, . 
'semdr 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
(~HJ;t of 1111" ,~rnrtnq~ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'14 
JAN 22 P 2 :52 
SENA1lo, 
S.No. 
7 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to the 2012 Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, the agricultural 
sector employs an estimated 12 million people, making up 33 percent of the 
country's labor force. About 70 percent of the rural poor are farmers and 
fishermen. 
Though the sector contributed about 11 percent to the country's GDP on 
2011, government investment in the sector was only 4 percent of the national 
budget. 
In that same year total government spending on agriculture was almost 24 
percent lower than the previous year. 
Experts say that weak government policies and programs, an excessive' 
reliance on agricultural imports, and corruption, have taken their toll on the 
agricultural sector. 
On the side of education, the .aver<l:ge level of education of a farmer is grade 
five. 
This bill aims to help the agricultural sector by providing social services to • 
dependents of farmers. This will send a statement to the agricultural sector that the 
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state is serious in providing them with adequate support. It m~y also encourage 
their children to continue farming and help in the livelihood of the family. 
oP" 
2 
L~ J..L..,._)~ 
MIRIAM DEFENsOR sANTlAao 
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~el1l1ti' 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
<OHt;r, uf t\-l~ ~frr"j:l\'~ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
·14 
JAN 22 P 2 :52 
SENATE 
S.No. 
2077 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE DEPENDENTS OF FARMERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Social Services 
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for Farmers' Dependents Act of2013." 
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SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. ---: For purposes of this Act, the term 
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"Farming" or "agriculture" shall include farming in all of its branches and the 
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cultivation and tillage of the soil, dairying, the production, cultivation, growing and 
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harvesting of any agricultural, aquacultural, floricultural or horticultural 
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commodities, the growing and harvesting of forest products upon forest land, the 
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raising of livestock including horses, the keeping of horses as a commercial 
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enterprise, the keeping and raising of poultry, swine, cattle and other domesticated 
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animals used for food purposes, bees, fur-bearing animals, and any forestry or 
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lumbering operations, performed by a farmer, who is hereby defined as one 
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engaged in agriculture or farming as herein defined, or on a farm as an incident to 
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or in conjunction with such farming operations, including preparations for market, 
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delivery to storage or to market or to carriers for transportation to market. 
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A "dependent" means a legitimate, illegitimate or legally adopted child 
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chiefly dependent upon and living with the taxpayer if such dependent is not more 
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than twenty-one (21) years of age, unmarried and not gainfully employed or if such 
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dependent, regardless of age, is incapable of self-support because of mental or 
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physical defect. 
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SECTION 3. Farmers' Dependents Social Services Program. - There shall-
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be created a Farmers' Dependents Social Services Program which shall be in 
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charge of the delivery of social services to the dependents of farmers and farm 
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workers. 
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SECTION 4. Farmers' Dependents Social Services Program Office. -There • 
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IS hereby created an Office in the Department of Agriculture that shall be 
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responsible for the implementation of the Farmers' Dependents Social Services 
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Program in Section 4 of this Act. It shall be in charge of the delivery of the 
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following: 
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(A) 
Credit facilities during times of natural ca~amities such as typhoons, 
drought, and other similar events; 
(B) 
Counseling and information dissemination on available healthcare 
for dependents; 
(C) 
Coordinate with the Department of Social Welfare and Development 
in drawing and implementing plans for the promotion of the welfare of 
the dependents on farmers, particularly those who belong to the poorest 
ofthe poor; 
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(D) 
Prepare a report on the dependents of farmers who are in most need 
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of assistance and to draw up a financial assistance package to be 
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drawn from private contributors; 
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(E) 
Conduct seminars, trainings, and other related activities. 
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SECTION 5. Funding. - The Center shall have an initial funding of FIFTY 
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MILLION PESOS (P50,000,000,000.00). 
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SECTION 6. Incentives. - In order to encourage private sector participation, 
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all expenses incurred by any private individual, corporation, or a non-governmental 
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organization, in the establishment of facilities or in the perfonnance of services, 
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including donations, which are consistent with the declared policies of this Act, 
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shall be considered as allowable deductions from the gross income as defined 
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under the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended. 
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SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of 
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Agriculture and the Department of Soci~l Welfare and Development shall jointly 
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issue the implementing rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of 
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this Act within thirty (30) days from its date of effectivity. 
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SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held 
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invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
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affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
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contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this act is hereby repealed, 
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modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
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days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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