MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has issued directives to the Department of Agriculture (DA) aimed at simplifying the importation process for agricultural products to ensure national food security and stabilize domestic prices. This initiative comes through Administrative Order (AO) No. 20, which seeks to address persistent administrative hurdles and non-tariff barriers affecting the trade of agricultural commodities.
According to Philippines News Agency, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on April 18 and effective immediately, these non-tariff barriers include quotas, import licensing systems, and other regulatory measures that have traditionally slowed the import process. President Marcos highlighted the need for transparency and predictability in the importation policies to maintain a sufficient supply of agricultural goods in the local market and to enhance local production capabilities.
The President's order specifically directs the DA, in coordination with either the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or the Department of Finance (DOF), to streamline licensing procedures for importers, reduce the processing time for importation applications, and waive certain registration requirements for licensed trades. Additionally, the DA is tasked with facilitating the importation of certain agricultural products beyond the authorized Minimum Access Volume (MAV) — a quota set under the World Trade Organization that allows lower tariffs on specific quantities of imported goods.
Further instructions include reducing or removing administrative fees associated with imports and improving procedures for obtaining Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC). The order also calls for enhanced logistics, transport, distribution, and storage systems for imported agricultural products.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is also directed under AO 20 to prioritize the unloading and rapid clearance of imported agricultural goods, in accordance with the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and other relevant regulations.
To ensure the effective implementation of these measures, President Marcos has established a surveillance team under the same order. Concerned agencies are required to provide a quarterly report on the progress of these initiatives to the President via the Office of the Executive Secretary and the Inter-Agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook (IAC-IMO). The IAC-IMO, established under Executive Order No. 28 (series of 2023), serves as an advisory body to the Economic Development Group on strategies to manage inflation, focusing particularly on food and energy prices.