DTI taps Pacquiao as endorser of bill that will boost PH garments exports to US

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Trade and Industry is sending boxing champ Manny Pacquiao to help endorse to US legislators the passage of the Save Our Industries Act (Save Act), a bill expected to give the Philippine garments industry a much-needed boost.

Trade Undersecretary Cristino L. Panlilio told reporters that they were sending Pacquiao together with the Philippine trade attaché to seek the support of US legislators for this landmark piece of legislation.

“I hail the filing of this bill. This is something we have worked hard for since last year. The Department of Foreign Affairs, led by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario and our new Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia Jr. have also adopted the Save Act,” Panlilio said.

“This is a major step, but the work is not over. We must work harder now to convince more senators and congressmen to support this bill. We are calling on all Filipinos here who have relatives in the US to please inform them about the Save Act. They can do their own share in getting in touch with their senators and congressmen,” Panlilio added.

Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo, meanwhile, noted that the filing of the Save Act would be a “great development” in “achieving our goal to invigorate the garments industry.”

Panlilio earlier said the passage of the Save Act would benefit both the United States textile industry and local garment manufacturers.

“This is a landmark piece of legislation that will redound to great benefits for both our people. It will revive the Philippines’ garments industry, which has been in the doldrums ever since the end of the quota regime. At the same time, (it will) increase exports of US textiles to the Philippines and other Asean countries to up to $500 million. This definitely is a win-win solution,” Panlilio had said.

The Save Act is expected to provide enough incentives for garments exporters in the Philippines to expand their operations through a grant of preferential treatment from the United States.

The bill supports the country’s inclusion in the 809 Program, which gives various benefits to US trading partners that produce garments out of US-made fabric or yarn.

Garment manufacturers from Mexico, the Caribbean and Andean countries already enjoy preferential treatment, with benefits ranging from lower duties to quota-free and duty-free entry into the United States.

Under the 809 component of the bill, US-made fabric and yarns cut and wholly assembled in the Philippines would qualify to re-enter the US duty-free.

Garments made of US spun yarn or extruded yarn formed in the Philippines, on the other hand, would be allowed to re-enter the US at just half of the most favored nation (MFN) duty.

Introduced in June 2009 by Washington State Representative Jim McDermott and California Representative Brian Bilbray, the Save Act also had a companion bill in the US Senate filed by Senators Kit Bond and Daniel Inouye.