WHEREAS, the upgrading of the Ports of Limay and Mariveles into a Customs Principal Port of Entry will complement efforts to accelerate further not just the economic growth but the total development of Bataan and its outlaying Special Economic Zone;

WHEREAS, upgrading the status of the Ports of Limay and Mariveles into a principal port of entry will enable said port to avail of the manpower complement and other resources from national government agencies such as the Bureau of Customs, thereby hastening infrastructure and systems development which will result in the port gaining more investors and other locators;

WHEREAS, the expansion of economic activity within the port requires that the Port of Limay be accorded the status as a principal port of entry;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

Section 1. Upgrading of the Port of Limay and Mariveles opening them as a Principal Port of Entry. - The present Ports of Limay and Mariveles are hereby opened and declared as a principal port of entry to be known as the District Port of Limay and Mariveles.

Section 2. Authority of the Commissioner of Customs to define the jurisdictional limits of the Collection district affected. - The Commissioner of Customs, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Finance pursuant to Section 701 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP), as amended, is hereby authorized to redefine the jurisdictional boundaries of the Port of Manila and to delineate the jurisdictional limits of the new principal port of entry which shall become Customs Collection District No, XVI to be known as the District Port of Limay and Mariveles.

Collection District XVI of the District Port of Limay and Mariveles shall have jurisdiction over the entire province of Bataan and such other areas as shall be added by the Commissioner of Customs, excluding the area covered by the SBMA-Bataan created under Republic Act No. 7227, Proclamation No. 984 and Executive Order No. 381 and other laws appurtenant thereto. It shall have the Port of Mariveles as its Sub-port.

Section 3. Authority of the Commissioner of Customs to designate the officials of the port of Limay and Mariveles. - The new Collection District No. XVI also known as District Port of Limay and Mariveles, shall be headed by a Customs Collector V, to be assisted by such Deputy Collectors of Customs as may be determined and designated by the Commissioner of Customs. The Sub-port of Mariveles under the District Port of Limay and Mariveles shall be likewise headed by a Port Collector, to be assisted by such Deputy Collectors of Customs as may be determined and designated by the Commissioner of Customs.

Section 4. Implementing Authority. - Subject to the approval of the Secretary of Finance, the Commissioner of Customs is hereby authorized to determine the personnel requirements of the District Port of Limay and Mariveles, taking into account the principles of economy, efficiency and effectiveness. He may, subject to applicable Civil Service rules and regulations, issue the needed orders to effect the transfer or movement or personnel from any organizational unit of the Bureau of the Port of Limay and Mariveles, or create new positions therefore. For this purpose the new personnel complement shall be deemed integrated in the Rationalization Plan of the Bureau.

Section 5. Appropriations. - Funds for the initial operations of the District Port of Limay and Mariveles shall be drawn from the available funds of the Bureau of Customs and subsequent appropriations shall be incorporated into its budget proposals, subject to existing budgeting, accounting and auditing laws and procedures.

Section 6. Effectivity. - This Executive Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Done in the City of Manila, this 26th day of May, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Eight.


By the President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary