Good day Mr. Francis. Please check out the Philippine Bureau of Customs website for more information about the tax free privileges. --- Rodelyn

MANILA -- Returning residents and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will be allowed to bring in personal and household effects amounting to PHP350,000.00 starting on Tuesday, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said.

This as Customs Administrative Order (CAO) No. 06-2016, which covers the provisions of Republic Act No. 10863 (or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act) on conditionally tax and/or duty-exempt importation of such items imported by returning Filipinos, will take effect on January 24 2017.

Source.

Please read text below:

3. WHAT IS THE EXTENT OF DUTY AND TAX FREE PRIVILEGE OF RETURNING FILIPINOS/BALIKBAYANS?

The extent varies as follows:

Returning Resident. Personal effects and household goods used by him abroad for at least six (6) months and the dutiable value of which is not more than Ten Thousand Pesos (10,000.00) are exempt from duties and taxes. Any amount in excess of P10,000.00 is subject to 50% duty to the first P10,000.00 exemption across the board as provided for under Section 105 (F) of the TCCP.

Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW). In addition to the privileges granted to Returning Residents as described above, an OFW may be allowed to bring in, duty and tax free Ten Thousand (P10,000.00) of USED home appliances, provided: the quantity is limited to one of each kind;

-the privilege has not been enjoyed previously during the calendar year which fact must be declared under oath by the owner;

-the owner’s passport is presented at the port/airport of entry;

-any amount in excess of P10,000.00 will be subject to duty and tax.

Former Filipino. Professional instruments and implements, tools of trade occupation or employment, wearing apparel, domestic animals, and personal household effects shall be exempt from payment of Customs duties and taxes. Provided that the change of residence was bonafide, the privilege of free entry was never availed of before and that the articles are brought from their former place of abode.

For more information on this matter please check out the Philippine Bureau of Customs website.

No, a modern transformer has a pretty high efficiency, and will cause a loss of less than 5%. It still is a small loss though, you'll pay for on your electricity bill. Power (measured in Watt) is voltage times current (measured in Ampere). The transformer will turn 220 volts into 110 volts, and the same time the current on the 110 volt side will be double that of the 220 volt side.--Jeroen.

Please check out the Philippine Bureau of Customs website for more information on this matter--- Rodelyn.

Please check out the Philippine Bureau of Customs website for more information on this matter--- Rodelyn.

Please check out the Philippine Bureau of Customs website for more information on this matter--- Rodelyn.

There are two different issues here. Power compatibility and signal compatibility. A North American LCD TV will be made for 110 volt 60 Hz, and will be quickly destroyed if connected to the Philippine 220 volt grid. If you use a transformer, however, you can use it, as the signal is the same: NTSC. If you bring an LCD TV from Europe (230 volts), you can connect it, but you won't be able to receive any program, as it will be made for the PAL or SECAM system. More and more TVs are multi-system, but you will have to verify that with the producer (dealers often don't know this).--Jeroen.

Hi Robert, you are mainly talking about high-end equipment, which is more expensive in the Philippines, simply because the demand is quite small. Many people are still happy with VCD here! Furthermore, this article was written a few years ago, before the decline of the dollar. You may have noticed that many hotels have since switched from quoting prices in dollars to euros or pesos. Of course you can bring an Xbox or other device when you fly to the Philippines, but carrying a Plasma HDTV on an international flight is not easy. Finally, don't forget that you can bargain over prices, especially if you pay for them directly.--Jeroen

You can bring all those things with you. Consider setting up a lap-top system at home, with the additional equipment and software, as specialized tools for blind people are difficult to obtain.--Jeroen.

Even with cable TV, you will need a TV tuner, as the signal is still modulated on the cable. Further, the difference between NTSC and PAL is more than just the modulation, it is also about the frames per second and the lines in each frame.--Jeroen.

Philippines is 220 volts.--Jeroen

My first take is that it is probably more convenient to buy them in the Philippines. You don't have to worry about the right type (GSM 900 or 1800 band) SIM cards (These cards determine the phone number and subscription details; no need to register phones, etc., with GSM, only thing to be aware of is a nasty feature called SIM-lock) power adapters (will be good for 220 volts), etc., while the price is probably much the same. Yes, I know about this craze about things brought from the USA, but these things are most likely made in the Philippines (or some other Asian country) anyway. Also, with one or two, customs won't complain much, but with ten, you'll probably exceed the PHP 10,000 allowance for gifts from Balikbayans--Jeroen.

I am not aware of the exact customs regulations, but most countries are quite reluctant to allow the entrance of meat products. Also, I strongly advise against carrying an ice box: these things are heavy, and will never keep things frozen for the duration of the trip. Probably the airline will complain as well (though I never tried it). Furthermore, sausages, steaks, pork, etc., are readily available in the Philippines.--Jeroen.

You're most welcome!--Jeroen.

You can buy these both in Europe and in the Philippines; you probably have more choice in Europe, while the price may be slightly lower in the Philippines. The cheaper, Chinese brands are typically better (multi region); avoid the better known brands, as these are harder to get multi region. Note that, although slowly increasing, DVDs are still not commonplace in the Philippines. Most people expect VCDs, so take care your player can also play these.--Jeroen

I've seen solar power being used to power communication systems in remote parts of Bohol, but think it is too expensive if you can be connected to the network, even with the relatively high cost of electricity in Bohol. In some areas, windmills might be feasable, but, since the Bohol power companies do not allow you to feed your surplus to the net, it may be difficult to earn them back.--Jeroen.

