(As amended by RA 8179)
AN ACT TO PROMOTE FOREIGN INVESTMENTS, PRESCRIBE THE PROCEDURES FOR
REGISTERING ENTERPRISES DOING BUSINESS IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the ?oreign Investments Act of 1991?
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to attract, promote and welcome
productive investments from foreign individuals, partnerships, corporations, and governments,
including their political subdivisions, in activities which significantly contribute to national
industrialization and socio-economic development to the extent that foreign investment is
allowed in such activity by the Constitution and relevant laws. Foreign investments shall be
encouraged in enterprises that significantly expand livelihood and employment opportunities
for Filipinos; enhance economic value of farm products; promote the welfare of Filipino
consumers; expand the scope, quality and volume of exports and their access to foreign
markets; and/or transfer relevant technologies in agriculture, industry and support services.
Foreign investments shall be welcome as a supplement to Filipino capital and technology in
those enterprises serving mainly the domestic market.
As a general rule, there are no restrictions on extent of foreign ownership of export
enterprises. In domestic market enterprises, foreigners can invest as much as one hundred
percent (100%) equity except in areas included in the negative list. Foreign owned firms
catering mainly to the domestic market shall be encouraged to undertake measures that will
gradually increase Filipino participation in their businesses by taking in Filipino partners,
electing Filipinos to the board of directors, implementing transfer of technology to Filipinos,
generating more employment for the economy and enhancing skills of Filipino workers.
SEC. 3. Definitions. - As used in this Act:
a) the term ?hilippine National?shall mean a citizen of the Philippines or a domestic
partnership or association wholly owned by citizens of the Philippines; or a
corporation organized under the laws of the Philippines of which at least sixty percent
(60%) of the capital stock outstanding and entitled to vote is owned and held by
citizens of the Philippines or a corporation organized abroad and registered as doing
business in the Philippine under the Corporation Code of which one hundred percent
(100%) of the capital stock outstanding and entitled to vote is wholly owned by
Filipinos or a trustee of funds for pension or other employee retirement or separation
benefits, where the trustee is a Philippine national and at least sixty percent (60%) of
the fund will accrue to the benefit of Philippine nationals: Provided, That where a
corporation and its non-Filipino stockholders own stocks in a Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) registered enterprise, at least sixty percent (60%) of
the capital stock outstanding and entitled to vote of each of both corporations must be
owned and held by citizens of the Philippines and at least sixty percent (60%) of the
members of the Board of Directors of each of both corporations must be citizens of
the Philippines, in order that the corporation shall be considered a Philippine national;
(as amended by R.A. 8179).
b) the term ?nvestment?shall mean equity participation in any enterprise organized or
existing under the laws of the Philippines;
c) the term ?oreign investment?shall mean an equity investment made by a non-
Philippine national in the form of foreign exchange and/or other assets actually
transferred to the Philippines and duly registered with the Central Bank which shall
assess and appraise the value of such assets other than foreign exchange;
d) the phrase ?oing business?shall include soliciting orders, service contracts, opening
offices, whether called ?iaison?offices or branches; appointing representatives or
distributors domiciled in the Philippines or who in any calendar year stay in the
country for a period or periods totaling one hundred eighty (180) days or more;
participating in the management, supervision or control of any domestic business,
firm, entity or corporation in the Philippines; and any other act or acts that imply a
continuity of commercial dealings or arrangements, and contemplate to that extent
the performance of acts or works, or the exercise of some of the functions normally
incident to, and in progressive prosecution of, commercial gain or of the purpose and
object of the business organization: Provided, however, That the phrase ?oing
business?shall not be deemed to include mere investment as a shareholder by a
foreign entity in domestic corporations duly registered to do business, and/or the
exercise of rights as such investor; nor having a nominee director or officer to
represent its interests in such corporation; nor appointing a representative or
distributor domiciled in the Philippines which transacts business in its own name and
for its own account;
e) the term ?xport enterprise?shall mean an enterprise wherein a manufacturer,
processor or service (including tourism) enterprise exports sixty percent (60%) or
more of its output, or wherein a trader purchases products domestically and exports
sixty percent (60%) or more of such purchases;
f) the term ?omestic market enterprise?shall mean an enterprise which produces
goods for sale, or renders services to the domestic market entirely or if exporting a
portion of its output fails to consistently export at least sixty percent (60%) thereof;
and
g) the term ?oreign Investments Negative List?or ?egative List?shall mean a list of
areas of economic activity whose foreign ownership is limited to a maximum of forty
percent (40%) of the equity capital of the enterprises engaged therein.
