NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 120.'^
^cuate
v©fficp of tlji? ^ra ct.irp
‘22 AUG 17 A9 56
RliCEIVED BY;
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 13 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8178, AS AMENDED BY 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9496, ENTITLED "AN ACT REPLACING QUANTITATIVE 
IMPORT RESTRICTIONS ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, EXCEPT RICE, 
WITH TARIFFS, CREATING THE AGRICULTURAL COMPETITIVENESS 
ENHANCEMENT FUND, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
11203, ENTITLED "AN ACT LIBERALIZING THE IMPORTATION, 
EXPORTATION AND TRADING OF RICE, LIFTING FOR THE PURPOSE THE 
QUANTITATIVE IMPORT RESTRICTION ON RICE, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act (RA) 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law was passed by the Duterte 
administration in 2019 in the hopes to break the 'stranglehold of inefficiency' in the 
domestic rice industry. Essentially, this landmark legislation repealed the regulatory 
and import functions of the National Food Authority (NFA) and converted the 
quantitative restrictions into ordinary customs duties or tariffication. One of its salient 
provisions includes the creation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund 
(RCEF) to improve rice farmers' competitiveness and income amidst the liberalization 
of the Philippine rice trade policy.
The RCEF which is appropriated with PIO Billion for six (6) years aims to fund 
programs for farm mechanization, seed development, propagation and promotion, 
credit assistance, and extension services.


In this representation's hope to expand the purpose of said fund, this measure 
is being proposed to increase the amount earmarked for RCEF from PIO Billion to P15 
Billion annually. This representation likewise proposes to earmark 10% of the 
Increased amount for scholarship, health, and other similar benefits for the rice fund 
beneficiaries in order to support the equally Important social needs of our farmers. 
Furthermore, the bill seeks to allocate at least P75 Million for scholarships in 
agriculture-related courses in order to encourage the further study of Agriculture with 
the end view of revitalizing the sector.
In order to achieve our goal of strengthening the agriculture sector's 
competitiveness and capacities, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
:O0iNHOOD PADILLA
Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
Senate
of tlje £:r f rrtm'P
■22 flUG 17 A9S6
SENATE
s. No. 1203
RECEIVED B
Introduced by Senator Robin hood Padilla
AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 13 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8178, AS AMENDED BY 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9496, ENTITLED "AN ACT REPLACING QUANTITATIVE 
IMPORT RESTRICTIONS ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, EXCEPT RICE, 
WITH TARIFFS, CREATING THE AGRICULTURAL COMPETITIVENESS 
ENHANCEMENT FUND, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
11203, ENTITLED "AN ACT LIBERALIZING THE IMPORTATION, 
EXPORTATION AND TRADING OF RICE, LIFTING FOR THE PURPOSE THE 
QUANTITATIVE IMPORT RESTRICTION ON RICE, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES"
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Section 13 of R. A. No. 8178, as amended, is hereby further amended
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to read as follows:
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"Sec. 13. Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund. - There is hereby
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created a Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, herein referred to
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as the 'Rice Fund'. The Rice Fund shall consist of an annual
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appropriation of [Ten billion pesos (P1Q7QQ07OOQ,OOO.OO)] FIFTEEN
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BILLION PESOS (P15,000,000,000.00) for the next six (6) years
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following the approval of this Act and shall be automatically credited to
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a Special Account in the General Fund of the National Treasury which
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shall be In place within ninety (90) days upon the effectivity of this Act.
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XXX


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"(a) Rice Farm Machineries and Equipment - Fifty percent (50%) 
of the Rice Fund shall be released to and implemented by the 
Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and 
Mechanization (PHilMech) as grant in kind to eligible farmers 
associations, registered rice cooperatives and local government 
units (LGUs), in the form of rice farm equipment, such as tillers, 
tractors, seeders, threshers, rice planters, harvesters, irrigation 
pumps, small solar irrigation, reapers, driers, millers, and the 
like, for purposes of improving farm mechanization: Provided, 
That the PHilMech shall, whenever feasible, procure from 
accredited local manufacturers to assist in the promotion of 
locally manufactured farm machineries and equipment;
"(b) Rice Seed Development, Propagation and Promotion - 
[Thirty percent (30%)] TWENTY PERCENT (20%) of the Rice 
Fund shall be released to and implemented by the Philippine Rice 
Research Institute (PhilRice) and shall be used for the 
development, propagation and promotion of inbred rice seeds to 
rice farmers and the organization of rice farmers into seed 
growers associations and/or cooperatives engaged in seed 
production and trade:
"(c) Expanded Rice Credit Assistance - Ten percent (10%) of 
the Rice Fund shall be made available in the form of credit 
facility with minimal Interest rate-s and with minimum collateral 
requirements to rice farmers and cooperatives, to be managed 
equally by the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the 
Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP); [af^]
"(d) Rice Extension Services - Ten percent (10%) of the Rice 
Fund shall be made available for the extension services provided 
by PHilMech. PhilRice. Agricultural Training Institute (ATE) and 
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) 
for teaching skills on rice crop production, modern rice farming 
techniques, seed production, farm mechanization, and


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knowledge/technology transfer through farm schools
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nationwide as follows: seventy percent (70%) to TESDA, ten
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percent (10%) each to ATI, PhilRice and PhilMechH ; AND
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(E) SCHOLARSHIP AND HEALTH SERVICES ~ TEN
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PERCENT (10%) SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR
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SCHOLARSHIP, HEALTH, AND OTHER SIMILAR
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BENEFITS FOR FARMER BENEFICIARIES, AS MAY BE
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DETERMINED BY THE DA, AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 14:
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PROVIDED, THAT AT LEAST FIVE PERCENT (5%) OF
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THIS AMOUNT SHALL BE RELEASED FOR SCHOLARSHIP
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IN AGRICULTURE-RELATED COURSES."
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Sec. 2. Separability Clause. — If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
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unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall
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remain in force and effect.
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Sec. 3. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
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order, letter of Instruction, rule or regulation Inconsistent with the provisions of this
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Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 4. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
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its complete publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,