Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Ka RECEIVE!
22 ne oer Py i)

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First a Session

4223

HOUSE Me NO.

Introduced by REP. Michael L. Romero

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Republic of the Philippines cannot rely on importation to supplement its food
needs. We must find a permanent and lasting solution 10 our recurring food

supply shortage.

Rice being the national food, deserves a special consideration. We must ensure
a stable and sufficient rice production by involving as many stakeholders as

possible in the agricultural sector.

We must review the mandate and flow of operations of all our government
agencies involved in the production and distribution of all our key food products
(specially rice) to improve synergy in pursuant to the mandate of this House Bill,


This House Bill envisions a highly acceptable and perpetual solution to the
perennial problem on the supply of our key food products. It has been proven
that the food supplies from overseas sources are very erratic and therefore very

unreliable.

Our farmers should be encourage to produce more lo meet our domestic food
demands, they should be provided with adequate support through irrigation,
better seedlings, enhanced stocking, improved farm mechanization, and

accessible and agricultural credits.

Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

MICH L. ROMERO Ph.D



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

Ww
HOUSE BILL no, 4223

Introduced by REP. Michael L. Romero

AN ACT

STRENGTHENING FOOD SECURITY, ESTABLISHING THE FOOD SECURITY
COUNCIL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress
Assembled

SECTION 1. Title - this act shall be known as the "FOOD SECURITY ACT OF
2016"

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - ii shall be the policy of the state

1, Ensure sufficient grains and all other key products specifically those
manufactured from domestically land-based agricultural activities
2. Promote reasonable prices specially during times of calamities and in all

cases of emergency situations.


. Take the lead role in order to provide the necessary resources, planning,

organizational and control systems to optimize the agricultural production.

. Provide the appropriate technical support, regulatory principles, and

monetary guidelines,

. Initiate progress monitoring to all sectors actively involved.

SECTION 3. Mission and Vision - to institutionalize all foregoing

policies, the Republic of the Philippines shall focus all its development plans and
programs towards the achievement of the following:

Improve the income of all farmers and agricultural communities:
Provide all the necessary subsidies and production support;

Organize interrelationships among stakeholders within the food industry:
Maximize food supply efficiency:

Establish negotiability with integrity for all guarantees;

Development of guidelines to enhance transparency and
competitiveness:

Adopt innovative techniques to reduce cost and improve quality;

Protect local farmers from the impact of globalization;

Enable local farmers to gain access to enhance post-harvest facilities;
Encourage the private sector to engage:

Enable the private sector to participate in this production:

Promote government guarantees;

Access capital marke! funding for food production;

Preserve strategic reserves of all key agricultural products;

Maintain a good buffer stock for all food essentials throughout the year;
and

Maximize the production of all key food products.


SECTION 4. Implementing Guidelines: for purposes of this act, To
execute the foregoing policy, there is hereby creating the FOOD SECURITY
COUNCIL, This council shall have the overall authority and responsibilily and
accountability for crafling and formulating a comprehensive program for the

implementation of these policies.

The FOOD SECURITY COUNCIL shall be composed of the following:

« Secretary - Department of Agriculture

* Secretary - Department of Trade and Industry
* Secretary - Department of Finance

« President - Land Bank of the Philippines

« Administrator - National Food Authority

« Representative - Famers sector

* Representative - Consumer sector

* Representative ~ Private sector
«Representative — Grains, Seeds sector

* Representatives — Dominant Farmers Party list

The Council shall formulate its own implementing rules and regulations to
govern its proceedings. The Council shall choose its official home base, and

organize a staffing protocol to aid and carry out its functions.

SECTION 5. Capacity and Role of the Council

To engage and assure the Food Security Policy of the state, the Council shall
have the following powers:


1. To establish satisfying levels of annual inventory based on the appropriate
calendar year for all key food products. Meeting the minimum indicated

factors of the following:

* Keeping the prices of all key food products stable;

* Improving farmers income, ideal levels for production;

« Identify the regions where productions are to be domestically
produced or foreign sources if they are to be imported;

* Indicate the strategic services for these key food products; and

 Institutionalize the interaction and relations of the availability and
supply of these key food products.

2. To enforce and create, through agencies the appropriate standards of

the following:

* Transfer of these key food products;
* Preservation;

«Benchmark of practice and packaging:
« Units of measurement;

* Analysis and testing:

* Specifications;

«Inspection and sampling;

* Storage;

«Distribution and shipping:

* Milling and drying;

* Handling, hauling and grading


3. To mandate the specific agencies to effectively seizure whenever there is
improper acquisitions (hoarding, comering) of these key food products.

Including all facilities and machineries used;

4. To authorize inspection by these specific agencies of these key products

that are stored in private warehouses, for inventory;

5, To implement monitoring and progress tracking of these key products for

prices and stocks movement:

6. To locate and encourage the creation of food terminal markets on a

nationwide scale;

7. To identify trading centers to serve as a conduit facility;
8. To promote efficient distribution to all consumers:

9. To promote a transparent marketing system:

10. To enhance the interest of more farmers and consumers:

11. To track the demand and supply indicators of these key food products.

All imports and exports in coordination with the Bureau of Customs;

12. To monitor the impact on farmers income, their standards of living, and
consumer prices in collaboration with the Department of Trade and
Industry;

13. To create the appropriate implementing rules and regulations governing
the importation of all key food products

14, To establish an annual ideal inventory level, in the concept of licensing,
and;


15, To prescribe penalties and fines for non-compliance.

SECTION 6. Appropriation

The amount determined by the Food Security Council for the implementation of
this Act shall be charged under the existing funding of the Department of
Agriculture.

Thereafter such amounts necessary for the successive and continuous
implementation of this Act, including the operations maintenance of reserves

shall be automatically appropriated in the General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, issuances,
rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed
of modified accordingly

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. |f, for any reason or reasons, any
portion or provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the
remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and
effect.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect (15) days upon

publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,