Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. _3690

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
"« District, Hocos Norte

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Agriculture is the food source of our nation and the key to unlocking our economic
self-sufficiency.’ While we are working hard to boost the agriculture sector by providing
better irrigation facilities, institutional credit, farm subsidies, and introduction of new
farm technology, we have neglected the very people who are responsible for raising and
growing our food.

Profitability in agriculture has been one of the main challenges in the
Philippines—a reason why Filipino farmers are aging and the interest of the younger
generation in agriculture is declining. Farmers, fisherfolk, livestock raisers and other
sectors involved in food production are made to rely on financial aid or subsidies,
whereas the middlemen get the real profits.

Financial aid and/or government subsidies do not ensure food security. Giving our
farmers, fisherfolks, livestock raisers and those involved in food production what is
rightly due them will. The right of the farmers, fisherfolks, livestock raisers to receive
the just share of the fruits of their labor is enshrined in the 1987 Philippine
Constitution.

‘This bill therefore proposes to authorize the Department of Agriculture (DA) to
regulate farm gate prices of agricultural produce, livestock, fisheries, and aquaculture
products to ensure that farmers, growers, fisherfolk, and all those responsible for
raising, catching, or growing our food are assured of just share of the fruits of their
labor.

The proposed measure also secks to strengthen the market linkages program of
the DA to ensure that the farmers, fisherfolk, livestock raisers and other members of
the food producing sector have an outlet for their products.

In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

ANGI ‘COS BARBA

* GN Agri, KAMP, (July 11, 2017), How Important Is Agriculture to Philippine Economy? Retrieved fram
http://wwrw.gonegosyo.net/2017/07/13/how-important-is-agriculture-to-the-philippine-economy/ on November 18, 2019


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3690

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2 District, [locos Norte

AN ACT
AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO REGULATE
FARM GATE PRICES FOR AGRICULTURAL AND FISHERIES PRODUCTS
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as “Farm Gate Price
Regulation Act”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall protect the right of farmers,
the fisherfolk, livestock raisers and other sectors involved in food production to receive
a just share of the fruits of their labor. The State shall therefore establish a program
that ensures the profitability of the food production sector.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For the purposes of this Act, the following are
hereby defined as follows:

a. Agricultural Products refer to unprocessed food derived from cultivated plants
or animals to sustain or enhance human life. Agricultural produce shall also refer to
unprocessed food derived from the following activities:

Agriculture: cultivating soil; planting; raising, and harvesting crops;
rearing, feeding, and managing animals

2. Aquaculture: raising private aquatic animals (fish)

3. Horticulture: growing fruits, vegetables, and plants

b. Fisheries Products refer to unprocessed food derived from the activity of
catching fish and other living organisms from the wild.

c. Farm Gate Price refers to the prices received by farmers for their produce at the
location of “farm” or first point of sale. Transportation and marketing costs shall not be
included in farm gate prices.

SECTION 4. Regulation of Farm Gate Price. - The Department of Agriculture
(DA) is authorized to regulate farm gate prices of agricultural and fisheries products, as
defined in Section 3 of this Act, and shall therefore establish a Standard Farm Gate
Price index.


‘The Standard Farm Gate Price index shall continuously undergo seasonal review
and appropriate changes, considering the time, effort and resources, market conditions
and other economic indicators so as to ensure profitability will accrue to the benefit of
our food producers.

SECTION 5. Baseline/Related Standards. - The Bureau of Agriculture and
Fisheries Standards of the Department of Agriculture shall devise qualitative,
quantitative and other related standards which shall serve as the baseline for
determining the Standard Farm Gate Price for agricultural and fisheries produce.

SECTION 6. Strengthen Market Linkages Program. - The DA shall strengthen
its market linkages program in support of this Act to ensure that the farmers,
fisherfolk, livestock raisers and other members of the food producing sector have an
outlet for their products.

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules. - To ensure proper and effective
implementation of this Act, the DA shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clauses. — All laws, executive orders, letters of
instructions, rules and regulations and other issuances, or provision thereof, which are
inconsistent with the of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - The provisions of this Act are hereby declared
separable, If any provision or portion thereof shall be held invalid or unconstitutional,
the other provisions will remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 10. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days

following its publication in two (2) national newspaper of general circulation, or in the
Official Gazette, whichever comes first.

Approved,