Section 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:

  1. List A:

    1. All areas of investment in which foreign ownership is limited by mandate of Constitution and specific laws.
  2. List B:

    1. Manufacture, repair, storage and/or distribution of firearms, ammunitions, lethal weapons, military ordinance, 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 a 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 clinic and other like activities regulated by law because of risks they may pose to public health and morals;

    3. Small and medium-size domestic market enterprises with paid-in equity capital or less than the equivalent of US$500,000, unless they involve advanced technology as determined by the Department of Science and Technology, and

    4. Export enterprises which utilize raw materials from depleting natural resources, and with paid-in equity capital of less than the equivalent US$500,000.

  3. List C:

    1. Import and wholesale activities not integrated with production or manufacture of goods;

    2. Services requiring a license or specific authorization, and subject to continuing regulations by national government agencies other than BOI and SEC which at the time of effectivity of this Act are restricted to Philippine nationals by existing administrative regulations and practice of the regulatory agencies concerned: Provided, That after effectivity of this Act, no other services shall be additionally subjected to such restrictions on nationality of ownership by the corresponding regulatory agencies, and such restrictions once removed shall not be reimposed; and

    3. Enterprises owned in the majority by a foreign licensor and/or its affiliates for the assembly, processing or manufacture of goods for the domestic market which are being produced by a Philippine national as of the date of effectivity of this Act under a technology, know-how and/or brand name license from such licensor during the term of the license agreement: Provided, That, the license is duly registered with the Central Bank and/or the Technology Transfer Board and is operatively in force as of the date of effectivity of this Act.

NEDA shall make the enumeration as appropriate of the areas of the investment covered in this Transitory Foreign Investment Negative List and publish the Negative List in full at the same time as, or prior to, the publication of the rules and regulations to implement this Act.

The areas of investment contained in List C above shall be reserved to Philippine nationals only during the transitory period. The inclusion of any of them in the regular Negative List will require determination by NEDA after due public hearings that such inclusion is warranted under the criteria set forth in Section 8 and 9 hereof.