NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
Senate
of llic sfef Cl ftnrp
23 FEB 13 P5:22
SENATE
S.B. No. 1371
RtCEiVED 3V
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
DECRIMINALIZING QUALIFIED THEFT OF COCONUTS AND RECLASSIFYING IT 
AS SIMPLE THEFT UNDER ARTICLE 308, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE ARTICLE 310 OF THE REVISED PENAL CODE, AS AMENDED
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Coconut is a significant agricultural crop in the country and the Philippines is the 
second largest producer of coconut in the ASEAN, next only to Indonesia. Based on a 
report by the Philippine Coconut Authority, 69 out of 82 provinces in the country produce 
coconut, 3.6 million hectares of land are planted with coconut trees, which provides an 
estimated 2.5 million farmers with employment.1 Of this total, the majority (36.5%) are 
farm workers; about 25.1% are absentee owners, 24.2% are owner-operators, and only 
14.1% are tenants. As of 2018, it was estimated that the Philippines had 347 million fruit­
bearing coconut trees and a total annual production in metric tons of 14.7 million (nut 
terms).
Many coconut farmers, especially small-scale farmers, farm workers, and tenants 
who mainly rely on coconut farming as their main source of livelihood, face challenges, 
such as lack of government support, low farm productivity, lack of capital and 
infrastructure, no sustained access to formal credit sources, recurring infestations of a 
pest called cocolisap, inadequate fertilization, climate related risks and hazards, 
insufficient farm to market roads, corruption, among others.2 To make matters even 
worse, coconut farmers are considered among the poorest in the country. They accounted 
for about 60% of the rural poor and have an average annual income of PHP 20,000 per 
hectare.3 Most of the 2.54 million coconut farmers in the country earn less than PHP
1 Aguilar, Edna, Lozada, Ernesto, and Aragon, Corazon, etal. The Philippine Coconut Industry Roadmap 
(2021-2040). Philippine Coconut Authority - Department of Agriculture. 2022 
http://WWW. Dcaf.da.Qov. Dh/wD-content/uDloads/2022/06/Philippine-Coconut-Industrv-Roadmap-
2021-2Q40.pdf. p. 80.
2 Id., pp. 45-48.
^ Id., p. 84.


10,000 per year. Those who fall in this income range are largely farm workers and 
tenants. In 2019, the prevailing wage rate in the coconut farm sector was only PHP 
338.72 per day.4 Because of this, some farm workers and tenants have stolen coconuts 
on the lands that they work under the impulse of hunger, poverty, or the difficulty of 
earning a livelihood to support themselves and their family.
The high penalty for qualified theft, which is two degrees higher than simple theft 
under Article 308, only adds to the difficulties faced by the farmers, discouraging them 
from pursuing their livelihood, which further contributes to the industry's decline. These 
farmers are often subjected to high bail amounts for their temporary liberty, which further 
puts them on a significant financial strain. The penalty is deemed too harsh, especially 
for small-scale coconut farmers, tenants, and farm workers who rely on the sale of 
coconuts as their main source of income and who have only acted under desperation and 
impulse of hunger and poverty.
By decriminalizing qualified theft of coconuts under Article 310 of the Revised Penal 
Code, as amended, and reclassifying it as simple theft under Article 308, the penalty and 
the bail amount would be significantly reduced. This would provide a relief to small-scale 
farmers, tenants, and farm workers, and reduce the burden on those who may be accused 
of this offense.
The passage of this measure is thus earnestly sought.
RISA HONTIVEROS
Senator
Id., pp. 89-90.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 187
Senate
IIP ot flip i'1 CtiU'j’
23 FEB 13 P5 22
RECEIVED BV:
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
DECRIMINALIZING QUALIFIED THEFT OF COCONUTS AND RECLASSIFYING IT 
AS SIMPLE THEFT UNDER ARTICLE 308, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE ARTICLE 310 OF THE REVISED PENAL CODE, AS AMENDED
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress 
assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Article 310 of Act No. 3815, otherwise known as "The Revised Penal
2 
Code", as amended by Commonwealth Act No. 417, Republic Act No. 120, and Batas
3 
Pambansa Big. 71, is hereby further amended to read as follows:
4 
Article 310. Qualified theft. - The crime of theft shall be punished by the penalties
5 
next higher by two degrees than those respectively specified in the next preceding
6 
article, if committed by a domestic servant, or with grave abuse of confidence, or
7 
if the property stolen is motor vehicle, mail matter, or large cattle, or consists of
8 
coconuts token from the premises of-the plantation or fish taken from a fishpond
9 
or fishery, or if property is taken on the occasion of fire, earthquake, typhoon,
10 
volcanic eruption, or any other calamity, vehicular accident, or civil disturbance.
11 
Sec. 2. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or other
12 
issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed
13 
or modified accordingly.
14 
Sec. 3. Effectivlty. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the
15 
completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
16 
circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,