Disasters, Conflicts and Migration

For a more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters.

Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities

Sitting along the Typhoon belt the Philippines see over 20 storms a year hitting the PAR (Philippine Area of Responsibility). Most storms that make landfall hit the north-eastern parts of the country. The frequency of these storms has been a trigger for the Philippines to set up early warning systems and invest in disaster preparedness and response.

The Philippines has a distinct rainy season which covers the period June to end of October. During that time flooding and mud slides are common, although they are localised. As a result, there are occasions where roads and bridges become impassable. Additionally, water transport is affected as storms can make travel/transport unsafe.

November to February is considered a cool and dry period. Mountainous regions can become cold.

March to May is the hot season and the temperature can become oppressive.

Humidity is a presence all year round.

Due to the rainy season and typhoon season, handling of commodities can become difficult. Additionally, storage structures can be affected by storms resulting in damage to stored commodities. Storms also affected the safety of loading cargo to be transporter on water ways. Cold chain storage is problematic and does not cover the entire country. Also due to distances movement of cargo needing cold chain becomes complicated and risky. Cargo should always be protected against rain or clearly marked to prevent possible damage. The post-harvest period, late October alert November, can see a scarcity of storage capacity and transport as farmers need to move and store their commodities.

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response

Government

The Government of the Philippines has a long history of preparing for and responding to disasters. As time has gone by, they rely less and less on the international humanitarian community for assistance during response. There is a move within country to handle response without calls for international assistance. There is still willingness to accept assistance, but it of course must respect Government-identified priorities. Disaster preparedness and response is enshrined in law and a National Disaster Response Plan has been adapted. The central Government is much aware of and trained in preparedness and response. Local governments have been less exposed to the same degree of training. 

Links to NDRPs from the NDRRMC: 

NDRP for Earthquakes and Tsunamis

NDRP for Hydro-meteorological Hazards

NDRP for Terrorism Incidents 

The Philippines Government has adapted the Cluster System as their modality to organise responses, creating their own clusters. It’s important to be aware of the difference between the two cluster systems. Currently, the Philippine Government recognises the following eleven (11) Emergency Response Clusters, and their respective lead agencies:

1. SRR: Search Rescue and Retrieval (AFP)
2. HEALTH: with Sub-Clusters on: Medical and Public Health Services, Water-Sanitation Hygiene (WASH), Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support Services (MHPSS), and Nutrition (DOH)
3. IDPP: Internally Displaced Persons Protection (DSWD)
4. CCCM: Camp Coordination and Camp Management (DSWD)
5. FNFI: Food and Non-Food Items (DSWD)
6. LOG: Logistics with Sub-Clusters on: Warehousing, Transportation, & Services (OCD)
7. LAO: Law and Order (PNP)
8. ET: Emergency Telecommunications (OCD)
9. EDU: Education (DepEd)
10. PIHA: Philippine International Humanitarian Assistance (DFA)
11. MDM: Management of the Dead and Missing (DILG)

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Philippines Government Contact List

Humanitarian Community

The humanitarian community in the Philippines is in transition, from a direct responder to a capacity builder and supporter of the Government-led responses, as a result of the Government taking on a bigger role within disaster response and also as a result of the country moving towards an upper middle-income status. Needs remain but transitional humanitarian actors find the Government able and willing to fill the gaps.

As the Government becomes more capable and willing to lead disaster response the overall role of the humanitarian community continues to shrink. Although when a disaster strikes there is a knowledge base remaining in country through years of collective experience. The Humanitarian Cluster system has been used in many responses and is known by all actors, including the Government. Therefore, scaling up should not be a problem. Furthermore, more private sector originations are becoming involved in response and their capacities and impact will grow.

Organizations have invested large amounts of resources over the last decade in disaster preparedness. Through trainings, stockpiling of goods, and structure reforms organisations have worked to build the capacity of Government. Disaster preparedness initiatives are required to roll-down at district and community level to ensure strengthened response mechanisms are in place across the country..

For more information on humanitarian agency contact details, please see the following link: 4.2 Philippines Humanitarian Agency Contact List

The Philippines Bureau of Customs sits under the Department of Finance: Bureau of Customs website

The Bureau has the following duties under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (RA 10863):

(a) Assessment and collection of customs revenues from imported goods and other dues, fees, charges, fines and penalties accruing under the CMTA;  

(b) Simplification and harmonization of customs procedures to facilitate movement of goods in international trade;  

(c) Border control to prevent entry of smuggled goods;  

(d) Prevention and suppression of smuggling and other customs fraud;  

(e) Facilitation and security of international trade and commerce through an informed compliance program;  

(f) Supervision and control over the entrance and clearance of vessels and aircraft engaged in foreign commerce;  

(g) Supervision and control over the handling of foreign mails arriving in the Philippines for the purpose of collecting revenues and preventing the entry of contraband;  

(h) Supervision and control on all import and export cargoes, landed or stored in piers, airports, terminal facilities, including container yards and freight stations for the protection of government revenue and prevention of entry of contraband;  

(i) Conduct a compensation study with the end view of developing and recommending to the President a competitive compensation and remuneration system to attract and retain highly qualified personnel, while ensuring that the Bureau remains financially sound and sustainable;  

(j) Exercise of exclusive original jurisdiction over forfeiture cases under the CMTA; and  

(k) Enforcement of the CMTA and all other laws, rules and regulations related to customs administration.  

The Bureau of Customs has 17 Customs Districts (as enumerated below). Each Customs District is headed and supervised by a District Collector, assisted by as many Deputy District Collectors as may be necessary. A Customs District has a designated “principal port of entry”. Generally, a principal port of entry has its “sub-port(s) of entry”.  

