DEFINING THE STATUS OF THE ASIAN INSTITUTE OF AQUACULTURE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE.

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 1475
• Sections: 8

Preamble

WHEREAS, the Republic of the Philippines, on January 16,

1968, became a signatory to the Agreement establishing the Southeast Asian

Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC);

WHEREAS, the SEAFDEC Council, at its Sixth Meeting held at

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) on July 3-7, 1973, approved the formal establishment of

its Aquaculture Department in the Province of Iloilo, Philippines;

WHEREAS, the SEAFDEC Council of Directors, being aware of

the vast potential of Southeast Asia and other regions for aquaculture

development, and cognizant of the urgent need of the region and other parts of

the world for highly trained manpower for aquaculture development, approved at

its Tenth Meeting held in Manila on December 5-10, 1977, the development and

implementation of the proposed Asian Institute of Aquaculture as a unit of the

SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department of Iloilo, Philippines;

WHEREAS, the establishment of the Asian Institute of

Aquaculture will provide mechanisms for the development of technical and

scientific manpower in aquaculture in Asia, particularly in SEAFDEC and ASEAN

member-countries, to hasten the development of the aquaculture resources of the

region;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the

Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby

order and decree:

Section 1

SECTION 1. The Asian Institute of Aquaculture shall be

classified as a foreign institution of special character, with an inter-national

student body, faculty, management composition and control.

Section 2

SEC. 2. The provisions of existing laws, decrees or

ordinances to the contrary notwithstanding, the Asian Institute of Aquaculture

shall be exempt from the payment of gift, franchise, specific, percentage, real

property and all other taxes, duties and fees provided under existing laws,

decrees or ordinances. This exemption shall extend to goods imported and owned

by the said Asian Institute of Aquaculture and to goods brought in or imported

for the personal use of foreign faculty, scientific research and professional

staff and other officials of the said Institute; Provided, however,

that this exemption is without prejudice to the collection of customs duties and

taxes on goods or articles brought or imported into the Philippines for the use

of such foreign personnel should such goods or articles subsequently be sold,

transferred or exchanged in the Philippines to persons or entities not entitled

to exemption from the said customs duties and taxes pursuant to existing laws

and regulations governing the matter.

Section 3

SEC. 3. All gifts, bequests, donations and contributions

which may be received by the Asian Institute of Aquaculture from any source

whatsoever shall be exempt from the payment of taxes imposed under the National

Internal Revenue Code and all other existing laws, decrees and ordinances and

all such gifts, bequests, donations and contributions shall be considered as

allowable deductions for purposes of determining the income tax payable by the

donor. All funds received by the Asian Institute of Aquaculture shall be

receipted and disbursed in accordance with the Agreement establishing the

Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center and pertinent resolutions duly

approved by the SEAFDEC Council.

Section 4

SEC. 4. Non-Filipino citizens serving on the faculty and

professional staff of the Asian Institute of Aquaculture shall be exempted from

the payment of income tax on salaries and stipends received from the said

Institute and other donor organizations.

Section 5

SEC. 5. Aliens who enter the Philippines to perform their

work or study at the Asian Institute of Aquaculture shall be exempt from

restrictions imposed on immigration and other pertinent laws with respect to

quota of immigrants and duration of stay in the Philippines, as may be necessary

for the operation of the said Institute so long as they fall under the following

status: (1) officials; (2) instructors and researchers; (3) trainees; (4)

spouses; children or relatives who are dependent on and forming part of the

household of, those in (1) and (2).

Section 6

SEC. 6. To carry out this project, there is hereby

appropriated the sum of Ten Million (P10 M) Pesos out of any funds in the

National Treasury not otherwise appropriated as contribution of the Republic of

the Philippines, as host Government, to the Asian Institute of Aquaculture for

its capital outlay requirements and local operating costs for CY 1978;

thereafter, an annual contribution of Five Million (P5 M) Pesos for the said

Institute is hereby appropriated for a period of five years beginning CY

1979.

Section 7

SEC. 7. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 11th day of June, in the year of Our Lord,

nineteen hundred and seventy-eight.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS

President of the

Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) JUAN C. TUVERA

Presidential

Assistant