SEC. 4. Scope. - This Act shall not apply to banking and other financial institutions which are
governed and regulated by the General Banking Act and other laws under the supervision of
the Central Bank.
SEC. 5. Registration of Investments of Non-Philippine Nationals. - Without need of prior
approval, a non-Philippine national, as that term is defined in Section 3 a), and not otherwise
disqualified by law may, upon registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC), or with the Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection (BTRCP) of the
Department of Trade and Industry in the case of single proprietorships, do business as
defined in Section 3 d) of this Act or invest in a domestic enterprise up to one hundred
percent (100%) of its capital, unless participation of non-Philippine nationals in the enterprise
is prohibited or limited to a smaller percentage by existing law and/or under the provisions of
this Act. The SEC or BTRCP, as the case may be, shall not impose any limitations on the
extent of foreign ownership in an enterprise additional to those provided in this Act: Provided,
however, That any enterprise seeking to avail of incentives under the Omnibus Investment
Code of 1987 must apply for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI), which shall
process such application for registration in accordance with the criteria for evaluation
prescribed in said Code: Provided, finally, That a non-Philippine national intending to engage
in the same line of business as an existing joint venture, in which he or his majority
shareholder is a substantial partner, must disclose the fact and the names and addresses of
the partners in the existing joint venture in his application for registration with SEC. During
the transitory period as provided in Section 15 hereof, SEC shall disallow registration of the
applying non-Philippine national if the existing joint venture enterprise, particularly the Filipino
partners therein, can reasonably prove they are capable to make the investment needed for
the domestic market activities to be undertaken by the competing applicant. Upon effectivity
of this Act, SEC shall effect registration of any enterprise applying under this Act within fifteen
(15) days upon submission of completed requirements.
SEC. 6. Foreign Investment in Export Enterprises. - Foreign investment in export
enterprises whose products and services do not fall within Lists A and B of the Foreign
Investment Negative List provided under Section 8 hereof is allowed up to one hundred
percent (100%) ownership.
Export enterprises which are non-Philippine nationals shall register with BOI and submit the
reports that may be required to ensure continuing compliance of the export enterprise with its
export requirement. BOI shall advise SEC or BTRCP, as the case may be, of any export
enterprise that fails to meet the export ratio requirement. The SEC or BTRCP shall thereupon
order the non-complying export enterprise to reduce its sales to the domestic market to not
more than forty percent (40%) of its total production; failure to comply with such SEC or
BTRCP order, without justifiable reason, shall subject the enterprise to cancellation of SEC or
BTRCP registration, and/or the penalties provided in Section 14 hereof.
SEC. 7. Foreign Investment in Domestic Market Enterprises. - Non-Philippine nationals
may own up to one hundred percent (100%) of domestic market enterprises unless foreign
ownership therein is prohibited or limited by the Constitution existing law or the Foreign
Investment Negative List under Section 8 hereof. (As amended by R.A. 8179)
SEC. 8. List of Investment Areas Reserved to Philippine Nationals (Foreign Investment
Negative List). - The Foreign Investment Negative List shall have two (2) components lists;
A, and B.
a) List A shall enumerate the areas of activities reserved to Philippine nationals by
mandate of the Constitution and specific laws.
b) List B shall contain the areas of activities and enterprises regulated pursuant to law:
1) which are defense-related activities, requiring prior clearance and authorization
from Department of National Defense (DND) to engage in such activity, such as
the manufacture, repair, storage and/or distribution of firearms, ammunition, lethal
weapons, military ordinance, explosives, pyrotechnics and similar materials;
unless such manufacturing or repair activity is specifically authorized, with a
substantial export component, to a non-Philippine national by the Secretary of
National Defense; or
2) which have implications on public health and morals, such as the manufacture
and distribution of dangerous drugs; all forms of gambling; nightclubs, bars,
beerhouses, dance halls; sauna and steam bathhouses and massage clinics.
