Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines is an agricultural country where 35% of its population is engaged 
in farming as a main source of livelihood. Ironically, the country, for several 
years, has been the biggest importer of rice in the world and still striving to attain 
self-sufficiency. In fact, in the year 2009 alone, the country had imported 
1,777,378,649 metric tons of rice and 303,148,863 metric tons of corn in the 
total amount of US$952,740,091.00 and US$95,153,146.00, respectively, which 
contributed to the depletion of the dollar reserve of the country. 
The above unfortunate situation is further compounded by the burgeoning 
population with an annual growth at 2.04%. With the land area of only four (4) 
million hectares used for rice production in the Philippines, and this area is 
decreasing in big number in favor of certain industries, subdivisions, commercial 
establishment and other purposes, the government should take immediate and 
effective measures geared towards improving the yield of the farmers to ensure 
accessibility and affordability of rice, corn and similar farm products for all 
Filipinos. Studies show that 35% of the total yield increase will be attributed to 
the use of high quality seeds. 
The enactment of Republic Act No. 7308, known as the “Seeds Industry 
Development Act of 1992” was a monumental step towards increasing farm 
productivity by developing and propagating quality seeds. However, it did not 
contain a proviso for a compulsory mass production of seeds for the farmers. To 
date, while the government has adopted a program to procure quality seeds for 
the farmers, it has never been as comprehensive as it should be and its volume 
and coverage, as well as its implementation are more matters of policy in the 
leadership rather than in pursuance to a well-defined enactment.   
July 1, 2022 
10:52 am
802


The establishment of a seeds production program will greatly enhance farm 
productivity by providing the farmers with quality, hybrid and affordable seeds, 
as well as the needed technical and other support services. It is in furtherance 
of the thrusts of the government to attain self-sufficiency of rice and corn 
production, as well to improve the lives of our famers who consistently posted 
the highest poverty incidences among the other sectors. 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO Ph.D.  


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A CONTINUING NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR 
HYBRID AND OTHER QUALITY SEEDS PRODUCTION AND 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title - This Act shall be known as “The National Seeds 
Production Act of 2022”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to optimize the farm productivity through a systematic production of hybrid 
and other quality seeds which are readily available and affordable to farmers. 
Towards this end, the government shall formulate a system that will ensure the 
production of hybrid and other quality seeds sufficient to address the 
requirements of the farmers and whereby the farmers could buy seeds to various 
accessible centers at a subsidize prize. 
802


 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms - For purposes of this Act, the following 
terms shall be defined as follows: 
a) Seed shall mean a plant material used for the production of food, 
forage, fibers, industrial crops, oil, flowers, grasses, herbs, and 
aquatic plants, including but not limited to, meristem and clonal 
propagules such tubers, corms, cuttings, seedlings, and micro-
propagated plantlets; 
b) Hybrid seeds shall mean genetically improved seeds certified by 
the National Seed Quality Control Services under the Bureau of 
Plant Industries with proven capacity for high yield; 
c) Continuing program shall mean an all year round program of 
production based on a pre-determined volume of requirement 
that should be carried out on a regular basis; 
d) Local levels shall mean the regional offices of the Department of 
Agriculture, provincial agriculture offices and the municipal 
agriculture offices; 
e) Subsidize price shall mean the value of the seeds which is half of 
its acquisition and/or production cost as determined by the 
Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Plant 
Industries;       
 
SECTION 4. Coverage.  The National Government shall undertake a 
comprehensive program on the production of hybrid and other quality seeds, 
guided by the following objectives: 
a) Policy formulation on regulation and distribution of hybrid and 
other quality seeds to the farmers at a subsidize cost; 
b) Promotion and encouragement to the farmers of the use of hybrid 
and other quality seeds in their effort to increase farm 
productivity; 
c) Conduct of information dissemination, seminars and other 
support services to the farmers; 
d) Research and development pertaining to hybrid and other quality 
seeds, in  
coordination with the Philippine Rice Institute and other 
specialized agencies.   


  
 
SECTION 5. Implementing Mechanism- The Department of Agriculture, 
through the Bureau of Plant Industries is hereby designated as the implementing 
Agency of this program and shall initiate, supervise, coordinate, monitor its 
implementation at the national and local levels. It shall ensure the following; 
a) The active participation of the private sectors in the mass 
production of hybrid and other quality seeds in sufficient 
quantity; 
b) The seeds that shall be mass produced in sufficient quantity 
should only be those hybrid and other quality seeds that are 
certified by the National Seed Quality Control Services, created 
under Republic Act 7308;  
c) The establishments of areas devoted to the production of hybrid 
and other quality seeds in each region and province, as may be 
deemed necessary, to augment any deficiency of production from 
the private sector. 
d) The establishments of buying/distribution centers in each 
municipality, through the municipal agriculture office. 
  
 
SECTION 6. Appropriations - The sum of One Billion pesos 
(Php1,000,000,000.00) shall be appropriated for the initial implementation of 
this Act which shall be incorporated in the Annual Budget of the Department of 
Agriculture, and thereafter the amount necessary to carry out the program 
implementation shall be incorporated in the General Appropriations Act. 
 
SECTION 7. Annual Report - The Department of Agriculture shall render 
an annual report to Congress on the accomplishment of the program. A review 
on the viability of the program shall be made by the concerned agencies after 
three (3) years of its implementation. 
 
SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Department of 
Agriculture shall issue rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this 
Act within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act. 


 
SECTION 9. Penal Provisions - Any person, firm or association who shall 
obstruct, impedes or in any manner defeats the purpose of this act, shall, upon 
conviction, be punished with a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand 
pesos (Php100,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than five (5) years, or both, 
in the discretion of the court. Provided, that in case of a firm or association, the 
penalty of imprisonment shall be imposed upon the officer(s) who knowingly 
participated, abetted, or consented to the commission of such punishable acts. 
 
SECTION 10. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is declared 
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall 
remain in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause — All laws, presidential decrees, 
executive orders, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts 
thereof contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
 
SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
days following its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
or in the Official Gazette, whichever comes first. 
 
 
 
Approved.