of :lif ■ 't i !■
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
24 JAN -8 All -49
RECEIVED b'
SEN>
S.B. No.^S^l 7
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE ABACA INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT 
PROGRAM, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Abaca, internationally known as Manila hemp, is endemic to the 
Philippines. According to the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority 
(PhilFiDA), the Philippines dominates the global abaca trade as the country 
supplies about 86% percent of the world’s abaca fiber requirements as of 201 9. 
From 2010 to 2019, PhilFiDA reported that the Philippines generated an 
average of USD119 million per year from the exports of abaca fibers and 
manufactures. Aside from the industry’s substantial contributions to the 
country’s economy, the Philippine abaca also plays a vital role in the growing 
global advocacy for environmental protection and forest conservation. Thus, 
the Philippine abaca continues to be one of the priority agricultural 
commodities of the Department of Agriculture due to the its various economic 
and ecological advantages.
The proposed measure seeks to support the steady growth of the 
industry by institutionalizing the Philippine Abaca Industry Development 
Program, a ten (10) year framework for plans, projects, programs and policies 
for the scientific propagation, processing, utilization and expansion of trade of 
Philippine abaca. The framework shall also include plans, projects and policies 
on planting site identification, production support and extension, market 
promotion, infrastructure development, quality assurance and establishment 
of the Philippine Abaca Information Center.
Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
IMEE R. MARCOS


'■ ,of I.!' - ■' : ,| !
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
24 JAN -8 All :49
SENATE
S.B. No. _2517_
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
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AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE ABACA INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT 
PROGRAM, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Abaca 
Industry Development Act”.
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
to protect and promote the right of the Filipino people to a better quality of 
life, improve their living conditions through programs that provide sustainable 
livelihood, increase employment and protect the environment.
Sec. 3. Creation of the Philippine Abaca Industry Development 
Coordinating Council. - There is hereby created a Philippine Abaca Industry 
Development Coordinating Council (PAIDCC), hereinafter referred to as the 
“Council”, administratively attached to the Department of Agriculture (DA) and 
charged with the main function of coordinating the activities of various 
government agencies and instrumentalities to ensure the accomplishment of 
the Philippine Abaca Framework for Development.
The Chairman of the Council shall submit an annual report to both 
Houses of Congress on the status of the implementation of this Act.
Sec. 4. National Abaca Research Cente4. Composition of the Council. - 
The PAIDCC shall be composed of the following;
a. Secretary of the Department of Agriculture as Chairman;
b. The Executive Director of PhilFiDA as the Head of the Council 
Secretariat;
c. Head of the National Abaca Research Center;


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d. Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources;
e. Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform;
f. Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology;
g. Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry;
h. Representative from the League of Municipalities of the Philippines;
i. Representative from the League of Provinces;
j. Two (2) representative from Abaca Farmers’/Producers’/Processors’ 
Associations; and
k. Representative from non-governmental organizations.
The Council shall regularly meet every two (2) months and may hold 
special meetings, whenever the need arises, to consider urgent matters upon 
the call of the Chairman or any seven (7) Council members.
Sec. 5. Institutionalizing the Philippine Abaca Industry Development 
Program (PAIDP). - There is hereby established the Philippine Abaca Industry 
Development Program (PAIDP), hereinafter referred to as the “Program,” which 
shall be within the mandate of the PhilFiDA. The Program shall be a ten (10) - 
year framework for development, to be validated and updated annually. Such 
framework shall serve as a guide to the formulation and implementation of 
plans, projects, programs and policies for the scientific propagation, 
processing, utilization and expansion of trade of Philippine abaca.
The framework shall also provide for the following:
a. Site Identification - The Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture, 
Department of Agrarian Reform and local government units, shall 
identify the broad areas suitable for the planning and propagation of 
Philippine abaca within six (6) months after the effectivity of this Act.
b. Scientific Propagation and Development - The Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Science and 
Technology shall establish cultivation and propagation of Philippine 
disease free and disease resistant varieties of abaca. The Department 
of Science and Technology shall also provide for the transfer and 
improvement of appropriate technology and techniques which will be 
utilized in the production, processing, marketing and distribution. 
Particular emphasis shall also be made on the adoption and upgrading 
of post-harvest technology.
c. Production Support and Extension - The Department of Environment 
and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Department of 
Trade and Industry and Department of Science and Technology, in 
coordination with the local government units, non-governmental


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organizations, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, 
Cooperative Development Authority, state universities and colleges, 
and other relevant government agencies, shall establish programs 
which promote and provide adequate training on adapting 
technologies to individuals engaged in the propagation, production, 
processing, marketing and distribution of Philippine abaca and 
strengthen farmers’/producers’/processors’ cooperatives and 
organizations involved in the sustainable and viable development of 
Philippine abaca.
d. Market Promotion and Expansion of Trade - The Department of Trade 
and Industry, in coordination with Private Industry Associations, shall 
link up agribusiness cooperatives and organizations directly with 
consumers’ cooperatives and organizations, agro-processing 
companies or exporters to provide marketing outlets and assure 
relatively higher and stable prices of abaca. This also includes 
exploring national and international markets and facilitating the 
participation of local farmers, growers and exporters in local and 
international conferences, trade fairs, expositions and exhibits.
e. Infrastructure Development - Access to post harvest facilities, storage 
and distribution/transport facilities of existing government agencies 
shall be facilitated by the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources, Department of Agriculture and the local government units.
f. Quality Assurance - To ensure health and proper trading, the 
Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Science and 
Technology, and PhilFiDA, respectively, shall establish and enforce 
standards in grading, sampling, and inspection, tests and analysis, 
specifications, nomenclature, units of measurement, packaging, 
preservation, conservation or transportation of Philippine abaca 
products and by-products.
g. Philippine Abaca Information Center - The Department of Trade and 
Industry, in coordination with local government units, shall establish 
a Philippine Abaca Information Center in areas where abacas are 
abundant.
Sec. 6. Philippine Abaca Industry Development Fund. - To provide for the 
funding requirements for the propagation, production, processing, marketing, 
promotion and distribution of Philippine abaca, there is hereby created a 
Philippine Abaca Industry Development Fund (PADF), with an initial amount of 
Five Hundred Million Pesos (Php 500,000,000.00) upon approval of this Act and 
every year thereafter, to be provided by the Department of Budget and 
Management in the PhilFiDA’s budget. This is in addition to PhilFiDA’s existing


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allocation under the General Appropriations Act for the development of other 
fibers and its administrative, regulatory and operational expenses. Of this 
amount, Fifty Million Pesos (Php 50,000,000.00) shall be allocated for the 
Philippine Abaca Research Center, Visayas State University in Baybay, Leyte for 
the abaca research, development and extension program
Sec. 7. The Council Secretariat. - The Council Secretariat shall be headed 
by the Executive Director of the PhilFiDA. The Secretariat and technical staff 
shall be detailed from their existing personnel without prejudice to the 
designation by the Council of such additional staff members as it may deem 
necessary for the proper discharge of its functions and responsibilities.
Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the Council shall formulate and prescribe the 
necessary rules and regulations for its implementation.
Sec, 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, proclamation, 
charter, rule or regulation and/or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any section or provision 
of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, other sections or provisions 
which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
Sec. 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (1 5) days 
following its publication in the Officiai Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation.
National Abaca Research Center
Approved,