Sorry for not answering all questions in here. Sometimes, we don't know the precise answer, and sometimes questions are already answered in the article itself. Sometimes, we just don't have the time to answer all the questions.--Rodelyn

If it is not made for 220V connecting it to the Philippine system is a sure way of destroying it.--Jeroen.

Bring it as a personal belonging, and you can normally bring it through. Balikbayans are allowed to bring upto P10,000 in appliances tax free to give to relatives. If this is an older laptop, it may be below this threshold, although the value of the peso has eroded much.--Jeroen.

You could ask Vodafone first, and if they refuse, there are most likely shops in the Philippines that can help you. To do it yourself, you'll need a special service connector and some software, which isn't worth buying for just one time. In some countries unlocking your own phone may be considered illegal, but I'm not aware of such a law in the Philippines.--Jeroen.

I would love to, but don't know myself. Probably they have a 3-phase 380 volt system similar to what we have in Europe--Jeroen.

I don't know any shops unlocking cellphones, but I have no doubt there are plenty, and as a result it shouldn't cost much. The unlocking devices themselves are normally not more than a service cable and a small computer program. In SM, you can buy laptops in special computer shops, but be sure to compare prices abroad as well as in the Philippines, and remember, you won't be able to go back for whatever complaint you have when back at home--decide yourself if this is worth a few bucks saving--Jeroen.

Your choice of titles will be much more limited, to only the international most well-known titles, and you'll probably have a hard time finding collector's box sets, etc. Bootlegs in the Philippines are normally VCD's in a horrible quality, not worth even the 50 pesos they ask for them.--Jeroen.

It should be no problem bringing up your devices to the Philippines with 50-60 hertz. About the Plug, maybe you can buy an converter over there, there are different types of plugs and dont know which plug are you using in Indonesia. But the European plug converter is no problem, you can buy it.--Lyn

I can't estimate your needs, but rating 15 ampere at 110 volt as 1650 watt, you can connect a number of appliances such as television sets, stereo, or computer, but not a washing machine or a big airco. My advice is to avoid a transformer, since they constantly consume a little bit of energy; in long run enough to justify buying 220 volt equipment in the Philippines. In Holland I would use at least 2.5 sq mm wire, and 1.5 sq mm only to light fixtures, following the codes in force here; but I don't know the codes in the Philippines. Ask a local electrician or the local supplier (who will have to approve the connection) before starting construction.--Jeroen.

Import duties on new items in the Philippines can be stiff, so this might be true. I don't know, but you could research the same on Google. When you bring things yourself as a Balikbayan, you might be able to bring it in under a the Balikbayan exception of goods up to 10,000 pesos, but it appears to me such a TV set is more expensive...--Jeroen.

Interesting subject, but Ilocos Norte is quite far from Bohol... Nice website though.--Jeroen.

As almost everywhere, the rates for electricity in the Philippines are compounded, and include, besides the basic charge for consumption, fees for distribution, network losses, metering charges, local taxes, environmental taxes, and so on. It boils down to rates at about 6 to 10 pesos per kWh, depending on usage and where you are. In US currency that is 10 to 18 cents per kWh. But most people who have to pay these rates have incomes in pesos, and thus it is fairer to use the PPP (purchasing power parity) rate (the rate that shows how much you can buy for your money for normal middle class spending habits, not how much you can exchange it for in foreign exchange), which will make the rate roughly equivalent to 40 to 72 cents er kWh. For poorer people, earning in the order of 4000 pesos per month, the rate can even "feel like" paying 3 to 5 dollars per kWh; now that is expensive!--Jeroen.

The 'official' electric supply in the Philippines is 220 volt 60 cycles. however, 110volt 60 cycles is available in some areas of Manila, and some towns/cities such as Angeles and Pampanga, where historically, electricity was at one time supplied from US military bases to the immediate surrounding area.

Electric sockets.

The present Philippine building code specifies round pin sockets for 220v and the flat US type for 110v. Most modern buildings conform to this. The 2 pin plugs are the type used in Japan, other Asian countries and some European countries, of the type seen on shavers etc. If you buy a TV, an electric fan or a rice cooker in Manila, the round type plug will be on it. There are also 3 pin plugs/sockets. The third pin is earth/ground. They will be fitted to your locally bought washing machines etc. 110v equipment is becoming rare, and costs more!

Someone has mentioned cutting off plugs and fitting local ones. The available flat ones are not much good. The available round type are better, but not much.

Here is my tip: if you find you have the wrong plug, don't look just for a plug. There are small electronics stores and fan repair stores all over the place from where you can buy a complete new cable a couple of metres long, with a good moulded plug on the end for just a few pesos.

As far as price is concerned, I do not agree that Philippine electronic goods are less than Europe. Some may be, others certainly are not. Just ask a Filipino overseas contract worker about that. Or a Filipina nurse working in the UK. Checkout what they are hauling home at vacation time, or sending in those Balikbayan boxes! Of course, if you have to pay high freight from anywhere you will lose out, but if your company is paying, bring everything you can! When you don't need them anymore they will still have value... quality is there.

Thanks a lot for your comments. My own article was based on the conditions in Bohol, where US type sockets with 220 volts, 60 cycles are still the rule.--Jeroen.