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

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4536

Introduced by Representative RAYMOND ADRIAN SALCEDA

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING THE HIGH VALUE CROPS
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, INSTITUTIONALIZING IT AS THE BUREAU OF
HIGH VALUE CROPS UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
PROVIDING FOR PROGRAM OFFICES, FUNCTIONS, AND SUSTAINABLE
FUNDING, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines has long relied on a narrow set of commodities—trice, corn, coconut,
and sugar—as the backbone of its agricultural economy. Yet, it is high value crops such as
fruits, vegetables, coffee, cacao, abaca, rubber, spices, and emerging specialty crops that offer
the greatest potential for increasing farmer incomes, generating exports, improving nutrition,
and creating downstream industries.

Republic Act No. 7900, or the High Value Crops Development Act of 1995, created the
High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) as the central mechanism for promoting
these crops. In the years since, HVCDP has demonstrated the promise of diversification and
value chain development. However, its impact has been constrained by its character as a
program, lacking the institutional authority, permanent staffing, convergence mandate, and
sustainable funding of a full-fledged bureau.

This bill therefore expands and institutionalizes HVCDP as the Bureau of High Value
Crops (BHVC) under the Department of Agriculture. The Bureau will serve as the permanent
agency tasked with making high value crops a pillar of national food security, farmer income
growth, and agro-industrial transformation.

Key provisions of the bill include:

1. Creation of Program Offices for Major Crops. Dedicated offices will be established
for fruits, vegetables, cacao and coffee, fiber crops such as abaca, spices and aromatics,
and emerging crops, each with its own roadmap and program director.


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Convergence with Commodity Agencies. The Bureau will operate in synergy with the
Philippine Coconut Authority, Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority, Sugar
Regulatory Administration, and National Tobacco Administration, harmonizing
commodity strategies into a unified National High Value Crops Master Plan.

Research and Innovation. The Bureau will establish national and regional research
centers, nurseries, and a Technology Commercialization Unit, in partnership with state
universities, DOST, and international research institutions, to ensure that modern
varieties and technologies reach farmers.

Value Chain Development. Each crop office will design value chain roadmaps
covering production, storage, processing, logistics, and marketing. Agro-industrial
clusters and food hubs will be developed with LGUs and the private sector.

Financing and Risk Management. The Bureau will link farmers to crop-specific
financing windows under the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, expand crop insurance
with PCIC, and access climate financing mechanisms and official development
assistance.

Farmer Consolidation and Cooperative Development. The Bureau will support
farmer clustering, cooperative formation, and agripreneurship programs, ensuring that
farmers are linked to the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture.

Food Security and Nutrition. High value crops will be integrated into government
feeding and procurement programs under the Sagip Saka Act, reinforcing their role in
nutrition and food security.

Climate Resilience and Sustainability. The Bureau will mainstream climate-smart
agriculture, early warning systems, and risk mapping into all programs, with a
Sustainable Crops Fund for adaptation projects.

International Engagement. The Bureau will represent the Philippines in international
commodity councils and mobilize resources through grants and partnerships with
development institutions.

Digitalization. A National High Value Crops Digital Platform will map farms, forecast
supply, monitor prices, and enable traceability.

‘Trade Remedies and Use of Funds. The Bureau will monitor imports and assist in
safeguard, anti-dumping, and countervailing petitions in coordination with DTI and the
Tariff Commission. Revenues from such trade remedies will accrue to a special fund to
be reinvested in productivity, facilities, insurance, and farmer support.

Youth, Women, and Inclusive Agribusiness. Programs will prioritize youth
agripreneurs and women farmers through training, start-up grants, and inclusive value
chain participation


13. Infrastructure Convergence. The Bureau will coordinate with DPWH, NIA, and other
agencies to prioritize farm-to-market roads, irrigation, renewable energy, and cold chain
infrastructure in crop clusters.

14. Monitoring and Accountability. The Bureau will establish a Data and Analytics
Division, publish annual reports, and undergo independent evaluations every five years.

