foreign donations to the philippines

Donations from abroad may qualify for duty exemption depending on the donee/consignee or recipient, and the nature of the item to be donated.

  1. The specified donee/consignee or recipient must be qualified to receive donations on a tax or duty free basis.
  2. The items to be donated may be recommended for duty-free entry provided they are:
      • Directly required or necessary in the religious, charity, medical or training activities of the donee/consignee, and should contribute to the promotion of rural or regional development, generation of employment, and strengthening of health services or moral values, and other socio-economic development; 
      • Essential machinery and equipment, including its spare parts and accessories, as defined under NEDA Rules and Regulations;
      • Not contraband, prohibited, regulated or restricted under existing laws (i.e., motor vehicles, clothing, tires), except those necessary for the promotion of public health and safety; and
      • Not locally available and with no local substitutes as certified by the Board of Investments. However, in case of local availability, the importation may still be recommended for duty-free treatment if it satisfies the foregoing conditions, in addition to which the BOI should interpose no objection to granting of duty exemption.

Note: Certification for duty-free importation is made on a per shipment basis to ensure that each request satisfies the policy guidelines of NEDA.

Qualified Recipients

The following organizations and entities may qualify for duty free importation of donations:

  • Non-profit, welfare, and charitable organizations which have been in operation for at feast six (6) months and are licensed or accredited by DSWD;
  • Non-stock, non-profit educational and training institution duly registered under Philippine laws and operated exclusively for educational purpose, maintained and administered by private individuals or groups, offering formal education, and issued permit to operate by DECS in accordance with existing laws and regulations;
  • Educational, scientific, and cultural institutions or societies, and similar organizations duly approved by competent authorities such as DECS and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) National Commission of the Philippines;
  • Other non-profit religious and/or charitable institutions registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, except private individuals and civic, service, cultural, and scientific organizations or foundations;
  • Government hospitals duly registered and licensed to operate by DOH as provided for in Republic Act 4226 or the Hospital Licensure Act;
  • Private primary and secondary hospitals duly registered and licensed to operate by DOH as provided for in Republic Act 4226;
  • Government departments, offices, and agencies, including local government units, except government-owned and controlled corporations;
  • Duly registered cooperatives certified by the implementing government agency concerned as deserving such incentive; and
  • Other organizations covered by bilateral or international agreements to which the Philippines is a signatory, and by Presidential decrees and other special laws.

Donated Items Allowed Tax and Duty Exemptions

  • Books, publications and documents
  • Essential machinery and equipment, including its spare parts & accessories

Only non-profit religious and charitable (except civic and service) institutions, government agencies and hospitals, and private primary and secondary hospitals may be allowed to receive donated essential machinery and equipment including spare parts and accessories on a duty free basis.

  • Essential consumer goods not available locally in times of calamities or fortuitous events
  • Food and food products, drugs and medicines and other pharmaceuticals having similar preparations registered with the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD)

No pharmaceutical product intended for donation will be accepted or distributed unless it is registered with BFAD, in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act 3720. All donated drugs issued clearance by BFAD are subject to strict monitoring by BFAD for intended usage.

  • Medical equipment and devices
  • Relief goods for free distribution to the needy or to be used in evacuation centers, provided these are not in commercial quantity
  • Reagents for research purposes
  • Scientific instruments or apparatus intended exclusively for educational purposes or pure scientific research; articles for the blind; and visual and auditory materials and works of art and collectors pieces of education, scientific, and cultural character pursuant to the Florence Educational Scientific and Cultural Agreement adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO at Florence, Italy in 1950

Consumer items such as gas stoves, television sets, air conditioning units, refrigerators, office or home furniture, bicycles, towels, drapes / curtains, sheets, blanket, toys, among others, are not considered priority items for economic development and therefore do not qualify for duty exemption.

The importation of textile articles commonly known as used clothing from any country of origin is absolutely prohibited. (Republic Act 4653, Customs Memorandum Order No. 14, s. 1986, DSWD Department Order No. 28, s. 1999).

Basic Requirements

From the Donor

  1. Deed of donation duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate;
  2. Itemized list of donation (also referred to as packing list or inventory of donated items);
  3. Proforma invoice or commercial invoice (not required for used items); and
  4. Shipping documents (bill of lading or airway bill).

The name listed as donee/consignee or recipient in the Deed of donation must be the same as that appearing in the shipping documents.

From the Donee/Consignee/Recipient

  1. Letter of request for duty-free certification addressed either to the Department of Finance (DOF) or the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA);
  2. Deed of acceptance of the donation;
  3. Distribution plan for the donation;
  4. Copy of SEC registration and Articles of Incorporation and/or By-laws, in case of non-stock, non-profit charitable or religious institutions requesting exemption from payment of duties for the first time;
  5. DSWD License to Operate and Certificate of Accreditation, if non-government organization;
  6. Current and valid DOH License to Operate, if hospital.

