NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
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•22 JUL 14 PI S6
SENATE
S.B. No. 606
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
TO DEVELOP THE RUBBER INDUSTRY, ESTABLISHING FOR THE PURPOSE THE 
PHILIPPINE RUBBER INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD, DEFINING ITS 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines was known to be among the top producers of rubber until the 1980s when 
the demand for tires and other rubber products slackened due to the decline in the 
economies of Japan and Europe. In the recent years, the country displayed vitality with 
the rising demand for natural and synthetic rubber. Much of this demand would stem 
from the rise of industries making use of rubber such as the automotive, footwear, and 
healthcare industries.
Rubber production in the country mainly thrives in Mindanao due to its agro-climate 
suitable in cultivating rubber, but some farmers are now planting the same in Luzon and 
Visayas for its lucrative value. With the increasing global and domestic demand for natural 
rubber, now is an opportune time to strengthen the rubber industry of the country.
This measure provides a means of producing a steady supply of quality rubber by 
enhancing the competitiveness of the processing and manufacturing of rubber and 
rubber-based products. It also aims to establish the Philippine Rubber Industry 
Development Board (PHILRUBBER), which will further strengthen the foundations of the 
Philippine rubber industry to its full potential by creating more opportunities in the 
agricultural and manufacturing sector.
The Board will be assigned to supervise the initiatives of stakeholders such as government 
agencies, the private sector, and the academe toward the development of the rubber 
industry in the Philippines. In addition to this, said Board will also be assigned to evaluate 
the performance of the Philippine rubber industry from factors such as potential 
prospects, to factors that hinder the growth of the rubber industry.
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
;guel f. zubiri


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 606
‘©fftrr of JlU'
•22 JUL14 PI 56
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
TO DEVELOP THE RUBBER INDUSTRY, ESTABLISHING FOR THE PURPOSE THE 
PHILIPPINE RUBBER INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD, DEFINING ITS 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Rubber
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Industry Development, Act of 2022."
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to lay down a strong
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foundation for more inclusive growth where it shall be easier for the marginalized
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economic sectors to participate in economic progress through job creation and
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encouragement of entrepreneurship. The government, in partnership with the private
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sector, shall improve the productivity of agriculture and enhance the global
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competitiveness of the industry and services sectors.
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It is to this end that the government, with the active support of the private sector,
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shall endeavor to achieve a balanced, integrated and sustainable development of the
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country's rubber industry, the Philippines being frequently among the top 10 exporters of
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raw or semi-processed rubber and being favorably situated in Southeast Asia which
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accounts for 90% of the world's output of natural rubber. The government shall
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undertake to develop Philippine rubber as a major participant in the rubber global value
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chain by accelerating the industry's overall growth through the following:
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(a) Expanding and improving the productivity and quality of natural rubber production for
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domestic and global markets;
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(b) Enhancing the competitiveness of the processing and manufacturing of rubber and
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rubber-based products, setting international quality control standards and ensuring
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adherence thereat;
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(c) Encouraging diversification through product upgrading which involves the production
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of better quality and higher valued semi-processed rubber; and,
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(d) Promoting public-private partnership to push forward the programs and projects that
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will optimize natural and manufactured rubber product utilization.


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SEC. 3. Definition of Terms.
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shall mean as follows:
As used in this Act, the following words or phrases
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(a) Natural rubber - means the latex of any rubber plant, whether fluid or coagulated,
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in any stage to which it is processed and converted into rubber and rubber-based
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products.
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(b) Philippine Rubber Industry Development Roadmap - shall serve as a guide to
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all industry stakeholders for optimal realization of the targets set for the development
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of the rubber industry. It highlights the accomplishments of the joint efforts and
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initiatives of ail stakeholders, and reflects the agreements on the areas where the
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efforts should be focused for optimal results.
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(c) Standard Philippine Rubber (SPR) - the technical specification of the quality of
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Philippine semi-processed rubber as defined under ISO/PNS 2000:2015.
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(d) Processor - means any person, natural or juridical who is engaged in processing
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latex or cup lump into rubber sheets or crumb which is used as input material to
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rubber and rubber-based products.
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(e) Manufacturer - all workers engaged in the manufacture of any rubber or rubber-
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based products.
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(f) Value Chain- describes the full range of activities that firms and workers do to bring
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a product or good or service from its conception to its end use and beyond.
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SEC. 4. The Philippine Rubber Industry Development Board. - To effectively
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carry out the policy declared in this Act, the Philippine Rubber Industry Development
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Board, hereinafter referred to as the Board, is hereby created for the purpose of
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overseeing and coordinating the initiatives of government agencies, the private sector,
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the academe and other concerned sectors, geared to accelerate the overall development
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of the Philippine rubber industry, enabling it to be a major participant in the rubber global
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value chain. It shall be attached to the Department of Trade and Industry.
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SEC. 5. Powers and Functions. - The Board shall:
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(a) Coordinate initiatives and efforts of each agency to achieve the whole of government
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approach to industry development, collaborating with the private sector, the
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academe, and other productive economic forces;
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(b) Coordinate, monitor and assess the implementation of the Philippine Rubber Industry
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Development Roadmap and programs/projects being carried out by various
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stakeholders vis-a-vis policy statements and/or targets;
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(c) Periodically review and evaluate the country's rubber industry performance, focusing
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on issues and problems, prospects, threats and opportunities, growth constraints
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within the entire value chain;
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(d) Facilitate provision of support to rubber farmers in terms of credit and marketing
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facilities, farm expansion, farm mechanization, rehabilitation and modernization, and
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adoption of best agricultural production practices;


