RA No. 8762 Retail Trade Liberalization Act of 2000
RA No. 8762 Retail Trade Liberalization Act of 2000
RA No. 8762 Retail Trade Liberalization Act of 2000
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Section 1. Title – This Act shall be known as the "Retail Trade Liberalization Act of
2000."
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to promote consumer
welfare in attracting promoting and welcoming productive investment that will bring
down price for the Filipino consumer, create more jobs, promote tourism, assist small
manufacturers, stimulate economic growth and enable Philippine goods and services to
become globally competitive through the liberalization of the retail trade sector.
Pursuant to this policy, the Philippine retail industry is hereby liberalized to encourage
Filipino and competitive retail trade sector in the interest of empower the Filipino
consumer through lower prices, higher quality goods, better services and wider choices.
(2) "High-end or luxury goods" shall refer to goods which are not necessary for
life maintenance and whose demand is generated in large part by the higher
income groups. Luxury goods shall include, but are not limited to products such
as; jewelry, branded or designer clothing and footwear, wearing apparel, leisure
and sporting goods, electronics and other personal effects.
Section 4. Treatment of Natural Born Citizen Who Has Lost His Philippine Citizenship.
- A natural-born citizen of the Philippines who resides in the Philippines shall be granted
the same rights as Filipino citizens for purposes of this Act.
The foreign investor shall be required to maintain in the Philippines the full amount of
the prescribed minimum capital unless the foreign investor has notified the SEC and the
DTI of its intention to repatriate its capital and cease operations in the Philippines. The
actual use in Philippine operations of the inwardly remitted minimum capital requirement
shall be monitored by the SEC.
Failure to maintain the full amount of the prescribed minimum capital prior to notification
of the SEC and the DTI, shall subject the foreign investor to penalties or restrictions on
any future trading activities/business in the Philippines.
Foreign retail stores shall secure a certification from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
(BSP) and the DTI, which will verify or confirm inward remittance of the minimum
required capital investments.
Section 7. Public Offering of Shares of Stock. – All retail trade enterprises under
Categories B and C in which foreign ownership exceeds eighty percent (80%) of equity
shall offer a minimum of thirty percent (30%) of their equity to the public through any
stock exchange in the Philippine within eight (8) years from their start of operations.
(b) (5) retailing branches or franchises in operation anywhere around the world
unless such retailer has at least one (1) store capitalized at a minimum of
Twenty-five million US dollars (US$25,000,000.00);
The DTI is hereby authorized to pre-qualify all foreign retailers, subject to the provisions
of this Act, before they are allowed to conduct business in the Philippine.
The DTI shall keep a record of Qualified foreign retailers who may, upon compliance
with law, establish retail stores in the Philippine. It shall ensure that parent retail trading
company of the foreign investor complies with the qualifications on capitalization and
track record prescribed in this section
The Inter-Agency Committee on Tariff and Related Matters Authority (NEDA) Board
shall formulate and regularly update a list of foreign retailers of high-end or luxury goods
and render an annual report on the same to Congress.
Section 9. Promotion of Locally Manufactured Products. - For ten (10) year after the
effectivity of this Act, at least thirty percent (30%) of the aggregate cost of the stock
inventory of foreign retailers falling under Categories B and C and ten percent (10%) for
category D shall be made in the Philippines.
The DTI, in coordination with the SEC, the NEDA and the BSP, shall formulate and
issue the implementing rules and regulation necessary to implement this Act within
ninety (90) days after its approval.
Section 12. Penalty Clause. - Any person who shall be Found guilty of Violation of any
provision of this Act shall be punished by imprisonment of not less that six (2) years and
one (1) day but not more than eight (8) years, and a fine of not less than One million
pesos
(P1,000,000.00) but not more that Twenty million pesos (P20,000,000.00) In the case of
associations, partnerships or corporations, the penalty shall be imposed upon its
partners, president, directors, manager and other officers responsible for the violation. If
the offender is not a citizen of the Philippines he shall be deported immediately after
service of sentence. If the Filipino of fender is a public officer or employee, he shall, in
addition to the penalty prescribed herein, suffer dismissal and permanent
disqualification from public office
Section 14. Separability Clause. – If any provisions of this Act shall be held
unconstitutional, the other provisions not otherwise affected thereby shall remain in
force and effect.
Section 15. Effectivity. – This act shall take effect fifteen (150 days after its approval
and publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.