Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE!
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH
First Regular Ses

INGRES!
ion

House BillNo.__ 41.76

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Emm

 Y. Aglipay ~ Villar

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Mulberty is a plant with a wide variety of uses, from its delicious fruit -- which is also being
studied for medicinal purposes relating to diabetes and Alzheimer's control -- to its leaves, which
are nutritious feed for a variety of animals, particularly for silkworms, The plant can grow in
temperate and warm and at a broad spectrum of elevations, and they require very little
maintenance, fertilization, or irrigation, As such, mulberry makes for an excellent economic
resource.

Unfortunately, in the Philippines, the mulberry is a vastly untapped resource. Mulberry
production and its beneficial consequences have not been given much attention. Currently. there
are two programs, both in silk production, that have a focus on mulberry: in the Sericulture
Research and Development Institute at the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University
(DMMSU) in La Union and at the Bago City, Negros Occidental Silk Production Project of
OISCA and the Province of Negros. For the country to better realize the potential of mulberry
production, and in order to become more competitive in its agriculture sector-- as well as
introducing a good potential income source for our small holder farmers -- the benefits of
mulberry and mulberry production must be promoted.

This bill -- filed as a counterpart of Senate Bill No. 323 with the support of its author, Senator
Cynthia Villar -- aims to do just that through the creation of Philippine Mulberry Industry
Development Program, and the National Inter-agency Mulberry Council.

flrewtsus H- Vatlen
EMMELINE Y, AGLIPAY - VILLAR
Representative, DIWA Party



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._ 4176

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Emmeline Y. Aglipay ~ Villar

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL MULBERRY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION I. Title. This, Act shall be known as the “National Mulberry Development Act of
2016."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to ensure
the general welfare of its people towards achieving better health and nutrition, higher levels,
of rural income, promote environmental protection and enhance the general well-being of the
rural farming families, through the production and promotion of the mulberry as an industry

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For this purpose, the following terms shall refer to:

a) Program - the Philippine Mulberry Development Program designed to promote the
Mulberry Industry in the country

b) Council - the National Inter-agency Mulberry Council established under this Act

©) Secretariat - the Secretariat established to provide assistance to the council under this
Act.

SEC, 4, Institutionalizing the Philippine Mulberry Industry Development Program -
There is hereby established and institutionalized the Philippine Mulberry Industry
Development Program under the High Value Crops Development Act or RA. No, 7900.

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SEC. 5. Objectives of the Philippine Mulberry Development Program (PMDP) - The
PMDP aims to make the Philippine Mulberry Industry competitive in the local and global
markets while establishing community based enterprises and providing opportunities for local
employment and for the people to avail of its medicinal benefits

SEC. 6. Creation of the National Mulberry Inter-agency Council. There is hereby created
a convergence, policy-making and directing body called the National Inter-agency Mulberry
Council, which shall have the general powers and attributes given under the Department of
Agriculture, High Value Crops Development Program.

SEC. 7, Members of the National Mulberry Inter-agency Council. The Council shall be
chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Undersecretary for Crops as Vice Chair, with
the following as members:

(a) The Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform or their designated representative;
(b) The Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry or their designated representative;

(©) The Secretary of the Department of the interior and Local Government or their designated
representative;

() The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology or their designated
representative;

() The Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or their
designated representative,

() Three (3) representative from mulberry farmers, processors and marketing service
providers.

To provide continuity, the designated representative of the Cabinet Secretaries shall be
named and shall be their regular representative in the Council in case they are absent.

8, Powers and Functions of the Council. The powers and functions of the Council
shall include the following:

a) Update scientific research and development for the mulberry industry to enhanced
production efficiency for its optimum economic advantage;

b) Promote the propagation of the mulberry trees on suitable land and locations
nationwide;

©) Improve the small holder farmers‘ performance to reduce cost in the production,
processing and promotion of mulberry trees and fruits, in accordance with good
agricultural practices;

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d) Ensure the development and availability of locally manufactures machines for the
efficient and cost effective processing of the mulberry products;

¢) Facilitate the establishment of a shared facility program for the development for the
industry players’ enterprise;

£) Promote the establishment of a credit and/or financing scheme for mulberry industry
players to include marginal farmers, cooperatives, and associations;

g) Ensure the markets for mulberry products locally and internationally;

h) Annually review and submit a report to the COCAFM on the mulberry development
performance;

SEC, 9. Meetings and Quorum, The Council, shall meet regularly at least once every
quarter on a date to be determined by the Chair with prior notice. The Chair on his or her own
may convene special meetings to discuss urgent matters needing immediate resolution and
actions. To constitute a quorum and arrive to a decision, there should be at least five (5)
members of the council present.

SEC. 10, Secretariat and Support Staff - The High Value Crops Unit of the DA shall
appoint, from among its personnel, an in-charge to manage and who perform the direct the
day-to-day operations of the council

SEC. 11. Cooperation with other Government Agencies and Private Business
Organizations - All units and agencies of the government shall support and cooperate with
the National Inter-agency Mulberry Council in the implementation of its functions and
programs.

SEC. 12. Funding - On the year following the approval of this Act, there shall be a provision
annually in the General Appropriations Act under the Department of Agriculture, High Value
Crops Development Program an additional the amount of Fifty Million (P50,000,000,00)
Pesos for the implementation of the objectives of the Mulberry Development Act of 2016

SEC. 13, Implementing Rules and Regulations. - A committee, composed of
representatives from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agrarian Reform, the
Land Bank of the Philippines, the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of
Trade and Industry, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the
Department of the Interior and Local Government and one (1) each from the small farmers
and commercial producers sectors to be designated by the Secretary of Agriculture, shall
formulate and prescribe, after public hearing and publication as required by law, the

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implementing rules and regulations in order to carty out the provisions of this Act. The
representatives from the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and
Industry shall be the chairman and the vice-chairman, of the committee.

SEC. 14, Repealing Clause. - All laws or parts thereof, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly,

SEC. 15. Separability Clause - If any of the provisions of this Act is declared invalid, the
other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 16. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect immediately following its
publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,

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