Stand on Duty Free Shops

The Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association is totally against the set­up of duty­free shops in special economic zones which open­up sales to the general public ever if on a limited $200 "allocation". These shops provide an uneven playing field because:

1. They are able to skirt the law and goods sold in these areas find their way to stores outside these zones.
2. They encourage colonial mentality and the fixated thought that imported items are always better than domestically­manufactured­goods to the detriment of local manufacturers.
3. They deprive the government of taxes and duties for both the items sold in the special economic zones as well as those sold outside illegally.
4. They are not well administered by the government agencies as items in these zones are not strictly sold to qualified customers (those residing in Angeles and Olongapo or travellers).

The Association suggest that strict compliance of the guidelines covering these duty­free stores be administered by the government because in the final analysis a few players in the industry will reap great wealth at the expense of those who are left behind in an uneven playing field.

Remember, for every foreign article we buy, duty ­paid or otherwise, we are helping defray the cost of a foreign, and not local manufacturer.