TO MODIFY DOWNWARD THE RATE OF DUTY ON IMPORTED ACETATE TOW UNDER HEADING No. 56.02.400 OF THE TARIFF AND CUSTOMS CODE OF 1982

WHEREAS, it is the concern of the government under its
industrialization program to help and assist local industry to the fullest
extent ax much as possible;

WHEREAS, acetate tow used in the manufacture of cigarette
filters is a derivative of dissolving pulp, and presently, there is no
possibility that it will be produced locally as there are no facilities as yet
designed to produce dissolving pulp for acetate tow for cigarette filters;

WHEREAS, at present, the wood pulp production in the
Philippines is geared to the manufacture of paper products;

WHEREAS, the Integrated Pulp and Paper Project, one of the
11 major industrial undertakings of the government, which will be implemented as
scheduled until its completion in 1985, is also destined to produce newsprint,
kraft and fine paper;

WHEREAS, the objective of the tariff reform is to develop
export potentials and align the same with the development of the Integrated Pulp
and Paper Project, but since paper products top the priority list, the
production of dissolving pulp for acetate tow at this point cannot be
realized;

WHEREAS, the rate of duty on acetate tow, which was
increased in anticipation of the development of this project, should therefore
be amended ho that the industry’s economic development and growth will not be
disrupted.

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

SECTION 1. The stated rates of 20% ad valorem duty for the
year 1983-85 on acetate tow under heading No. 56.02.400 of the Tariff and
Customs Code of 1982, are hereby reduced lo ten (10) per cent ad valorem.

SEC. 2. This decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 14th clay of January in the year of Our
Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-three.

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