THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regiilar Session 
S E N A T E  
s. No. 
Introduced by Senator S. R. OsmeAa 111 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to simplify the procedures for the disposition of perishable 
agricultural goods imported into the country to prevent their deterioration while in 
storage and subsequent wastage. 
Under the present provisions of the Tariff and Customs Code, perishable 
goods end up entering the domestic market under such state of deterioration that 
they endanger the safety of consumers. These products are also dumped at 
such low prices as to threaten the viability of local agricultural products. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
n, 
SERGIO OSMENA Ill 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
, _  
OF THE PHILIPPINE 
1 
First Regular Session 
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w 
E N A T  
s. No. 
Introduced by Senator S. R. Osmeiia I l l  
AN ACT 
AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1464, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE TARIFF AND CUSTOMS CODE OF 1978, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be if enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of 
the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
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Section I. 
Section 2607 of the Tariff and Customs Code is hereby 
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modified as follows: 
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“Section 2607. Disposition of Articles Liable to Deterioration. - 
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Perishable articles shall NOT be deposited in a[ny] bonded warehouse; 
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and, if not immediately entered for export or for transportation from the 
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vessel or aircraft in which it is imported or entered for consumption and 
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the duties and taxes paid thereon, [such articles may be sold at auction, 
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after such public notice, not exceeding three days, as the necessities of 
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the case permit] THE COLLECTOR SHALL IMMEDIATELY DECLARE 
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THE SEIZURE OF THE SAME. THEREAFTER, IF THE CONSIGNEE 
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FAILS TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COLLECTOR WITHIN SEVEN (7) 
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DAYS FROM THE DECLARATION OF SEIZURE OF SUCH ARTICLES, 
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THE COLLECTOR SHALL MOTU PROPRIO DONATE THE ARTICLES 
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TO ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY OR CHARITABLE INSTITUTION, 


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deem to be reasonable’] 
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course .”I 
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to read as follows: 
SELL THEM ON THE BASIS OF QUICK CANVASS, OR HAVE THEM 
DESTROYED, AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE.” 
[“When seizure shall be made of property which, in the opinion of 
the Collector, is liable to perish or be wasted or to depreciate greatly in 
value by keeping or which cannot be kept without great disproportionate 
expense, whether such property consists of live animals or of any article, 
the appraiser shall so certify in his appraisal, then the Collector may 
proceed to advertise and sell the same at auction, upon notice as he shall 
[“The same disposition may be made of any warehoused articles 
when the opinion of the Collector it is likely that the cost of depreciation, 
damage, leakage or other causes, may so reduce its value as to be 
insufficient to pay the duties, taxes and other charges due thereon, if it 
should be permitted to be kept so and be subjected to sale in the usual 
Sec. 2. Section 2608 of the Tariff and Customs Code is likewise amended 
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“SEC. 2608. Disposition of Articles Unfit for Use or Sale or Injurious 
to Public Health. - When any article, which in the opinion of the Collector, 
is a menace to publjc health, is seized or otherwise comes into the 
custody of the Bureau of Customs, the Collector of the port shall, if the 
matter is not disposable under the provisions relating to food and drugs, 
appoint a board of three members to examine the article. 
Whenever 
possible, THE BOARD SHALL BE COMPOSED OF [one member shall 
be] a representative [ofl FROM the Department of Health or [of] A local 
health officer, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF 
AGRICULTURE, and [the tow others shall be responsible officials of] AN 
APPRAISER FROM the Bureau of Customs [at least one of whom shall be 
an appraiser.] Such board shall examine said article, and if the same is 
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found to be unfit or a menace to the public health, the board shall so 
report in writing to the Collector, who shall forthwith order its destruction in 
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such manner, as the case may require. 
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“Health authorities at ports shall collaborate with the collectors in 
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such matters with reasonable dispatch.” 
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Sec. 3. The Bureau of Customs, with prior consultation with and approval 
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implementation of this Act. 
of, the Secretary of Finance, shall issue the rules and regulations for the effective 
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Sec. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at 
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least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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