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Quezon City

18TH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4g
HOUSE BILL NO. baad

Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero

EXPLANATORY NOTE

For purposes of this Act, this Program is the consolidation cf small farms
including farms of agrarian reform beneficiaries, as one larger farm, with a
minimum aree of thirty (30) hectares within a two-kilometer radius, to take
advantage of the economies of scale in the production of sugarcane, such that
the activities in the small farms are aligned and implemented to ensure the
efficient use of farm machineries and equipment, deployment of workers, volume
purchase of inputs, financing, and other operational advantages, as well as
recognition by sugar mills, government financial institutions, private investors,
but the ownership of each small farm remains with the landowners.

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), the Department of Agriculture (DA),
the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and other concerned government
agencies shall provide common service facilities, such as farm machineries and
implements, grants or start-up funding for the needed production inputs,
technology adoption, livelihood and skills training and other deveiopment
activities for the block farm and its members, and other support activities that
may be identified.

Thus, the early pasg@e of this bill is earnestly requested.

MICHAEL L. ROMERO Ph.D.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18TH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 997

Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero

AN ACT

STRENGTHENING THE SUGARCANE INDUSTRY, 1NCREASING
ITS ANNUAL SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy- The Department of Budget and
Management (DBM) is hereby mandated to include annually, starting the year
2019, an initial aggregate amount of Five billion pesos (P5,000,000,000.90) in
the President’s program of expenditures for submission to Congress and

allocated, as follows:

{a) Fifteen percent (15%) for grants to block farms under the Block
Farm Program;

(b) Fifteen percent (15%) for socialized credit under the Farm
Support and Farm Mechanization Programs;

(c) Fifteen percent (15%) for research and development, capability

building and technology transfer activities under Research and


Development, Extension Services, Human Resources Development,

and Farm Support Programs;

(d) Five percent (5%) for scholarship grants to be provided under
paragraph (b) of Section 6 of RA10659 otherwise known as the
“Sugarcane Industry Development Act of 2015’, Human
Resources Development; and

{e) Fifty percent (50%) for infrastructure support programs.

In the identification and prioritization of specific programs and
projects, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) shall conduct
prior consultation with representatives of block farms, sugarcane
farmers and workers, ~ugar millers, refiners, bio-energy producers,
and producers of other products derived from sugarcane and its by-

products. The Department shail issue the necessary guidelines for
this purpose

For the current year, the DBM shall include in a supplemental
budget, that may be formulated, the amount of Five billion pesos
{P5,000,000,000.00) and following the allocation prescribed in this
section.

SECTION 2. Non-Exemption from Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Program {CARP) Coverage ~ Nothing in this Act shall exempt any landholding
from CARP Coverage.

SECTION 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Department of
Agriculture (DA), in consultation with concerned government agencies and
sugarcane industry stakeholders, shall issue the implementing rules and

regulations of this Act within ninety (90) days starting from the effectivity of this
Act.


SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the validity of the remaining provisions hereof shall remain in

full force and effect.

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. ~All laws, decrees, executive orders and
rules and regulations or pert or parts thereof inconsistent with any provision of
this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen
(15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2)

newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,