FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

1653

House No.,

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to allow any person, doing business as importer or
exporter, to represent himself or herself as customs broker, amending for the
purpose Republic Act (RA) 9280, otherwise known as the Customs Brokers Act
of 2004.

Section 6 of RA 9280 provides for the scope of the practice of customs
brokers which includes, among others, preparation of customs requisite
documents for imports and exports, declaration of customs duties and taxes,
preparation, signing, filing, lodging and processing of import and, export
entries, representing importers and exporters before any government agency
and private entities in cases related to valuation and classification of imported
articles, and rendering of other professional services in matters relating to
customs and tariff laws, its procedures and practices.

By allowing importers and exporters to exercise some of the services
rendered by customs brokers, trade transactions are simplified, without the red
tape, and the cost of transactions is considerably lessened. Moreover,
Philippine products become more competitive in the world trade arena.

This bill likewise seeks to amend Section 27 of this same Act by allowing
duly authorized representatives to sign import entries or export declarations
thus avoiding red tape in the system.

In view of the foregoing, early approval of this bill is earnestly sought

RUFWS B. RODRIGUEZ

MAXIMO B, RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

= HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

1653

House Bill No..

AN ACT
ALLOWING ANY PERSON DOING BUSINESS AS IMPORTER OR
EXPORTER TO REPRESENT HIMSELF OR HERSELF AS CUSTOMS
BROKER, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9280,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CUSTOMS BROKERS ACT OF 2004.

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

SECTION 1. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 9280 is hereby amended to
read as follows:

“Sec. 6. Scope of the Practice of Customs Brokers.

Customs Broker Profession involves services
consisting of consultation, preparation of customs requisite
documents for imports and exports, declaration of customs
duties and taxes, preparation, signing, filing, lodging and
processing of import and export entries; representing
importers and exporters before any government agency
and private entities in cases related to valuation and
classification of imported articles and rendering of other
professional services in matters relating to customs and
tariff laws, its procedures and practices.

A customs broker shall be considered in the practice
of the profession if the nature and character of his/her
employment in private enterprises requires professional
knowledge in the field of customs and tariff administration.
He/She is also deemed in the practice of customs broker
profession if he/she teaches customs and _ tariff
administration subjects in any university, college or school
duly recognized by the government.

ANY PERSON DOING BUSINESS AS IMPORTER
OR EXPORTER SHALL LIKEWISE BE DEEMED AS
CUSTOMS BROKER. AS SUCH, HE OR SHE MAY BE


ALLOWED TO PREPARE CUSTOMS REQUISITE
DOCUMENTS FOR IMPORTS AND EXPORTS
DECLARE CUSTOMS DUTIES AND TAXES, PREPARE,
SIGN, FILE, LODGE AND PROCESS IMPORT AND
EXPORT ENTRIES; REPRESENT HIMSELF OR
HERSELF BEFORE ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND
PRIVATE ENTITIES IN CASES RELATED TO
VALUATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF IMPORTED
ARTICLES.”

SEC. 2. Section 27 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as
follows:

“ SEC. 27. Acts Constituting the Practice of Customs
Broker Profession. — Any single act or transaction embraced
within the provision of Section 6 hereof shall constitute an act of
engaging in the practice of customs broker profession. Import and
export entry declaration shall be signed [only] by a customs
broker OR DULY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF AN
IMPORTER under based on the covering documents submitted
by the importers.”

SEC. 3, This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.