Suspending the Rates of Import Duty of Cement and Cement Clinker During Period of National Emergency

December 26, 1989 EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 387 SUSPENDING THE RATES OF IMPORT DUTY OF CEMENT AND CEMENT CLINKER UNDER PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1464, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE TARIFF AND CUSTOMS CODE OF 1978, AS AMENDED, DURING THE PERIOD OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY WHEREAS, the sharp increase in the demand for cement not only in the domestic market but in the Pacific-European regions as well has resulted in a worldwide shortage of cement; WHEREAS, increases in the price of imported cement and clinker are expected to ensue with the continuing acceleration of demand for cement; WHEREAS, inspite of the reduction in rates of import duty on cement and cement clinker under Executive Order No. 353 dated 27 March 1989, a further reduction to 0% in the import duty is necessary to ensure the viability of cement importation as one of the immediate solutions to the current price instability and cement shortage during the period of national emergency; NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by Section 401 of the Tariff and Customs Code, as amended, do hereby order: SECTION 1.The rates of import duty on cement and cement clinker under Section 104 of the Tariff and Customs Code, as amended, are hereby suspended. Until such time that the declaration of national emergency is lifted, the following articles listed hereinbelow shall have a 0% rate of import duty, to wit: H.S. Hdgs: Description of Articles 25.23 Portland Cement, aluminous cement ("ciment fondu"), slag cement, supersulphate cement and similar hydraulic cements, whether or not coloured 2523.10 00 or in the form of clinkers. - Cement clinkers: 2523.10 00 - Cement clinker other than for white cement - Portland Cement: 2523.29 00 - Other SECTION 2.Upon effectivity of this Executive Order, the above articles which are entered or withdrawn from warehouses in the Philippines for consumption shall be subject to the rates of duty herein prescribed. SECTION 3.All orders, issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. SECTION 4.This Executive Order shall take effect thirty (30) days from date hereof. acd DONE in the City of Manila, this 26th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Nine. Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 86 No. 5 Page 887 on January 29, 1990.