NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 2565
U
: i’Vlu.r of f.: i
24 FEB 22 A11 35
i ^
RLCElv.;.:-t‘;. 
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Introduced by Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito
AN ACT
PROVIDING POST-HARVEST FACILITIES TO FARMERS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines is an agricultural country yet it is not self-sufficient in its staple 
food requirements. While it was once sufficient in rice, the Philippines is listed by the 
US Department of Agriculture as the top rice importer in trade year 2022-2023 as its 
total rice importation trade year hit 3.75 million metric tons compared to China's 2.6 
million metric tons. The Department of Agriculture stated that 495,000 metric tons of 
imported rice are arriving from December 2023 to February 2024. Further, the 
Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) stated 
that postharvest losses in the rice industry are between 10 percent to 20 percent.
A study cited that among the key constraints in the development of postharvest 
technology include the lack of infrastructure support and lack of government policy 
and implementation.1 The establishment of post-harvest facilities are among the 
crucial interventions that must be prioritized to improve both the productivity and 
competitiveness of our farmers.
Thus, this bill aims to construct warehouses and rice mills in every rice- 
producing municipality and city in the Philippines. In the initial phase of the program.
1 Andales, Silvestre C. and Gragasin, Engr. Michael. "Priorities and Constraints of Postharvest 
Technoiogy in the Phiiippines. Information retrieved from 
https://www.jircas.go.jp/sites/default/files/publication/intlsymp/intlsymp-7_9-16.pdf


every district with at least one rice-producing municipality shall be the beneficiary of 
at least one warehouse and rice mill. By doing so, the State will be able to raise farm 
incomes to a level high enough to allow farmers to satisfy their material needs and 
enhance their self-esteem.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
)
SENATE
s. NO. 2565
V
^tllrr o( t £i'
24 FEB 22 All 35
mil I 
J
Introduced by Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito
AN ACT
PROVIDING POST-HARVEST FACILITIES TO FARMERS
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Titie.-l\\\s Act shall be known as the "Post-Harvest Facilities Support
2 
Act of 2024"
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote agricultural
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and rural development. Specifically, the State aims to raise farm incomes to a level
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high enough to allow farmers to satisfy their material needs and enhance their self-
6 
esteem. It is also the policy of the State to encourage and strengthen non-government
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organizations, such as farmer organizations, cooperatives, and enterprises.
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Sec. 3. Post-Harvest Facilities. - The Department of Public Works and Highways
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(DPWH), in consultation with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of
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Agrarian Reform (DAR), and farmer cooperatives shall construct warehouses and rice
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mills in every rice-producing municipality and city in the Philippines: Provided, That in
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the initial phase of the program, every district with at least one rice-producing
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municipality shall be the beneficiary of at least one warehouse and rice mill.
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Additionally, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in consultation with
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the DA, DAR, and farmer cooperatives, shall provide the equipment and machinery
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required to operate these warehouses and rice mills as well as the necessary transport
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facilities.


1 
Sec. 4. Acquisition of Farmer Cooperatives. -The warehouses and rice mills,
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including the equipment and machinery required to operate them, shall be sold at cost
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to accredited farmer cooperatives which will be given twenty-five (25) years to
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amortize the facilities.
5 
Sec. 5. Funding.-J\\e amount of One Billion Pesos (Phpl,000,000,000.00) is
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initialiy appropriated for the program. In subsequent years, funding for the program
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shall be incorporated in the General Appropriations Act.
8 
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30) days from the
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effectivity of this Act, the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and
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Industry shall jointly promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the proper
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implementation of this Act.
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Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
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unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in
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full force and effect.
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Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, decrees, rules and
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regulations, or any part thereof inconsistent with the provision of this Act are deemed
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repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official
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Gazette.
Approved,