Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed a presidential decree on April 18 ordering the Department of Agriculture (DA) to further streamline administrative procedures and policies on the importation of agricultural commodities to eliminate non-tariff barriers and ensure food security. The order is effective immediately.

Marcos directed the Department of Agriculture (DA) to work with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or the Department of Finance (DOF) to streamline importer licensing procedures and requirements, minimize the time needed to process import applications, and exempt licensed transactions from the requirement of submitting registrations. The Department of Agriculture (DA) was also asked to simplify the procedures and requirements for issuing Sanitary and Phytosanitary import Clearance (SPSIC) and to take specific measures to improve the logistics, transportation, distribution, and storage of imported agricultural products. Meanwhile, Marcos directed the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to prioritize the unloading and release of imported agricultural products in accordance with the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act” and other applicable laws, rules and regulations of the BOC.