May 30, 1978

LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 698

WHEREAS, one of the declared policies of the government is to promote the integrated growth and development of the grains industry; aisa dc

WHEREAS, the significant achievements attained in the area of production have brought about the corollary need of up-grading post-harvest technology;

WHEREAS, in the post production phase of the industry, there is an urgent need to minimize physical and economic losses in the milling of palay; aisa dc

WHEREAS, the use of rubber rollers is one of the modern methods in efficient milling; cda

WHEREAS, the use of rubber rollers increases the operational costs of millers due to the high import cost of the same and the non-availability of acceptable locally manufactured rubber rollers. cdt

NOW, THEREFORE, in order to minimize losses in milling and to promote local manufacture of quality rubber rollers, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, hereby direct:

The National Grains Authority to (1) import rubber rollers from available sources, free from all taxes, duties, fees, and other special charges incident to the importation thereof, for a period of three years from the date of this Letter of Instructions and to provide a scheme in the distribution of the same to bona fide and duly licensed palay millers and (2) promote and encourage the local manufacture of quality rubber rollers for the use of the grains authority.

To hasten the manufacture of rubber rollers, the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), the Philippine National Bank (PNB), and other government financial institutions are hereby directed to extend the necessary financial assistance for the local manufacture of quality rubber rollers; the National Science Development Board (NSDB) shall also initiate immediately researches to improve the required technology; and the Board of Investments (BOI) shall list rubber roller manufacturing as a pioneer undertaking under the Investment Priority Plan. The Letter of Instructions shall be effective immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 30th day of May, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Seventy-Eight. casia