Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. AND 
HON. BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Benjamin (“Ben”) W. Mead is a 42 year-old Australian and a permanent resident of 
the Philippines since 2015. Ben is married to a Filipina, an adoptive father to a Filipina 
daughter, has exhibited and continually exhibits qualities that support his granting of 
naturalization as a Filipino citizen.  
Since residing in the Philippines, Ben managed a range of impactful initiatives in his 
Agriculture-focused enterprises. This includes substantial charitable initiatives via The 
Mead Foundation Inc, an SEC-registered non-profit, to benefit the Filipino people and 
the country’s environment.  
In the agricultural industry, Ben’s interests lie in his shareholding and chairmanship 
of BioPrime Agri-Industries Inc and his shareholding in and leadership as CEO of Iba 
Botanicals Inc. 
Under Ben’s leadership, BioPrime Agri Industries introduced a compelling nano 
bio-fertilizer technology to the Philippines that promises immense impact at scale for 
Filipino farmers. Since 2018, through a disciplined engagement with Department of 
Agriculture (“DA”) and PhilRice, the product proved to permit Filipino rice and corn 
farmers to substantially reduce chemical fertilizer whilst increasing yields and 
earnings significantly. It was through these efforts that the Department of 
Agriculture gained sufficient confidence to adopt “balanced fertilization” as the main 
strategy to address the country’s reliance on imported chemical fertilizer.  With the 
support of DA, thousands of Filipino farmers benefited from this advancement in 
fertilization technology. Today, BioPrime Agri Industries Inc provides employment for 
more than 150 Filipinos.  During the global pandemic, Ben moved some Php 6 
billion of nano bio-fertilizer inventory in the Philippines to support the needs of the 
farmers with almost 1,000,000 hectares of farmland improving the fertilizer crisis. 
Later in 2023, Ben committed to move the manufacturing of this product from the 
United States to the Philippines in support to our domestic food security and the 
needs of Filipino farmers.  As part of this initiative, Ben has committed the company 
to reinvest 2.5% of profits in non-profit initiatives such as the building of schools 
nationwide for the children of Filipino farmers. This should provide enhanced 
education opportunities and knowledge of improved farming practices.   
May 15, 2023
3:37 pm
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In addition, Ben is the founder and CEO of Iba Botanicals Inc, a pioneer in the 
production of high-volume and high-value botanical extracts (pure essential oils) 
from the Philippines. Iba Botanicals has invested more than Php 150,000,000 in its 
initiative, which provides full-time employment for 120 Filipinos, and 350 daily farm 
workers, vast majority of which are displaced indigenous Aeta community members.  
Iba Botanicals is a BOI-accredited export enterprise that supplies large multinational 
flavor and fragrance companies in Europe as well as in USA. Ben’s pioneering work 
has put the Philippines on the map as a global player in the production of these 
high-value extracts showcasing the Philippines from where the products originated.  
Iba Botanicals products are supplied to global fine fragrance brands (e.g. Chanel, 
Dior, Victoria’s Secret), consumer goods brands (e.g. Bath & Body Works) and 
wellness companies (e.g. Young Living, doTERRA).  From its present 100-hectare 
plantation in Zambales as of end 2022, Iba Botanicals is facilitating the planting of a 
further 500 additional hectares in 2023, and an additional 500 hectares in 2024. The 
expansion areas are projected to create at minimum an additional 600 jobs for 
agricultural and plant workers in an economically depressed location, populated by 
marginalized communities.  
Iba Botanicals was recently the first to have obtained the necessary permits and 
licenses to propagate Agarwood plantations, a critically endangered tree species 
that is also the world’s highest value forest product, by virtue of Ben’s pioneering 
approach to further Philippine botanicals on the global stage. Iba is now undertaking 
the establishment of plantations at scale, as well as support of third-party planters 
who wish to participate in this new high-value agri-industry. In doing so, it is 
anticipated that there will be relief from poaching the wild agarwood trees, as legal 
and sustainable source becomes available.  
More than his outstanding performance in the Agricultural Sector, Ben is also 
prioritizing philanthropic activities as the Founder and CEO of The Mead Foundation 
(“TMF”). TMF is a non-profit initiative of the Mead family and since 2015 has built 
three active divisions; medical, marine conservation, and community.  
•
TMF’s medical division implements free cleft lip and palate surgeries for 
underprivileged Filipinos.  Since inception, more than 3,500 free surgeries 
were performed by both an annual medical mission attended by international 
surgeons as well as a regular program sponsoring cases in government 
hospitals in Metro Manila. By 2025, TMF intends to construct a full-time cleft 
clinic in Las Pinas that will provide a dedicated facility for free surgeries on an 
ongoing basis. 
•
TMF’s marine conservation division takes an integrated approach to Marine 
Protected Area administration, coral reef restoration, livelihood creation and 
other aligned site-specific efforts such as sea turtle conservation. With 
projects in six locations in the Philippines, an additional two project sites will 
be added in 2023. The projects are undertaken in with the support of local 
and international partners -- such as University of the Philippines, Southern 
Cross University (Australia) – with funding of the Mead Family. 
•
Finally, the Community arm of TMF has a range of programs in support of 
general development for communities in need, such as clean water systems 
for Aeta communities, significant disaster relief operations following Typhoon 


Odette, feeding programs, school infrastructure and materials sponsorship, 
and other related activities.  
Ben’s allegiance in this country is indubitable. His values, goals and wide knowledge 
as well as his competency in the field of agriculture shall truly advance the entire 
nation. Thus, let Congress give to him the privilege of becoming a Filipino citizen. 
With, the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is most humbly and earnestly 
sought.  
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. AND 
HON. BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN 
AN ACT 
GRANTING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP TO BENJAMIN W. MEAD 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Benjamin W. Mead is hereby granted Philippine citizenship with all the 
rights, privileges, and prerogatives, as well as the duties and obligations appurtenant 
thereto, under the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of the Philippines. 
SEC. 2. Benjamin W. Mead shall take the Oath of Allegiance to the Republic of the 
Philippines before an officer duly authorized to administer the same. The Oath of 
Allegiance shall be registered with the Bureau of Immigration. 
SEC. 3. Upon registration of the Oath of Allegiance, the Bureau of Immigration shall 
issue a Certificate of Naturalization to Benjamin W. Mead who shall thereupon enter 
into the full enjoyment of Philippine citizenship. 
SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect immediately upon its publication in the Official 
Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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