Additional Requirements

The following additional documents would be needed, depending on the nature and type of the donation:

  • Product catalogue and/or technical description of products to be donated
  • Certificate of registration for cooperatives or NACIDA-registered firms
  • Endorsement of the Board of Investments
  • Packing list indicating titles of books and Publications;
  • Authority of representative (in lieu of donee);
  • Duly notarized affidavit and deed of undertaking indicating that the donated articles shall be used actually, directly and exclusively for educational purposes and shall not be resold or transferred for material consideration; and
  • Endorsement of Mabuhay Lane, Department of Finance
  • Deed of undertaking indicating that the donated articles shall be used actually, directly and exclusively for educational purposes and shall not be resold or transferred for material consideration;
  • DECS accreditation, if the recipient is an educational institution;
  • UNESCO endorsement, if the recipient is a non-government organization; and
  • Copy of BIR certificate, and international agreement or executive order allowing tax- exempt privileges, if applicable.
  • Distribution plan for medicines;
  • Letter to the DOH-Bureau of International Health Cooperation (DOH-BIHC) requesting endorsement to BFAD for the issuance of clearance. The letter request should be submitted with the complete list of drugs and quantity to be donated, with the following information: (a) Generic name/brand name; (b)Formulation (with English translation); (c) Dosage forms/strengths; (d) Batch/lot number and expiration date (shelf life of at least 6 months upon arrival in the Philippines); and (e) Name and address of manufacturer
  • BFAD Certificate of Product Registration (CPR)

The recipient or donee/consignee will need to coordinate with BFAD for the inspection and collection of samples for Lab Analysis prior to the issuance of the CPR or accelerated CPR.

  • Letter to the DOH-BIHC requesting endorsement to the Bureau of Health Devices and Technology (BHDT) for the issuance of clearance. This document must be submitted with the following: 
      1. Complete brochure/literature about the equipment model; 
      2. For X-ray equipment, a copy of the license to operate an x-ray facility issued by the BHDT; and 
      3. Name(s) and credentials of the person(s) who will operate the equipment
  • An import fee of P165.00 per unit will be paid to the BHDT upon approval of clearance
  • Duly notarized distribution plan, confirmed by the local Social Welfare and Development Office and endorsed by the DSWD Field Office which will provide technical assistance on the utilization of specific shipment;
  • Duly notarized distribution report on previous shipment (if any);
  • Prior agreed/approved arrangements with DSWD Regional Office concerned on items other than food, medicines, and relief items;
  • Letter to the DOH-BIHC requesting endorsement to BFAD for the issuance of clearance. The request is submitted with the complete list of food items and quantity to be donated, with expiration date of at least 6 months upon arrival in the Philippines;
  • BFAD Certificate of Product Registration (CPR)

Filing of Application

The donee/consignee or recipient files a letter of request for duty free importation either with the NEDA or the DOF. The NEDA processes, evaluates, and endorses requests for duty free importation for machinery and equipment. The DOF processes, evaluates, and endorses requests for duty free importation of relief goods (medicines, food, among others) intended for DSWD-accredited and licensed non-government organizations, as well as books, publications, and education-related materials/equipment.

The letter to NEDA is addressed to:

The Director
Trade, Industry, and Utility Staff
National Economic and Development Authority
Amber Ave., Pasig City

The letter to DOF is addressed to:

The Secretary
Department of Finance
Attention: Revenue Operations Group
DOF Bldg., Roxas Blvd., Manila

For books and publications, the letter to DOF must be addressed to:

The Secretary of Finance
Attention: Mabuhay Lane
Podium, DOF Bldg., BSP Complex,
Roxas Blvd., Manila 1004

Release of Donation

Step 1.

Concerned agency issues endorsement

Step 2.

DOF issues the appropriate clearance and forwards the same to the Central Records Division, Bureau of Customs (BOC) by official messenger. A duplicate copy of the DOF clearance may be furnished to the donee/consignee or recipient upon request.

Step 3.

The BOC's Tax Exempt Division endorses the release of donation and forwards this document to the Informal Entry Division of the District Office concerned (South Harbor, MICP, NAIA, etc.).

Step 4.

BOC's Informal Entry Division checks/verifies, appraises and examines the donated shipment.

Step 5.

Complete documentation and pay processing fees and charges (i.e., terminal handling fee, stripping, arrastre/wharfage, among others)

NOTE: Donations, even if accorded duty free privilege, are still subject to value added tax (VAT), which is computed at 100/0 of the landed cost of the shipment.

Step 6.

BOC releases the shipment to the donee/consignee or its authorized representative. Processing for the release of donation at the Bureau of Customs usually takes about two to three (2-3) working days if all requirements are complete.

Note:

Donations, even if accorded duty free privilege, are still subject to value added tax (VAT), which is computed at 100/0 of the landed cost of the shipment.

References:

Florence Educational Scientific and Cultural Agreement, Italy, 1950, UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines

General Guidelines on Donation of Pharmaceutical Products, Bureau of Food And Drugs Memorandum Order No. 004-88

Guidelines on Availing of the Tax Incentives Provision of the Adopt-A-School Program; Guidebook on Procedures and Requirements Governing Importation of Donations, Department of Education, Culture and Sports

Procedural and Document Requirements for the Processing and Clearance of Donations by the Department of Health

Rules and Regulations Implementing Section 4(3) Article XIV of the New Constitution, Department of Finance Order Nos. 137-87, as amended

Primer on the Availment of Duty/Tax Exemption by NGOs, December 1989, National Economic and Development Authority

Primer on the NEDA Rules and Regulations Governing the Implementation of the last Clause of the Last Paragraph of Section 105 of the Tariff and Customs Code and NEDA Board Resolution No. 58 s. 1988.