?mall and medium-sized domestic market enterprises, with paid-in equity capital less than
the equivalent two hundred thousand US dollars (US$200,000) are reserved to Philippine
nationals, Provided that if: (1) they involve advanced technology as determined by the
Department of Science and Technology or (2) they employ at least fifty (50) direct employees,
then a minimum paid-in capital of one hundred thousand US dollars (US$100,000.00) shall be
allowed to non-Philippine nationals.
Amendments to List B may be made upon recommendation of the Secretary of National
Defense, or the Secretary of Health, or the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports,
endorsed by the NEDA, approved by the President, and promulgated by a Presidential
Proclamation.
?ransitory Foreign Investment Negative List?established in Sec. 15 hereof shall be replaced
at the end of the transitory period by the first Regular Negative List to be formulated and
recommended by NEDA, following the process and criteria provided in Sections 8 of this Act.
The first Regular Negative List shall be published not later than sixty (60) days before the end
of the transitory period provided in said section, and shall become immediately effective at the
end of the transitory period. Subsequent Foreign Investment Negative Lists shall become
effective fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the
Philippines: Provided, however, That each Foreign Investment Negative List shall be
prospective in operation and shall in no way affect foreign investment existing on the date of
its publication.
?mendments to List B after promulgation and publication of the first Regular Foreign
Investment Negative List at the end of the transitory period shall not be made more often than
once every two (2) years? (As amended by R.A. 8179)
SEC. 9. Investment Rights of Former Natural-born Filipinos. - For the purpose of this Act,
former natural born citizens of the Philippines shall have the same investment rights of a
Philippine citizen in Cooperatives under Republic Act No. 6938, Rural Banks under Republic
Act No. 7353, Thrift Banks and Private Development Banks under Republic Act No. 7906, and
Financing Companies under Republic Act No. 5980. These rights shall not extend to
activities reserved by the Constitution, including (1) the exercise of profession; (2) in defense
related activities under Section 8 (b) hereof. Unless specifically authorized by the Secretary of
National Defense; and, (3) activities covered by Republic Act No. 1180 (Retail Trade Act).
Republic Act No. 5187 (Security Agency Act), Republic Act No. 7076 (Small Scale Mining
Act), Republic Act No. 3018. As amended (Rice and Corn Industry Act). And P.D. 449
(Cockpits Operation and Management)? (As amended by R.A. 8179)
SEC. 10. Other Rights of Natural Born Citizen Pursuant to the Provisions of Article XII,
Section 8 of the Constitution. - Any natural born citizen who has lost his Philippine
citizenship and who has the legal capacity to enter into a contract under Philippine laws may
be a transferee of a private land up to a maximum area of five thousand (5,000) square
meters in the case of urban land or three (3) hectares in the case of rural land to be used by
him for business or other purposes. In the case of married couples, one of them may avail of
the privilege herein granted: Provided, That if both shall avail of the same, the total area
acquired shall not exceed the maximum herein fixed.
In the case the transferee already owns urban or rural land for business or other purposes, he
shall still be entitled to be a transferee of additional urban or rural land for business or other
purposes which when added to those already owned by him shall not exceed the maximum
areas herein authorized.
