The regional headquarters is not subject to income tax, value-added tax, and
all local licenses, fees, and charges,except real property tax on land
improvements and equipment. It enjoys tax- and duty-free importation of
equipment and materials necessary for training and conferences.
5.3 Regional Operating Headquarters (“ROHQ”)
A multinational company may establish a ROHQ in the Philippines to service its
own affiliates, subsidiaries, or branches in the Philippines, in the Asia Pacific region,
and other foreign markets.
A ROHQ is allowed to derive income in the Philippines by performing any of the
following qualifying services:
a. General administration and planning
b. Business planningand coordination
c. Sourcing/procurement of raw materials and components
d. Corporate finance advisory services
e. Marketing control and sales promotion
f. Training and personnel management
g. Logistics services
h. Research and development services and product development
i. Technical support and maintenance
j. Data processing and communication
k. Business development
A ROHQ must initially remit into the Philippines at least US $200,000.
5.4 Regional Warehouses
A multinational company which is engaged ininternational trade and supplies spare
parts, components, semi-finished products, and raw materials to its distributors or
markets in the Asia Pacific region and other foreign areas, and which has established
or will simultaneously establish a regional or area headquarters and/or ROHQ in
the Philippines, may also establish a regional warehouse in the Philippines.
The activities of the regional warehouse are limited to:
a. serving as a supply depot for the storage, deposit, and safekeeping of spare
parts, components, semi-finished products, and raw materials, including
packing, covering, putting up, marking, labeling and cutting or altering the
goods to the customer’s specifications, and mounting and/or packing these
into kits or marketable lots thereof;
b. filling up transactions and sales made by its head office or parent company;
and
c. serving as a storage or warehouse of goods purchased locally by the head
office of the multinational for export abroad.
The regional warehouse may not engage in trade or directly solicit business,
promote any sale, or enter into any contract for the sale or disposition of goods
in the Philippines. It may not derive income from Philippine sources.