Article 64p. 64

ADMINISTRATIVE CODE AND LAW OF PUBLIC OFFICERS TEXT AND RULES

of the Department pertinent to international trade and

commerce being implemented by the Department's line

operating

units. The Undersecretary for International

Trade shall supervise the following:

(1) Bureau of International Trade Relations. This Bureau

shall be the primary agent responsible for all matters

pertaining to foreign trade relations, whether bilateral,

regional or multilateral, especially market access and

market access related matters; formulate positions and

strategies

for

trade

negotiations,

consultations

and

conferences

as

well as supervise trade negotiations,

consultations and conferences; coordinate with other

Departments and agencies of the Philippine government

with the view of assuring consistency in the government's

positions in trade negotiations and on other activities

pertaining to foreign trade relations; consult with industry

groups and provide technical advice and information on

the

above

matters

and

activities; identify tariff and

non-tariff barriers affecting products of export interest to

the Philippines, and negotiate measures for liberalizing

them at bilateral, regional and multilateral form; and

evaluate and submit recommendations on existing and

proposed commercial policies of the Philippines.

(2) Bureau of Export Trade Promotion. This Bureau

shall

formulate

and

monitor

programs,

plans,

and

projects pertinent to the development, promotion, and

expansion

of

the

foreign

trade

of

the

Philippines;

formulate country and product export strategies; conduct

research on new product development and adaptation

opportunities in the export markets, as well as identify

the domestic supply base for such products, prepare

situation reports on all export production; prepare and

update country and regional market profiles; maintain an

integrated information system on all aspects of the

products and commodities relevant to export marketing;

formulate, plan, supervise, coordinate and monitor the

implementation of both private and official incoming and

outgoing

missions,

and

review

the

results

of

such;

promote

and coordinate international subcontracting

arrangements

between

and

among

foreign

and

Philippine investors whereby production operations and

facilities may be located in the Philippines; formulate and

monitor the implementation of policies and guidelines

for

the

registration

and

certification

of

bona

fide

exporters

eligible

for

the

various

export

incentive

programs of the Philippines; and review and identify

appropriate

measures

to

minimize

or

deregulate

export-import procedures and other foreign trade laws

necessary to stimulate the international marketing of

Philippine products.

(3) Foreign Trade Service Corps. This Corps shall assist

Philippine businessmen, producers, and exporters with

marketing

information, project development support,

and liaison with foreign government agencies; develop

marketing and commercial intelligence for dissemination

to

Philippine

businessmen

through

the

Trade

and

Investment Information Center; provide direct support to

the Department's overseas promotional programs; assist

Philippine businessmen handle trade complaints against

foreign firms and governments; support Department

units in import and export administration, monitoring of

trade agreements, and investments promotion; and be

accountable for establishment of foreign investment and

export targets for their respective areas of responsibility.

In addition to the existing Foreign Trade Service Corps,

the President may appoint Trade Commissioners with the

rank

of Assistant Secretary to coordinate trade and

investment matters in the various continents to which

they are assigned for the purpose of increasing trade and

investments.

(4) Bonded Export Marketing Board. This Board shall

promote the establishment of bonded manufacturing

and trading facilities for the re-export of those products

where a clear net value added may be generated based

on

the

emerging

comparative

advantage

of

the

Philippine

export

industry;

study

and

analyze

the

international market for specific products where the

Philippines has or can develop a comparative advantage;

recommend to the Bureau of Customs the licensing of

bonded manufacturing facilities and monitor all bonded

manufacturing

sites,

with

the

objective

of ensuring

operational efficiency; identify and designate sites where

export bonded manufacturing sites shall be located with

a view of dispersal to the regions; and initiate studies on

the

development and maintenance of the country's

competitive advantage in export products.

(5) Philippine Shippers' Council. This Council shall

represent

Philippine

shippers

in

international

liner

conferences and negotiate in their behalf, for more

favorable freight and shipping rates; evaluate and issue

waivers to the use of Philippine flag carriers; and provide

assistance

and

information

to

Philippine

shippers,

specially exporters, in matters related to shipping.

(6) Philippine Trade Training Center. This Center shall

develop

training

modules

on

export

and

import

techniques and procedures; raise the level of awareness

of Philippine businessmen of export opportunities and

the availability of alternative sources of import products

or

diversified

markets

for

exports;

offer

specialized

courses

for

specific

industry

groups

directed

at

overcoming barriers to overseas market penetration; and

conduct

training

programs

in

international

trade

practices,

inspection

techniques

and

exhibitions

mounting.

(7) Product Development and Design Center of the

Philippines.

This

Center

shall

provide

product

identification, research, and development services to the

private

sector;

conduct

seminars and workshops on

product

design

and

development;

set

up

design

exhibitions; publish product design related materials; and

conduct continuing research on product and product

packaging design trends and processing technologies.

CHAPTER 5 Office of the Undersecretary for Industry and

Investments

SECTION 12. Office of the Undersecretary for Industry

and Investments . — The Office of the Undersecretary for

Industry and Investments shall supervise all agencies

involved

in

the

formulation

and

implementation

of

programs and projects pertinent to the development of

domestic industries and the promotion of investments in

activities or enterprises critical to the Department's trade

and industry development program.

(1)

Bureau

of

Small

and

Medium

Business

Development. This Bureau shall formulate and monitor

development programs for private institutions involved in

assisting

the

trade

and

industry

sector,

delivery

mechanisms and linkages for marketing, financial and

subcontracting services, and development programs for

livelihood and micro, small and medium enterprises.

(2) Board of Investments, whose functions are defined

below.

(3) Export Processing Zone Authority, whose functions

are defined below.

(4)

Bureau

of

Import

Services.

This Bureau shall

monitor import levels and prices, particularly liberalized

items; analyze and forecast import levels; analyze and

publish import return statistics; perform annual reviews

of the substantive components of the Philippine Tariff

System and submit recommendations thereon; perform

such

other functions on import transactions as the

President or the Central Bank of the Philippines shall

delegate or authorize; and ensure that the Department's

views

on

goods

under

the

jurisdiction

of

other

Departments are taken into consideration.

(5) Iron and Steel Authority.

(6) Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines.

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