NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC )
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 1778
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23 JI\N 25 P6 33
RECEIVED BY;
Introduced by: Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4635 OR "AN ACT TO SAFEGUARD 
THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE AND MAINTAIN THE DIGNITY OF THE 
NATION BY DECLARING IT A NATIONAL POLICY TO PROHIBIT THE 
COMMERCIAL IMPORTATION OF TEXTILE ARTICLES COMMONLY KNOWN 
AS USEDCLOTHING AND RAGS/' SETTING NATIONAL POLICIES ON THE 
COMMERCIAL IMPORTATION OF USED TEXTILES, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
Explanatory Note
"Ukay-Ukay" refers to a type of retail business that deals in second-hand 
clothes, bags, shoes , and other accessories which are sold at a cheap price. The 
emergence of the Ukay-Ukay business started in the early 1980s in Baguio. Due to 
the frequency of natural calamities in the country. Salvation Army 
distributed imported second hand goods to victims of the calamities as a form of 
humanitarian assistance. The said goods were accumulated and bought in bulk by 
traders who sold the same to the public at cheap prices. The business initially catered 
to the low-income populace. Due to the heightened popularity of the business, high 
- income earners started to patronize it.
However, the commercial importation of secondhand clothing to the Philippines has 
been prohibited since 1966 under the Republic Act No. 4653, also known as the "Act. 
It was enacted to safeguard the health of the Filipino people and maintain the dignity 
of the nation through the prohibition of the importation of used clothing and other 
goods. Pursuant to aforesaid law, Ukay-Ukay business is deemed illegal. Nonetheless, 
there has been a proliferation of the Ukay-Ukay business on account of ineffective 
implementation of the applicable law banning the same. Consequently, there is an 
urgent need to repeal the law relative to the sale of imported used clothing by Ukay- 
Ukay stores.


The Ukay-Ukay industry has evolved as part of the Filipino Culture. It goes without 
saying that the revenue-generating industry has generated jobs for our fellow 
Filipinos However, it must be regulated by the proper government agencies to ensure 
its compliance with applicable laws. This bill seeks to legalize and regulate the 
importation of second-hand clothes used clothing and other goods, repealing RA 4653. 
Pursuant to the proposed bill, the P18 billion industry will no longer be an 
underground enterprise since it will be duly registered and its revenues audited for
accountability by the proper government agencies.
The passage of this measure is thus earnestly sought.
RARFY T. TULFO 
^nator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
Senate
of tl)? fercvrlniT
23 M75 P6 33
SENATE
RECEIVED BV:...
Introduced by: Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4635 OR "AN ACT TO SAFEGUARD 
THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE AND MAINTAIN THE DIGNITY OF THE 
NATION BY DECLARING IT A NATIONAL POLICY TO PROHIBIT THE 
COMMERCIAL IMPORTATION OF TEXTILE ARTICLES COMMONLY KNOWN 
AS USEDCLOTHING AND RAGS/' SETTING NATIONAL POLICIES ON THE 
COMMERCIAL IMPORTATION OF USED TEXTILES, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled.
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SECTION 1. Republic Act No. 4653, or "AN ACT TO SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH OF 
THE PEOPLE AND MAINTAIN THE DIGNITY OF THE NATION BY DECLARING IT A 
NATIONAL POLICY TO PROHIBIT THE COMMERCIAL IMPORTATION OF TEXTILE 
ARTICLES COMMONLY KNOWN AS USED CLOTHING AND RAGS" is hereby repealed.
SEC. 2. No repeal of the Revised Penal Code. - This Act does not in any manner 
repeal, amend or modify the provisions of the Revised Penal Code, as amended.
SEC. 3. Health standards.
- In the interest of public health, the Department of Health shall determine the health 
standards and prerequisites for importing and distributing used textile articles 
commonly known as used clothing and rags.
SEC. 4. Tariffs. - The Tariff Commission, in consultation with the relevant agencies, 
shall determine the proper tariff line for used textile articles commonly known as used 
clothing and rags.


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SEC. 5. Disposition of smuggled used textiles.
- The Bureau of Customs and the Department of Social Welfare and Development shall 
determine the disposition of imports of used textiles seized for violations of the 
Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, as amended, and other applicable laws, rules, 
and regulations.
SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations.
The Bureau of Customs, the Tariff Commission, the Department of Health, and the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development shall issue the rules and regulations 
necessary for the implementation of this Act.
SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is subsequently declared 
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby 
shall remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, executive orders, rules and regulations, or 
parts thereof inconsistent with any provisions hereof are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly.
SEC. 9. Effectivity clause.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,