• 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 876 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Rice is the staple food of every Filipino and is at the core of the country's 
Agricultural development thrust. In view of the central role that this staple food 
plays in the life of every Filipino, it underscores the need to provide for 
contingency measures to ensure the adequate supply of rice for all. 
This legislative measure thus provides for a mechanism whereby national 
rice reserves will be maintained in order to cushion the impact of a rice shortage 
during periods of national emergency. 
Immediate passage of this bill is thus earnestly recommended. 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SE NATE 
Senate Bill No. 876 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING EMERGENCY RICE RESERVES 
AND 
FOR 
OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives if the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Title. This Act shall be known as the "Emergency Rice 
Reserves Act of 2010". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
to ensure an adequate supply of rice at reasonable and affordable process for the 
people in times of calamities. 
mean: 
SEC. 3. Definition of term. As used in this Act, the following terms shall 
(a) 
Calamities are fortuitous event which include act of God 
such as but not limited to typhoon, floods, droughts, 
earthquakes, fires, volcanic eruption, lahar flows, and acts of 
man such as political and/or civil disturbances, and wide-
spread civil unrest; 
(b) 
Emergency Rice Reserve is the inventory or stock rice 
and/or palay by the National 
Food Authority (NFA), 
equivalent to the 
15-day average national 
daily rice 
consumption to be maintained as a matter of national policy. 
SEC. 4. Management. In order for the National Food Authority (NFA) to 
effectively perform the functions and responsibilities provided for in this Act, it 
shall: 
(1 ) 
(2) 
Maintain and manage a government rice reserve equivalent 
to fifteen (15) days of the national rice consumption for the 
current year and determine the location and distribution of 
such stocks' into depots nationwide. 
Procure stock from small farmers and farmer' cooperative 
and import only under abnormal conditions determined 
through consultation with all affected sectors unless directed 
otherwise by the President: Provided, That, the quality of the 
imported rice shall be regular milled rice, thirty-five percent 


• 
(35%) brokens, or better; NFA will have the option to release 
the equivalent volume in palay form to maintain the fifteen 
(15) day rice reserve. 
(3) 
Release to the market said government rice reserve upon 
the declaration of a state of calamity by the President of the 
Republic of the Philippines; Provided That such declaration 
shall specifically state that NFA rice reserve is to be released 
to the market upon the recommendation of the Secretary of 
the Department of Agriculture; Provided fwther, That the 
release price of said rice shall be based on the prevailing 
market price immediately prior to the occurrence of the 
calamity. 
SEC. 5. Refill of Emergency Rice Reserve. The NFA shall ensure that rice 
stocks are refilled in accordance with the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 6. Appropriations. There shall be appropriated from the funds of the 
National Treasury a seed money of P4 Billion for its initial operations and 
constituted into a revolving fund held in trust by NFA used for funding 
replenishment and as a depository for funds obtained from the sale/monetization 
of food security stocks. Thereafter, all such amounts as may be necessary for the 
continued operation of said Fund which shall include the maintenance and/or 
increase of the Food Security Rice Reserve shall be automatically appropriated in 
the General Appropriations Act as approved by Congress. 
SEC. 7. Monitoring and Review. The NFA shall regularly review and 
assess the national palay and rice situation and, on the bases of the data and 
information collected, prepare a report to be submitted on Agriculture of Congress. 
SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulation. The NFA shall. Within sixty 
(60) days from the effectivity of this Act, issue the implementing rules and 
regUlation if this Act. 
SEC. 9. Separability Clause. If any provisions of this Act be deemed 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in 
force and effect. 
SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. If acts, presidential decrees, executive orders 
and administrative orders, rules and regulations, and other such issuance or parts 
of thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealeq or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 11. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
after complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,