health emergencies effectively and efficiently to cushion their effects and prevent them from
becoming disasters. The country must therefore have the capacity to act swiftly and decisively
during public health emergencies as time is of the essence in dealing with the lives of people.

It is therefore a primordial concern that we must have the wherewithal to address public
health emergencies such as critical medical products, essential goods, equipment and supplies.
‘Some of these may have to be imported into the country and any impediment therefore that
may affect their availability and accessibility to our people, such as import duties, taxes and
other fees, must be waived. Government must willingly give up these revenue sources as it will
redound to more lives saved.

For the foregoing reasons, the urgent passage of this bill is eamestly sought.

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Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 8375

Introduced by HON. ROZZANO RUFINO B. BIAZON

AN ACT
EXEMPTING THE IMPORTATION OF CRITICAL MEDICAL PRODUCTS,
ESSENTIAL GOODS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES TO ADDRESS PUBLIC
HEALTH EMERGENCIES FROM IMPORT DUTIES, TAXES AND OTHER FEES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. - Short Title, — This Act shall be referred to as the “Public Health
Emergency Importation Tax Exemption Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to ensure
and protect the health and safety of the people. The State shall continuously adopt mechanisms
that would enhance its capacity to address threats to the health security of its citizenry. Toward
this end, it shall minimize barriers that impede the State’s capacity to efficiently and effectively
cope with public health emergencies.

SEC. 3. Exemption from Duties, Taxes and Other Fees. — The importation of critical
medical products, essential goods, equipment and supplies shall be exempted from import
duties, taxes and other fees: Provided, That such exemption shall only be granted upon the
declaration of a public health emergency: Provided, firther, That such exemption shall only
apply to importations for the duration of the public health emergency.

For this purpose, critical medical products, essential goods, equipment and supplies
shall include the following:

(a) Critical medical products include Vaccines and other necessary medicines to contain
the public health emergency;

(b) Essential goods, may include personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves,
gowns, masks, goggles, and face shields; surgical equipment and supplies; laboratory
equipment and its reagents; medical equipment and devices; support and maintenance
for laboratory and medical equipment, surgical equipment and supplies; medical
supplies, tools, and consumables such as alcohol, sanitizers, tissue, thermometers, hand
soap, detergent, sodium hypochlorite, cleaning materials, povidone iodine; testing kits,
and such other supplies or equipment as may be determined by the Department of
Health (DOH) and other relevant government agencies;

(©) Equipment for waste management, including but not limited to, waste segregation,
storage, collection, sorting, treatment and disposal services: Provided, That these said

1


equipment and technologies and services are approved by the Department o
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), DOH or other concemed eS
agencies;

(@) Inputs, raw materials and equipment necessary for the manufacture or production of
essential goods referred to in Paragraph One (1) hereof related to the containment or
mitigation of the public health emergency: Provided, That for the purpose of qualifying
for exemption from import duties, taxes and other fees and ensuring supply of PPE at
competitive prices, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall certify that the
equipment and supplies being imported are not locally available or of insufficient
quality and preference; Provided, further, That preference is given to products,
materials and supplies produced, made or manufactured in the Philippines.

SEC. 4. Liberalization of Importation Procedures. - The Bureau of Customs (BgC), in
coordination with other concerned agencies, is hereby mandated to formulate liberalized
procedures to expedite the entry of critical medical products, essential goods, equipment and
supplies to address public health emergencies in our country.

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Finance, in
cooperation with the Department of Health and other concemed departments and agencies of
the govemment, shall come up with the implementing rules and regulations for this Act fifteen
(15) days upon its effectivity.

SEC 6. Separability Clause. — If, for any reason, any provision or part hereof is declared
invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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