Implementation of International Trade Agreements on Textile and Garments

March 2, 1978

LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 676

WHEREAS, it is the declared national policy of the government to support and strengthen socio-economic development efforts;

WHEREAS, among the avenues through which said development efforts may be pursued is through intensified commercial activities locally and abroad;

WHEREAS, the government entity or office primarily assigned in Presidential Decree No. 721, to promote, develop, expand, regulate and control foreign and domestic trade is the Department of Trade;

WHEREAS, the Philippines, in its campaign to expand the country's foreign trade has concluded several international trade agreements for the export of textile and garments to other countries, among which are with the United States, Norway and the European Community;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, in order to insure proper implementation of said agreements and effect coordinated efforts in line with the existing government trade development programs, hereby direct:

1. The Department of Trade, through the Undersecretary of Trade, shall implement the international trade agreements on textile and garments between the Philippines and the European Community and other countries and formulate guidelines therefor.

2. The Department of Trade is authorized to collect reasonable fees for the issuance of export quotas, export licenses and other related services.

3. Provisions of LOI No. 558, existing orders, instructions, rules and regulations or portions thereof, which are inconsistent herewith, are hereby amended or revoked accordingly.

Immediate compliance herewith is enjoined.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 2nd day of March, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Seventy-Eight.