Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ™
Quezon City s\
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

697

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by BAYAN MUNA
Representatives NERI J. COLMENARES and CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE

AN ACT
DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER AS BUY PINOY, BUILD PINOY
MONTH TO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS TO PRIORITIZE.
‘THE PURCHASE AND UTILIZATION OF FILIPINO PRODUCTS, LABOR AND
SERVICES

EXPLANATORY NOTE,

‘This bill seeks to give the fullest government recognition to Filipino producers, particularly micro, small
and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by declaring the month of November of every year as Buy Pinoy,
Build Pinoy Month.

‘This measure recognizes the MSMEs major role in the country’s economic development with their
contributions to employment generation, increased incomes, a more equitable distribution of wealth, and
rural development,

Government should take stock and help bolster the MSMEs’ contribution to the economy. In the last
decade, the MSME sector accounted for 99.6 percent of the registered businesses that employs 63
percent of the labor force living in the country. It is also important to note that 35.7 percent of the total
sales and value-added in the manufacturing sector come from MSMEs as well.

MSME:
compan
food processing firms and various
nationwide is broad and extensiv
struggling entrepreneurs.

include restaurants, supermarkets, salons, pharmacies, cooperative farms, upstart technology
, bakeries, graphic design firms, handicraft outfits, small distilleries, agro-industrial ventures,
ices in both the urban and rural are: The variety of MSMEs
-ach owned and operated by passionate, dedicated and often

Filipino entrepreneurs are skilled in maximizing the use of scarce capital resources and are able to
partner with large firms by supplying locally available raw materials or semi-processed goods. They
find opportunities and take a lot of risks and sacrifices to make their enterprises, employees and
communities better. They are able to effectively increase the local content ot the value-added in final
goods and services that are processed and marketed by large firms.

‘Also, MSMEss can be the building blocks for large-scale economic advancement should they be
protected and assisted by government to grow and expand. They are making an important contribution


to current regional development programs that can be integrated for our country’s drive to
industrialization.

By declaring the month of November as Buy Pinoy, Build Pinoy month, itis the authors’ intention to
provide MSMEs and Filipino enterprises in general an opportunity to take center stage in the
consciousness of Filipino consumers. This is especially important given the increased consumer
spending that occurs during the Christmas season.

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Approved,

Lee .
Lia 3 US
Rep. CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE

Bayan Muna Party Bayan Muna Party-List



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

697

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by BAYAN MUNA
Representatives NERI J. COLMENARES and CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE

AN ACT
DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER AS BUY PINOY, BUILD PINOY
MONTH TO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS TO PRIORITIZE.
THE PURCHASE AND UTILIZATION OF FILIPINO PRODUCTS, LABOR AND.
SERVICES

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 “Buy Pinoy, Build Pinoy Month Act.”

SECTION 2. State Policy. — In furtherance of the Constitutionally-mandated role of the State to
develop a self-reliant and independent national economy effectively controlled by Filipinos (Article II,
Section 19); and to promote the preferential use of Filipino labor, domestic materials and locally
produced goods, and adopt measures that help make them competitive (Article XII, Section 12), itis the
policy of state to promote the growth and development of Filipino entrepreneurs, especially those
involved in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as defined by Republic Act 6977 as
amended by Republic Act 8289 ot the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises,

SECTION 3. Declaration of Buy Pinoy, Build Pinoy Month, -‘The month of November of every
year is hereby declared as “Buy Pinoy, Build Pinoy Month in recognition of the important role and
contribution of the MSME sector to the Philippine economy and to enhance the opportunities of these
enterprises to grow and contribute more meaningfully to job generation, national development a
economic advancement.

SECTION 4. Observance of Buy Pinoy, Build Pinoy Month. -To ensure the meaningful
observance of Buy Pinoy, Build Pinoy Month as herein declared, all heads of government offices and
instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations, as well as local government
units, and employers in the private sector, shall encourage and afford sufficient resources, time and
opportunities for MSMEs to engage and participate in any and all activities to mark the month


a) The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall be the lead agency for the implementation of this
‘Act. The activities under this act shall be included in the annual work program and action agenda of the
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council.

b) Activities for the Buy Pinoy, Build Pinoy Month shall include MSME trade fairs, bazaars, marketing.
missions, information dissemination activities, education and advocacy campaigns, and similar events
featuring Filipino products, manufactures, inventions, technologies and resources and shall be conducted
in all national government agencies as well as cities and municipalities in the country.

©) A National Trade Fair shall be held for at least two (2) weeks in Novermber of every year with the
participation limited to Filipino producers, service providers, and products, Promided, That the said Fair

shall be held simultaneously in locations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

4) The Philippine Information Agency, in coordination with the DTI, shall formulate and implement a
nationwide information and advocacy campaign for the Buy Pinoy, Build Pinoy Month activities.

©) The private sector is encouraged to conduct similar initiatives as those enumerated in this Act.
SECTION 5. Repealing Clause ~ All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules or regulations and other
issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or

modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity—This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) days after publication in the
Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,