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(e) Create an enabling environment to encourage investments in public and private
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lands, joint venture in production/ processing, and manufacturing of rubber-based
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products; and in rubber industry development funds, long-term finance, private
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equity;
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(f) Formulate and recommend applicable incentive package for enterprises engaged in
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priority areas and ensure ease in availing of such incentives;
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(g) Promote and advocate compliance with the Philippine National Standards on rubber
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and rubber-based products and market requirements to increase export volume of
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processed and manufactured rubber products;
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(h) Develop capability of the industry to produce higher value products by provision of
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knowledge of market preferences, costs and prices, and other market intelligence;
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(i) Expand market access through targeted and focused promotions of rubber and its
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allied industries through local and international business matching missions and trade
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fairs;
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(j) Establish industry performance database to include the Board's existing
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statistics/information and feedback to policies and plans specific to rubber industry
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to aid in efficient and effective decision-making;
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(k) Serve as the point of contact of the national policy makers of the rubber industry;
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(1) Facilitate the national representation of the country in industry-related cooperation
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and undertakings/conferences; and
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(m) Exercise such other functions as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of this
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Act.
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SEC. 6. Composition. - The Board shall be composed of the following:
(a) The Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as Chairperson
(b) The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) as Co-Chairperson
Members:
(c) The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST);
(d) The Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR);
(e) The Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);
(f) The Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG);
(g) The Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);
(h) The Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority 
(TESDA);
(i) The Chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA);
(j) Two (2) representatives from the SUCs located in major Philippine rubber-producing 
regions;
(k) Two (2) representatives from Philippine Rubber Industries Association, Inc. (PRIA), 
representing the midstream and downstream sectors;
(l) Two (2) representatives from Philippine Rubber Farmers Association, Inc. (PRFA), 
representing small holders;
(m) One (1) representative from the rubber cooperatives; and,
(n) One (1) representative from the corporate rubber farmers.


1 
The private sector representatives shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of
2 
the Philippines, upon recommendation of the Secretary of Trade and Industry for two
3 
PRIA and one corporate rubber farmer, and Secretary of Agriculture for two PRFA and
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one rubber cooperatives. They shall serve in the Board for three (3) years reckoned from
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the date of appointment. The representative may be reappointed by the President for
6 
another term.
7 
The government representatives in the Board may designate their respective permanent
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alternates who shall be officials next-in-rank to them and their acts shall be considered
9 
the acts of their principals.
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SEC. 7. Meeting of the Board- The Board shall meet once every quarter or may
11 
be convened by the Chair for a special meeting one week after service of notice of special
12 
meeting.
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SEC. 8. Board Secretariat- The Secretariat, to be organized by the DTI shall have
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the following duties and functions:
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(a) Provide technical expertise and administrative support to the Board;
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(b) Maintain and update industry performance database; and,
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(c) Collate and integrate all inputs to the Board's yearly report on the status of the
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country's rubber industry.
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SEC. 9. PHLRUBBER Technical Working Group (PRTWG). - The PRTWG,
20 
formed on 22 June 2012, is hereby retained. The TWG, composed of the DTI - Regional
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Operations Group, Export Marketing Bureau, Board of Investments, Philippine
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Accreditation Bureau, Bureau of Philippine Standards, Bureau of Small and Medium
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Enterprise Development; DA - Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Agriculture and Fishery
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Standards, Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries, Agricultural Training Institute,
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PRRI; DOST - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research
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and Development, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources
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Research and Development Institute; TESDA; DENR - National Greening Program; DAR;
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PSA - private sector and the academe, government financial institutions (GFIs), and other
29 
institutions, shall be responsible for assisting the Board in formulating and implementing
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policies, roadmaps, programs and projects for the overall development of the natural
31 
rubber industry. Specifically, it shall: (a) coordinate, monitor the implementation of, and
32 
update the Roadmap; and (b) coordinate and monitor the activities of all members of the
33 
working group with respect to the overall development of Philippine rubber industry.
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SEC. 10. Annual Report. - The Board shall submit to the President and to both
35 
Houses of Congress a report providing a detailed status of the rubber industry in the
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country, including the progress and impact of all relevant government policies and
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programs, as well as activities of other concerned stakeholders such as rubber industry
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associations and manufacturers.
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SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within sixty (60) days from the
40 
date of the effectivity of this Act, the Board, in consultation with other concerned agencies
41 
and sectors, shall promulgate the rules and regulations for the proper implementation of
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this Act.
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SEC. 12. Funding. Such sums as may be necessary for the initial implementation
44 
of this Act shall be sourced from the different cooperating agencies involved therein.


1 
Thereafter, the succeeding appropriation in the amount of Fifty Million Pesos (Php
2 
50,000,000.00) shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).
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SEC. 13. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
4 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in full
5 
force and effect.
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SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive and administrative orders, rules
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and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
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SEC. 15. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in
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the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,