A transferee under this Act may acquire not more than two (2) lots which should be situated in
different municipalities or cities anywhere in the Philippines: Provided, That the total land area
thereof shall not exceed five thousand (5,000) square meters in the case of urban land or
three (3) hectares in the case of rural land for use by him for business or other purposes. A
transferee who has already acquired urban land shall be disqualified from acquiring rural land
and vice versa? (As amended by R.A. 8179)
SEC. 11. Compliance with Environmental Standards. - All industrial enterprises regardless
of nationality of ownership shall comply with existing rules and regulations to protect and
conserve the environment and meet applicable environmental standards.
SEC. 12. Consistent Government Action. - No agency, instrumentality or political
subdivision of the Government shall take any action in conflict with or which will nullify the
provisions of this Act, or any certificate or authority granted hereunder.
SEC. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - NEDA, in consultation with BOI, SEC and
other government agencies concerned, shall issue the rules and regulations to implement this
Act within one hundred and twenty (120) days after its effectivity. A copy of such rules and
regulations shall be furnished the Congress of the Republic of the Philippines.
SEC. 14. Administrative Sanctions. - A person who violates any provision of this Act or of
the terms and conditions of registration or of the rules and regulations issued pursuant
thereto, or aids or abets in any manner any violation shall be subject to a fine not exceeding
one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000).
If the offense is committed by a juridical entity, it shall be subject to a fine in an amount not
exceeding ?of 1% of total paid-in capital but not more than five million pesos (P5,000,000).
The president and/or officials responsible thereof shall also be subject to a fine not exceeding
two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00)
In addition to the foregoing, any person, firm or juridical entity involved shall be subject to
forfeiture of all benefits granted under this Act.
SEC shall have the power to impose administrative sanctions as provided herein for any
violation of this Act or its implementing rules and regulations.
SEC. 15. Transitory Provisions. - Prior to effectivity of the implementing rules and
regulations of this Act, the provisions of Book II of Executive Order 226 and its implementing
rules and regulations shall remain in force.
During the initial transitory period of thirty-six (36) months after issuance of the Rules and
Regulations to implement this Act, the Transitory Foreign Investment Negative List shall
consist of the following:
A. List A:
1. All areas of investment in which foreign ownership is limited by mandate of
Constitution and specific laws.
B. List B:
1. Manufacture, repair, storage and/or distribution of firearms, ammunition, lethal
weapons, military ordnance, explosives, pyrotechnics and similar materials required
by law to be licensed by and under the continuing regulation of the Department of
National Defense; unless such manufacturing or repair activity is specifically
authorized, with substantial export component, to a non-Philippine national by the
Secretary of National Defense;
2. Manufacture and distribution of dangerous drugs; all forms of gambling; nightclubs,
bars, beerhouses, dance halls; sauna and steam bathhouses, massage clinics and
other like activities regulated by law because of risks they may pose to public health
and morals;
3. ?mall and medium-sized domestic market enterprises with paid-in equity capital less
than the equivalent of Two-hundred thousand US dollars (US$200,000.00), reserved
to Philippine nationals: Provided, That if: (1) they involve advanced technology as
determined by the Department of Science and Technology or (2) they employ at least
fifty (50) direct employees, then a minimum paid-in capital of One hundred thousand
US dollars (US$100,000.00) shall be allowed to non-Philippine nationals.
SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. - Articles forty-four (44) to fifty-six (56) of Book II of Executive
Order No. 226 are hereby repealed.
All other laws or parts of laws inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed
or modified accordingly.
SEC. 17. Separability Clause. - If any part or section of this Act is declared unconstitutional
for any reason whatsoever, such declaration shall not in any way affect the other parts or
sections of this Act.
SEC. 18. Effectivitiy. - This Act take effect from fifteen (15) days after approval and
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,
(SGD) JOSE DE VENECIA, JR. (SGD) NEPTALI A. GONZALES
Speaker of the House of Representatives President of the Senate
This Act, which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1399 and House Bill No. 5029 was finally
passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on March 25, 1996.
CAMILO L. SABIO HEZEL P. GACUTAN
Secretary General Secretary of the Senate
House of Representatives
Approved: March 28, 1996
(SGD) FIDEL V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines
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