A DECREE TO CONSOLIDATE AND CODIFY ALL THE TARIFF AND CUSTOMS LAWS OF THE PHILIPPINES

WHEREAS, the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines
known as Republic Act No. 1937 has been amended by several Presidential Decrees
dating back to the year 1972;

WHEREAS, there exist in the said Code a substantial number
of provisions rendered obsolete by subsequent issuances of amendatory laws,
decrees and executive orders thereby making it imperative to consolidate, codify
and integrate such amendatory laws, decrees and executive orders to harmonize
their provisions for the proper guidance of the public and efficient
administration thereof;

WHEREAS, there likewise exist in the said Code certain
provisions which are impractical in application, thus, necessitating revision in
order to infuse flexibility, keep pace with the changing needs and demands of
trade and commerce as well as strengthen the punitive force of the law against
smuggling and other forms of customs fraud.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the
Constitution, do hereby order and decree as follows:

SECTION 1. Codification of all tariff and customs
laws.—All tariff and customs laws embodied in the present Tariff and
Customs Code and various laws, presidential decrees and executive orders
including new amendments thereto made in this Decree, are hereby consolidated
into a single Code to be known as the Tariff and Customs Code of 1978 which
shall form an integral part of this Decree.

SECTION 2. Effectivity.—The provisions of the
Tariff and Customs Code of 1978 shall take effect immediately without prejudice,
however, to the effectivity dates of the various laws, decrees and executive
orders which have so far amended the provisions of the Tariff and Customs Code
of the Philippines; Provided, however, that the tariff rates indicated
in the previous executive orders are now hereby considered statutory rates,
except those which have been reduced to the zero level, in which case the rates
previous to the reduction will be considered the statutory rates.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 11th day of June, in the year of Our Lord,
nineteen hundred and seventy-eight.

			(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS President of the Philippines
	By the President:
	(Sgd.) JACOBO C. CLAVE
		Presidential Executive Assistant