Customs District XVII Port of Limay  

Please see the following link for a list of restricted items.

Please see the following link for a description of documentation requirements.

The taxing authority in the Philippines falls under Bureau of Internal Revenue. 

During times of emergency humanitarian goods can receive fast track customs clearance procedures and be imported duty free. However, that is on a case by case basis and importers should not assume that humanitarian goods will always receive those privileges.  

Exempt transactions

The following goods, services and transactions are exempted from VAT:  

The Bureau of Food and Drug (BFAD) and the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS) regulate food quantity and import and export of agriculture products within the Philippines. Under the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act, FDA was made responsible for the safety of processed food products while the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) made BAFPS accountable for fresh and primary agricultural and fisheries products. 

The Department of Agriculture is responsible for food safety in the primary production and post-harvest stages of the supply chain. The Department of Health is responsible for the safety of processed and pre-packaged foods, both locally produced and imported, and the conduct of epidemiological studies.  Local government units (LGUs) will monitor the compliance with food safety standards of food businesses such as slaughterhouses, dressing plants, wet markets, supermarkets, school canteens, restaurants, catering establishments, as well as street food sales.  The Department of the Interior and Local Government, in collaboration with the DA and DOH will supervise the enforcement of food safety and sanitary rules and regulations.  A Food Safety Regulation Coordinating Board was created to monitor compliance with the law, coordinate management and planning during food safety emergencies, and establish policies and procedures for coordination among agencies involved in food safety. 

The Department of Health is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for ensuring access to basic public health services by all Filipinos through the provision of quality health care and the regulation of all health services and products. 

Organizations wishing to import medicine and/or medical equipment must check carefully the regulations provided by the Department of Health as certain items are prohibited: Department of Health website

The Philippines Government has trade agreements in place with ASEAN, an economic partnership agreement with Japan, European Free Trade Association Free Trade Agreement. The Philippines and EFTA members – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland – signed a free trade agreement in 2016 which is expected to enter into force in 2018.  

 Additionally, the Philippines has free trade agreements with China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Australia and New Zealand under ASEAN. Visit the Department of Trade and Industry website on Free Trade Agreements and the Tariff Commission website for a list of Philippine trade agreements and corresponding tariff schedules and commitments.  Other trade-related information is also available at the Philippine National Trade Repository website.

For more information on regulatory departments contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Philippines Government Contact List

Philippines Customs Information

For information on Philippines Customs, please see the following link:

Philippines Bureau of Customs

'One Stop Shop'

In order to streamline the customs procedures for humanitarian organisations bringing relief good into the Philippines during a humanitarian emergency, a “One-Stop-Shop” will be activated in the event of a humanitarian emergency

The OSS is activated, with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as the lead agency, upon the declaration of the President of the Philippines of a national state of calamity.

The Purpose of a“One-Stop-Shop” is to bring together in a single location the key staff, necessary for expediting customs clearances for humanitarian cargo, for the selected agencies including representatives of relevant government departments including:
 

the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Health, The Bureau of Food and Drugs, the Ministry of Finance (MoF), and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

For information on the 'One Stop Shop', please see the following link:

 Philippines Customs Information - Importing Relief Goods and the 'One Stop Shop' 

For information on 'One Stop Shop'  Government Agency Contact details, please see the following document:

One Stop Shop - Government Contact Information

Duties and Tax Exemption

For information on Philippines Customs tariffs, please see the following link: 

Philippines Customs Tariffs

For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please follow the link below: 

4.1 Philippines Government Contact List

Emergency Response:

[Note: This section contains information which is related and applicable to ‘crisis’ times. These instruments can be applied when an emergency is officially declared by the Government.  When this occurs, there is usually a streamlined process to import goods duty and tax free.]

Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response): 

[Note: This section should contain information on the usual duties & taxes exemption regime during non-emergency times, when there is no declared state of emergency and no streamlines process (e.g. regular importations/development/etc.).]

The Bureau of Customs (BOC), which is under the auspices of the Department of Finance (DOF), is mandated to implement an effective revenue collection, prevent and suppress smuggling and entry of prohibited imported goods, supervise and control over the entrance and clearance of vessels and aircrafts and engaged in foreign commerce, and the enforcement of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines and all other laws, rules and regulations related to tariff and customs administration. The on-line system---to process clearance of imports, payment of duty, and delivery of release orders for shipments to leave the docks---has lessened the cost of trade for businesses, reduced opportunities for fraud, and helped the Bureau to maximize revenue collection.

 Relevant customs codes and decrees are:

1. Section 105 of the Tariff and Customs Code
2. Item# of Section 204 of the National Internal Revenue Code 1077
3. CMO No. 43-89 defining the specific coverage of the regulations concerning tax and duty-free importation’s of Foreign Embassies, international institution and consulates
4. CMO No. 41-89 providing the release of all diplomatic shipments which may only be effected upon presentation of the documents required by said regulations.
5. CMO No 47-2009 providing guidelines to cover importation of donated relief goods / articles / equipment intended for distribution to calamity-declared areas and victims of disasters/calamities

Exemption Certificate Application Procedure: 

Philippines import permits are classified on the basis of the commodity type:

Please see the following table for information on Philippine Duties and Taxes Exemption Procedure:

Philippines Customs Duties table

Exemption Certificate Document Requirements

Customs Clearance

Customs Clearance Document Requirements

NOTE: Authorization letter to process is needed for the customs clearance.

For information on Philippines Customs Focal Points, please see the following links:

4.2.1 Philippines Government Contact List

4.2.2 Philippines Humanitarian Agency Contact List

For information on Philipines Customs additional details, please see the following documents: 

Philippines National Customs Legislation and Regime

Philippines Customs Information by Entry Points