Attached is the letter^* dated October 27, 1998 of Executive Secretary Ronaldo B. Zamora informing this Bureau that his office interposes no objection to the release from customs custody of any importation of hubless pipes, subject to payment of duties and taxes due thereon and the compliance by the importer with applicable customs laws, rules and regulations in view of the following:

1. The Court of Appeals, in its Resolution dated September 7, 1998, in CA-G.R. SP No. 48143 entitled "Total 2000 Corporation (represented by its President, Ingrid Lim), Petitioner, versus Office of the Executive Secretary and Filipino Pipe and Foundary Corp., Respondents" has declared that the Decision of the Executive Secretary dated October 10, 1994 as well as its Order dated October 10, 1994 both issued in O.P. Case No. 5585 (In Re: Petition to Nullify Board Resolution No. 5 of the Board of Master Plumbing [Professional Regulation Commission] Filipino Pipe and Foundry Corporation, Petitioner-Appellant) is not yet final and executory; and

2. The Tariff and Customs Code, as amended by Executive Order no. 465, dated January 13, 1998, allows the importation of hubless pipes under H.S. 7303.00.

Customs Memorandum Circular No. 298-98 is therefore amended.

For your information and guidance.

Adopted: 05 Nov. 1998

(SGD.) JULITA S. MANAHAN
Deputy Commissioner
Internal Administration Group

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^* Text Available at Office of the National Administrative Register, U.P. Law Complex, Diliman, Quezon City