By establishing the Bureau of High Value Crops, this measure fills a long-standing
institutional gap. It transforms HVCDP from a program into a permanent Bureau that integrates
research, value chains, financing, food security, climate resilience, and trade defense.

International experience shows the importance of such institutions. Vietnam and
Thailand built specialized crop agencies to anchor their fruit and vegetable export industries.
India institutionalized its Spices Board and Coffee Board to globalize niche crops. ASEAN
neighbors have invested heavily in value chain-focused institutions that ensure not just
production, but global competitiveness.

This bill equips the Philippines with a comparable institution, one that situates high
value crops as the driver of farmer prosperity, nutrition security, rural industrialization, and
export diversification.

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

RAY! [AN SALCEDA


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

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4536

Introduced by Representative RAYMOND ADRIAN SALCEDA

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING THE HIGH VALUE CROPS
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, INSTITUTIONALIZING IT AS THE BUREAU OF
HIGH VALUE CROPS UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
PROVIDING FOR PROGRAM OFFICES, FUNCTIONS, FUNDING, AND OTHER
PURPOSES

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 “New High Value Crop
Development Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State to promote food security,
rural development, and agro-industrialization by strengthening the production, processing, and
marketing of high value crops. The State shall institutionalize a permanent Bureau under the
Department of Agriculture that advances value addition, farmer income growth, export
competitiveness, and convergence across crops and industries.

SEC. 3. Creation of the Bureau of High Value Crops. The High Value Crops
Development Program is hereby expanded, institutionalized, and elevated into a Bureau of
High Value Crops, hereinafter referred to as the Bureau, under the Department of Agriculture.

SEC. 4. Mandate. The Bureau shall be the principal agency for the development of high
value crops, including but not limited to fruits, vegetables, coffee, cacao, abaca, rubber, spices,
omamental plants, and emerging crops. It shall oversee research, production, processing,
storage, logistics, market development, trade, and farmer empowerment for such crops.

SEC. 5. Program Offices. To ensure commodity focus, the following Program Offices
shall be created within the Bureau:

(a) National Fruit Crops Development Office;

(b) National Vegetable Development Office;


(©) National Cacao and Coffee Development Office;
(4) National Fiber Crops Development Office;

(©) National Spices and Aromatics Development Office; and
(8) Emerging Crops Innovation Office.

Each office shall be led by a Program Director responsible for research, extension,
value chain planning, and market development.

SEC. 6. Convergence with Commodity Agencies. The Bureau shall operate in
convergence with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Philippine Fiber Industry
Development Authority (PhilFIDA), Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), and National
Tobacco Administration (NTA).

It shall integrate commodity roadmaps into a unified National High Value Crops Master
Plan, harmonize value chain strategies, align budget proposals, promote cross-commodity
agro-industrial projects, and establish joint committees to avoid duplication and ensure

synergy.

SEC. 7. Research, Innovation, and Technology Transfer. The Bureau shall establish
national and regional crop research centers and nurseries. It shall partner with state universities
and colleges, the Department of Science and Technology, and international agricultural
research centers. A Technology Commercialization Unit shall be created to accelerate the
adoption of crop varieties, post-harvest technologies, and processing innovations by farmers
and agribusinesses.

SEC. 8. Value Chain Development and Market Access. Each Program Office shall
prepare crop-specific value chain roadmaps covering production, processing, storage, logistics,
and marketing. The Bureau shall establish a Market and Trade Development Division to work
with the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Tourism, and export agencies to
enhance domestic and foreign market access. Agro-industrial clusters and food hubs shall be
established in partnership with local governments and the private sector.

SEC. 9. Financing and Risk Management. The Bureau shall coordinate with the
Agricultural Credit Policy Council to create crop-specific financing programs. It shall work
with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation to expand crop insurance coverage for high
value crops. The Bureau shall access climate financing instruments, green bonds, and official
development assistance to support resilience projects.

