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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has instructed four additional government agencies to help 14 departments bolster the implementation of the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP), in an effort to improve the country’s export gains.

Under Memorandum Circular (MC) 27, at least 18 government agencies agency were delegated to collectively work, review, institute reforms, and implement all relevant policies in harmony with the PEDP and the Philippine Development Plan to boost export growth.

The Export Development Act of 1994 mandates the crafting of a three-year rolling PEDP, which defines the country’s annual and medium-term export trusts, strategies, programs and projects jointly implemented by the government, exporters and other stakeholders.

Duterte’s predecessor, former President Benigno Aquino III, signed MC 91 in 2016, approving the PEDP 2015 to 2017 and directing 14 agencies, with the Department of Trade Industry (DTI) as lead agency, to collectively work and review all relevant policies to facilitate exports and address the hindrances for its free flow.

Aquino’s circular tasked the departments of Trade, Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Health, Local Government, Labor, Public Works and Highways, Science and Technology, and Transportation; Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; and National Economic and Development Authority to review relevant policies to ensure PDEP’s implementation.

In Duterte’s new order, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Tourism, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and Commission on Higher Education were instructed to help the existing 14 government agencies “for continuity, consistency of policies and innovative strategies to increase exports and jobs.”

“It is necessary to review and implement specific rules and strategies on trade facilitation to support the export process, in order to streamline business procedure and reduce cost,” the President said in MC 27.

“To ensure efficient, responsive and well-coordinated strategies, it is critical to involve other agencies in the development of the export sector, particularly those that can provide support to Information and Communications Technology, infrastructure, tourism, and manpower development and skills training,” he added.

Duterte ordered the Export Development Council (EDC) to uphold its function to oversee the implementation of the PEDP and coordinate the formulation and implementation of policy reforms and promotion strategies.

The President also instructed the EDC to ensure the biannual validation and updating of the PEDP, pursuant to Export Development Act of 1994.