Seven chemicals will be excluded from the Philippine National Police (PNP) list of controlled chemicals and more may follow in order to facilitate the import of chemicals commonly used in manufacturing, according to an interior and local government official.
In a presentation during the National Export Congress organized by the Philippine Exporters Confederation on December 3, Edwin Enrile, undersecretary at the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), said there are ongoing reviews and consultations with the private sector and stakeholders on identifying more chemicals for removal from PNP’s list of regulated chemicals. DILG has jurisdiction over the PNP.
The seven chemicals slated for exclusion from the PNP list are glycerine, propelyn glycol, sodium chloride, sodium sulphate, ammonium acetate, glycerol, and potassium sulfate.
Exporters, manufacturers and other stakeholders earlier raised concerns over the operational delays and increased production costs caused by the strict enforcement of Presidential Decree No. 1866 and the subsequent addition of more chemicals commonly used in manufacturing to the PNP masterlist of controlled chemicals.
PD 1866 is intended to regulate the illegal or unlawful possession, manufacture, dealing in, acquisition or disposition of firearms, ammunition or explosives, or instruments used in the manufacture of firearms, ammunition, or explosives. Businesses have, however, been encountering problems securing the required permits for chemicals commonly used in manufacturing that are in the PNP list.
Aside from reducing the number of regulated chemicals, Enrile said the PNP will extend the deadline for securing temporary import licenses for regulated chemicals from November 2, 2015 to April 30, 2016. PNP has already identified 142 companies that will be granted temporary licenses.
Moreover, the PNP will be cutting down the number of signatories needed to secure permits to just eight from the current 44, and allowing alternate signatories to sign on behalf of the main signatory. PNP also aims to trim the number of steps in securing permits to just 11 from 122.
Moving forward, Enrile said the PNP plans to no longer require PNP escorts for accredited logistics providers; put up one-stop shops in ports; allow electronic filing of applications; decentralize the processing of permits; and provide express lanes for certified companies. –Roumina Pablo
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