The study presents the tax incentives available to export-oriented industries under various laws such as RA 7844, EO 226, as amended, otherwise known as the “Omnibus Investments Code of 1987”, among others. It also assesses the impact of the tax incentives on Philippine exports. Among others, it notes that the government considers the export sector as a principal agent for economic growth and development with the grant of various incentives under RA 7844, EO 226, and to exporters locating their operations in the different ecozones. However, despite the offer of tax and non-tax incentives, the growth of the export sector and the modernization in export industries is quite slow and the sector has been experiencing a decline in its performance as measured in terms of exports receipts. On the part of the government, the grant of tax and non-tax incentives is very costly and the use of tax incentives has created problems in tax administration. In this regard, and considering the importance of a comprehensive system of export incentives in ensuring the success of export-oriented industries, it suggests that the BOI, Export Development Council (EDC), the different zone authorities and the Philippine Exporters Confederation (PHILEXPORT) should review their respective packages of tax and non-tax incentives with the end in view of formulating a comprehensive system of export incentives. Among those that should be tackled in the review are the ongoing rationalization of incentives for consistency in policy initiatives; and revival of incentives for equipment/technology acquisition and use of local value added to address the technology problems of exporters as well as their low level of local value added.
