How to Personal Goods

Hello! No talk about COVID today and hopefully nothing else to ruffles anyone's feathers; I'm hoping to be helpful and possibly get some help at the same time. I just recently saw the below:

It was about SRRV stuff, but made me think everyone here might be a very valuable resource to others thinking of living here. I had heard that a person with a 13A visa was eligible to import one vehicle, duty free, per family, per lifetime. I guess heard is a little weak, since I actually dug up the law at one point, but I've since lost it. Does anyone else have helpful hints and tips such as this for foreigners planning to make a home in the Philippines? Perhaps there's already a thread you know of, which would of course prove helpful as well. Thanks in advance.

 

Perhaps the FAQs in the below links could help you?

1. https://www.philippine-embassy.org.sg/the-philippines-2/customs-faqs-on-importation/

2. https://www.philippineconsulatela.o...al-and-household-effects-into-the-philippines

3. https://www.philippineconsulatela.o...portation-of-certain-items-to-the-philippines

 

You seek general tips, I think:

1. Keep YOUR money in YOUR own hands.
2. A 'loan' is a gift, from the borrower's perspective.
3. Get the mindset that bureaucracy is an amazing thing.
4. Imagine the very best bit of pork is the fat.
5. View a road-crossing as invisible to drivers (except Mr Rye).
6. Be delighted to have two hot-water faucets in your kitchen (@jimeve will get this one).
7. Beware the 'builder' who turns up with a nail through a stick.
8. Enjoy brownouts and then queuing up to pay for the service.
9. Beware of people who have no name.

 

If planning to make a home in the Philippines, yes, you need "Beware of 'builder' who turns up with a nail through a stick," as in anywhere.

Facebook advertises a list of reputable Filipino builders, some of them former classmates of my sons, at https://www.facebook.com/biz/dumaguete-city-central-visayas-ph/construction-company/

Facebook also advertises a reputable non-Filipino builder, the only one I heard of in Dumaguete City, at https://www.facebook.com/negrosconstuction/

As non-Filipino citizen, you can own a condominium unit thru sale or by an alternative mode of legal conveyance; and you can also own land on which to build a home but only thru inheritance, just like my widowed foreign brother-in-laws did.

Even before construction starts, you could lose money if you allow Building Permit application to delay and linger at the local Office of the Building Official or allow it to meet outright disapproval. So it may help to be aware that, unlike before when civil engineers were allowed to take over architect work due to the scarcity of local architects (Silliman University produced only local civil engineers since 1947; NORSU began to produce local architects only in 1998), a legal divide has appeared between one profession and the other since 2005. In Philippine building construction regulations, Architects now have exclusive right to prepare, sign and seal designs, plans and specifications enumerated as Architectural Plans/Drawings, Architectural Interiors/Interior Design, Plans & Specific Locations of Accessibility Facilities, Fire Safety Documents and other related documents enumerated under Section 302.4 of the 2005 Implementing Rules & Regulations of the 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines; whereas Civil Engineers are now limited to prepare, sign and seal Site Development Plans, Structural Plans, Structural Analysis & Designs, Boring & Load Tests, Seismic Analysis, and other related documents enumerated under 302.5 of the said 205 IRR of the 1997 NBCP. In effect, Civil Engineers cannot practice architecture; Architects cannot practice civil engineering. Presently, most Civil Engineers now handle public work projects as PCAB-licensed Contractor or as covert subcontractor albeit employing an architect for the exterior and interior designs; and Architects now enjoy more private work projects albeit still having to employ a civil engineer for the structural integrity planning.

 

From link above:
IS THE IMPORTED VEHICLE SUBJECT TO TAXES AND DUTIES?

Yes. Whether brand-new or used, purchased or donated, the imported vehicle is subject to 40% Customs duty, 10% VAT and Ad Valorem Tax from 15% to 100% depending on its piston displacement. Its book value serves as the tax base and not the purchase price nor the acquisition cost. The book value is sourced from universally accepted motor vehicle reference books such as the Red Book, Blue Book, World Book depending on the origin of the imported vehicle.

Doesn't seem like much of a deal to me.

 

Am I 'out of the loop' on this in terms of other countries BUT does this seem rather over-complicated?

Perhaps it is a good thing, and I admit I don't know, or is it another thing that keeps the country in the 1950s?

 

Then if you just need a small ish job doing, these bigger companies don't want to know. So it's Hello dong are you busy with your nail in the stick?

 

Wish I could give two ratings - agree AND funny. Anyway, here's the funny:

 

Smallish job, did you say?

- The 2005 IRR of the 1977 NBCP makes home repair or restoration not involving renovation or change of design or materials exempt from Building Permit requirement. This kind of project requires neither architect nor engineer since it's already designed and structured. An experienced foreman and his men can competently handle restorative carpentry or masonry works, repainting, etc. There are several foreman's outfits who do maintainance work projects for old buildings and houses in Dumaguete; but most of them do business like they are in the '50s - no advertisement, no contact email, got cellphone but held by wife. I had a list but it requires updating. There's a foreman's outfit supervised by a retired Korean engineer married to a Dumagueteña - they did these Korean churches, missionary houses, and restaurants in Negros Oriental.

- Same law also exempts from Building Permit requirement construction of detached small sheds that can be used as mini bar, garage, storage, outdoor kitchen, outdoor toilet, etc. For this kind of project, summoning some Dodong with nail on a stick could do, if you prefer him to a foreman.

 

Not sure I understand your reply! Did you read my post correctly?