FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE'l) al CJ 
Senate Bill No. -=~:....'l/;=c=:() 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. 
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 is the biggest importer 
of rice in the world, and its corn production is not sufficient for local consumption. 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 sl")ould 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. 
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 trusts of 
the government to attain self-sufficiency of rice and corn production in the year 2013. 
FERDINA D R.1nARCOS, JR. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2418 
~"f ; ,--
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. 
I 
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 2010". 
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. 
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 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 
ql.\ality 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 Six Billion pesos (Php6,000,000,000.00) 
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 more than One Hundred Thousand pesos 
(Php100,000.00) or imprisonment of not more 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. 


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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.-AII 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.- 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.