SEC. 10. Farmer Consolidation and Cooperative Development. The Bureau shall
promote farmer clustering and cooperative development for economies of scale. It shall support
agripreneurship programs and ensure that farmer groups are integrated into the Registry System.
for Basic Sectors in Agriculture.

SEC. 11. Regional and Local Integration. Regional High Value Crops Offices shall be
established in every Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit. The Bureau shall assist
local governments in preparing Provincial High Value Crop Development Plans and aligning


them with national roadmaps. The Bureau shall co-finance projects with LGUs for
infrastructure, nurseries, and processing facilities.

SEC. 12. Climate Resilience and Sustainability. The Bureau shall integrate climate-
smart agriculture and disaster risk reduction into all programs. It shall coordinate with
PAGASA, PHIVOLCS, and the Climate Change Commission for early warning systems, risk
mapping, and climate advisories. A Sustainable Crops Fund shall be established to finance
climate adaptation projects.

SEC. 13. International Engagement. The Bureau may enter into partnerships with
international organizations, financing institutions, and foreign governments, subject to DA
approval. It shall represent the Philippines in relevant global commodity councils and establish
an International Relations and Grants Office to mobilize donor support.

SEC. 14. Digitalization and Data Systems. The Bureau shall establish a National High
Value Crops Digital Platform linked to the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture.
It shall use digital technologies, including predictive analytics and traceability tools, to monitor
planting, prices, and supply.

SEC. 15. Trade Remedies and Market Safeguards, The Bureau, under DA supervision,
shall monitor imports of high value crops and coordinate with the Department of Trade and
Industry, the Tariff Commission, and the Bureau of Customs in recommending safeguard
measures, anti-dumping duties, and countervailing duties under existing laws.

It shall assist farmer groups in preparing petitions and market data to protect against
unfair trade and import surges.

SEC. 16. Use of Funds from Trade Remedies. Revenues from safeguard duties, anti-
dumping duties, and countervailing duties imposed on high value crops shall accrue to a special
account in the National Treasury to be administered by the DA through the Bureau.

The funds shall be used for productivity programs, post-harvest and processing
facilities, research and crop improvement, crop insurance, and farmer capacity-building.
Guidelines shall be issued by the Secretary of Agriculture.

SEC. 17. Youth and Women in Agribusiness. The Bureau shall implement programs to
encourage youth participation and women’s empowerment in high value crop enterprises,
including start-up grants, training, and market linkages.

SEC. 18. Infrastructure Convergence. The Bureau shall coordinate with the
Department of Public Works and Highways, the National Irrigation Administration, and other
agencies for priority farm-to-market roads, irrigation, renewable energy, and cold storage
facilities serving high value crop clusters.

Data, Monitoring, and Evaluation. The Bureau shall establish a Data and
‘Analytics Division to collect and publish crop statistics, forecasts, and trade data. It shall
submit annual performance reports to Congress and the President. Independent evaluations
shall be conducted every five years.



SEC. 20. Governance. The Bureau shall be headed by a Director, assisted by two
Assistant Directors. Each Program Office shall be led by a Program Director. An Advisory
Council composed of representatives from DA, DTI, DOST, DOF, farmer groups, and the
private sector shall provide strategic guidance.

SEC. 21. Appropriations. The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this
Act shall be charged against the appropriations of the DA. Thereafter, the required sums shall
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

The Bureau may retain income from training fees, accreditation services, research
partnerships, and PPP arrangements in a revolving fund subject to government accounting
tules.

SEC. 22. Penal Provisions. Any person who mislabels, misrepresents, or smuggles high
value crops in violation of this Act shall, upon conviction, be penalized in accordance with
customs, trade, and agriculture laws, without prejudice to higher penalties if applicable.

SEC. 23. Implementing Rules and Regulations, Within ninety (90) days from effectivity
of this Act, the DA shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations.

SEC. 24. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional,
the remaining provisions shall remain valid.

SEC. 25. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances inconsistent with
this Act are hereby repealed or modified.

SEC. 26. Effectivity, This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,