Effects of Importation to the Economic Development of Batangas Province, Philippines

No country can be self-sufficient, every country is  determined to import but as for everyone know that just like the rest, importations have two sides, the positive and the negative. The study aimed to determine the effects of importation to the economic development of Batangas Province, Philippines. The study used descriptive method and documentary analysis to evaluate the volume of importation entering the Port of Batangas from 2014-2016. The respondents of this study are residents of Batangas Province, specifically, 100  residents near the vicinity of Port of Batangas and 100 small and medium entrepreneurs and establishment owners selling imported products. Result showed that the common articles or commodities that enter Port of Batangas are those oil and non-oil products which haste greatest volume of importation in the latter years specifically years 2014 to 2016. Majority of the respondents agreed most that importations contribute to facilities used for Customs purposes specifically Port of Batangas. On the other hand, most of the respondents agreed that importation results to higher cost value of goods due to high levied tariffs and taxes which affects the economy negatively. Most of the respondents fall on the age bracket of 26-35 years old, male, single and with an average annual income of 150,000 below. The responses differ significantly and based from the post hoc test conducted, 18 to 25years old and those who have annual income of 150,000 – 250,000 have higher assessment on the positive effects while those males with the same annual income have higher assessment on the negative effects. A strategy was proposed to address the importance of the continuity of improvement in the Province of Batangas in terms of economic development through good importation status.

Keywords: Importation, Port of Batangas, Economic Development