Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

.
HOUSE BILL no. 4522

Introduced by Honorable Michael L. Romero

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines is an agricultural country where 35% of its population is engaged in
farming as a main source of livelihood. Ironically, the country, for several years, has
been the biggest importer of rice in the world and still striving to attain self-
sufficiency. In fact, in the year 2009 alone, the country had imported 1,777,378,649
metric tons of rice and 303,148,863 metric tons of corn in the total amount of
US$952,740,091.00 and USS95,153,146.00, respectively, which contributed to the
depletion of the dollar reserve of the country

The above unfortunate situation is further compounded by the burgeoning population
with an annual growth at 2.04%. With the land area of only four (4) million hectares
used for rice production in the Philippines, and this area is decreasing in big number
in favor of certain industries, subdivisions, commercial establishment and other
purposes, the government should take immediate and effective measures geared
towards improving the yield of the farmers to ensure accessibility and affordability of
rice, corn and similar farm products for all Filipinos, Studies show that 35% of the
total yield increase will be attributed to the use of high quality seeds.

The enactment of Republic Act No. 7308, known as the “Seeds Industry
Development Act of 1992" was a monumental step towards increasing farm
productivity by developing and propagating quality seeds. However, it did not contain
a proviso for a compulsory mass production of seeds for the farmers. To date, while
the government has adopted a program to procure quality seeds for the farmers, it
has never been as comprehensive as it should be and its volume and coverage, as
well as its implementation are more matters of policy in the leadership rather than in
pursuance to a well-defined enactment

The establishment of a seeds production program will greatly enhance farm
productivity by providing the farmers with quality, hybrid and affordable seeds, as
well as the needed technical and other support services. It is in furtherance of the


thrusts of the government to attain self-sufficiency of rice and corn production, as
well to improve the lives of our famers who consistently posted the highest poverty
incidences among the other sectors.

MICHAEL tl) ROMERO Ph.D


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Firs! Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO, 4522

Introduced by Honorable Michael L. Romero

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A CONTINUING NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR HYBRID
AND OTHER QUALITY SEEDS PRODUCTION AND PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Title- This Act shall be known as "The National Seeds
Production Act of 2016”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy- It is hereby declared the policy of the State
to optimize the farm productivity through a systematic production of hybrid and other
quality seeds which are readily available and affordable to farmers. Towards this
end, the government shall formulate a system that will ensure the production of
hybrid and other quality seeds sufficient to address the requirements of the farmers
and whereby the farmers could buy seeds to various accessible centers at a
subsidize prize

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms- For purposes of this Act, the following terms
shall be defined as follows:

a) Seed shall mean a plant material used for the production of food, forage,
fibers, industrial crops, oil, flowers, grasses, herbs, and aquatic plants,
including but not limited to, meristem and clonal propagules such tubers,
corms, cuttings, seedlings, and micro-propagated plantlets;

b) Hybrid seeds shall mean genetically improved seeds certified by the
National Seed Quality Control Services under the Bureau of Plant
Industries with proven capacity for high yield:


©) Continuing program shall mean an all year round program of production
based on a pre-determined volume of requirement that should be carried
out on a regular basis;

d) Local levels shall mean the regional offices of the Department of
Agriculture, provincial agriculture offices and the municipal agriculture
offices;

e) Subsidize price shall mean the value of the seeds which is half of its
acquisition and/or production cost as determined by the Department of
Agriculture, through the Bureau of Plant Industries;

SECTION 4.- Coverage. The National Government shall undertake a
comprehensive program on the production of hybrid and other quality seeds, guided
by the following objectives:

a) Policy formulation on regulation and distribution of hybrid and other quality
seeds to the farmers at a subsidize cost;

b) Promotion and encouragement to the farmers of the use of hybrid and
other quality seeds in their effort to increase farm productivity;

©) Conduct of information dissemination, seminars and other support
services to the farmers;

d) Research and development pertaining to hybrid and other quality seeds, in
coordination with the Philippine Rice Institute and other specialized
agencies

SECTION 5 -, Implementing Mechanism- The Department of Agriculture,
through the Bureau of Plant Industries is hereby designated as the implementing
Agency of this program and shall initiate, supervise, coordinate, monitor its
implementation at the national and local levels. It shall ensure the following;

a) The active participation of the private sectors in the mass production of
hybrid and other quality seeds in sufficient quantity;

b) The seeds that shall be mass produced in sufficient quantity should only
be those hybrid and other quality seeds that are certified by the National
Seed Quality Control Services, created under Republic Act 7308;

¢) The establishments of areas devoted to the production of hybrid and other
quality seeds in each region and province, as may be deemed necessary,
to augment any deficiency of production from the private sector.

d) The establishments of buying/distribution centers in each municipality,
through the municipal agriculture office.

SECTION 6. Appropriations- The sum of One Billion pesos
(Php1,000,000,000.00) shall be appropriated for the initial implementation of this Act
which shall be incorporated in the Annual Budget of the Department of Agriculture,


and thereafter the amount necessary to carry out the program implementation shall
be incorporated in the General Appropriations Act

SECTION 7- Annual Report. The Department of Agriculture shall render an
annual report to Congress on the accomplishment of the program. A review on the
viability of the program shall be made by the concerned agencies after three (3)
years of its implementation.

SECTION 8- Implementing Rules and Regulations.- The Department of
Agriculture shall issue rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act
within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 9. Penal Provisions- Any person, firm or association who shall
obstruct, impedes or in any manner defeats the purpose of this act, shall, upon
conviction, be punished with a fine of not more than One Hundred Thousand pesos
(Php100,000.00) or imprisonment of not more than five (5) years, or both, in the
discretion of the court. Provided, that in case of a firm or association, the penalty of
imprisonment shall be imposed upon the officer(s) who knowingly participated,
abetted, or consented to the commission of such punishable acts.

SECTION 10. Separability Clause- If any provision of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in
full force and effect.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause.—Alll laws, presidential decrees, executive
orders, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof contrary to
or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 12. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official
Gazette, whichever comes first.

Approved.