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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 JUL 15 P3 '22
RI'CEIViD ’
SENATE^
S.B. No. 657
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
URGING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, AND EXPORT 
PROMOTION OF PINEAPPLES, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Pineapples are one of the primary agricultural exports of the Philippines. 
According to the Food and Agriculture Office (FAO), the Philippines remained the 
world's second largest pineapple exporter for the 15th straight year as total shipments 
in 2023 grew by almost three percent, driven by higher Chinese demand for premium 
quality fruits. The country exported 1.01 million MT of pineapples and pineapple 
products in 2023, valued at USD 732 million, according to the Philippine Statistics 
Authority (PSA).
China was the country's top buyer of pineapples, accounting for about 43 
percent of total shipments. The Philippines also hiked its pineapple exports to South 
Korea and Japan by six to eight percent on an annual basis last year. Japan and South 
Korea accounted for 30 percent and 14 percent of the country's pineapple shipments 
last year, respectively. Together, these three countries account for 87% of the 
Philippines' pineapple exports. Almost 100% of Philippines' pineapple exports are to 
countries in Asia and the Pacific region.
In total, the Philippines exported USD 760 million worth of pineapple products. 
Looking at the industry trend, export of pineapples remains constant, if not decreasing. 
On 2021, the Philippines exported USD 760 million worth of pineapple products, 
compared to the USD 732 million exported in 2023. The lack of growth in the industry 
is due to several factors. The pineapple industry regularly experiences the loss of 40% 
of the total fruit production due to hauling and transporting problems, in addition to rat 
infestation. There is a need to provide farm-to-market roads in pineapple planting 
regions in Northern Mindanao and SOCCSKSARGEN in order to reduce losses. There is 
also a need improve the access of farmers to cold storage facilities that will allow them


to ship their produce. This is important as proper postharvest handling is important in 
producing export-quality fresh pineapples.
There is also a lack of processing centers to produce processed pineapple goods 
like pineapple juice and canned pineapples. Given the perishability of the fresh product 
and the existing world demand for processed pineapple products, there is a need to 
further develop the processed pineapple sector in order to expand the market reach of 
the local pineapple produce, as only 3% of the processed pineapple of the Philippines 
reach the US market.
Farmers are also suffering from losses due to the infestation of insects and other 
pests. Pineapple plants suffer from parasites like the Phythophthora and the Fusarium 
fungi, nematode infestation, and Symphylan insect attacks. The Department of 
Agriculture needs to provide the farmers support in dealing with the pests associated 
with pineapples.
For the abovementioned reasons, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.
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-f'f.r;- c‘
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 JIJL15 P3:22
rice;-.;. :
SENATE
S.B. No. 657
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
URGING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, AND EXPORT 
PROMOTION OF PINEAPPLES, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Pineapple Export Promotion 
Act."
Sec. 2. Establishment of the Pineapple Export Promotion Council (PEPC). - A council, 
composed of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) or his representative 
as the Chairperson, the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) or his 
representative, the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or his 
representative, and one (1) each from the pineapple growers and commercial 
processors' sectors to be designated by the Secretary of the DA shall be created 
immediately upon the effectivity of this Act to ensure the government's, support, and 
assistance to pineapple exporters. The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) under DA, 
through the office which implements the High-Value Crops Development Program, shall 
be designated as the PEPC'S Secretariat.
Sec. 3. Functions of the PEPC.- The PEPC, in consultation with the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Science and Technology 
(DOST), state universities and colleges, pineapple growers' and processors 
cooperatives and organizations, local government units, and the private sector, shall 
formulate a ten (10) year framework to be validated and updated annually. Such 
Framework shall serve as guide to the formulation and implementation of plans, 
programs and projects for the production, processing and marketing of Philippine 
pineapple for export worldwide, as envisioned in this Act. The Framework shall likewise 
provide for the following;
a) National Framework - The DA, DOST, state universities and colleges (SUCs), and


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Other stakeholders shall strengthen the conduct of researches on pineapple 
particularly on areas of crop improvement, crop protection, harvesting and 
postharvest handling, supply chain analysis, marketing and promotion;
b) Investment Promotion and Facilitation - The DA and DTI shall develop programs 
establishing links between stakeholders in the Pineapple Industry and 
Government Financial Institutions (GFIs) and other financial cooperatives. The 
DA and DTI shall likewise develop and implement programs that would establish 
reasonable and innovative investment incentives to attract more players in the 
Pineapple Industry;
c) Export Promotion Support - An integrated and strategic export promotion 
program for Pineapple Industry shall be created. The export promotion program 
shall be responsive to market conditions, needs of the exporters, and possibilities 
offered by new products and technologies. It shall likewise provide foreign trade 
and export promotion activities through trainings, technical assistance, capacity 
building, generating awareness on export opportunities, and export planning 
assistance;
d) Strengthen Trade Policies and Support Network. - The DA shall be responsible 
in coordinating a consultative approach for the various stages of the trade policy 
making process. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) shall lead the 
negotiation of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to provide a competitive 
environment for pineapple exports abroad; and
e) Monitoring and Evaluation. - The DA shall continuously monitor, track, and 
analyze the progress and outcomes of the programs to be implemented to 
determine over-all effectiveness.
Sec. 4. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement this Act shall be included 
in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). Thereafter, such funds as may be 
necessary for the continued Implementation of this Act shall be included in the 
succeeding annual GAA.
Sec. 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting.
Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, 
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.
Sec. 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,