Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The proposed legislation seeks to address critical aspects of food security and 
environmental sustainability in the Philippines. It emphasizes the need to democratize 
food production, safeguard natural ecosystems, and ensure food security during disasters 
or shortages. The policy underscores the importance of strategic approaches to food 
cultivation and conservation to benefit Filipino society. 
Central to the proposal is the establishment of seed libraries and storage facilities, 
coordinated by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Environment and 
Natural Resources (DENR). These seed libraries will store a diverse range of seeds, 
including critically endangered food products, promoting sustainable agriculture and 
ecosystem recovery. The legislation encourages collaboration with local communities and 
educational institutions to incorporate seed preservation and propagation into educational 
curricula. 
Moreover, the legislation defines operational guidelines for seed libraries, emphasizing 
dedicated personnel, clear targets, and adequate budgets for smooth operations. It urges 
data collection and planning to meet local seed requirements, fostering successful 
germination and nursery care. The proposal also incentivizes contributions to seed 
libraries by offering tax exemptions, encouraging public participation in supporting 
sustainable food production and environmental preservation. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good 
of the Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
October 9, 2023
9:47 am
9394


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SEED LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT 
THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING THE NECESSARY 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. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the national policy to ensure 
food security, democratize and make widespread the growing of food and protect the 
ability of Filipino society to revive food production systems and natural ecosystems in 
instances of disaster or shortages.  
Sec. 2. Establishment of Seed Libraries where appropriate. –  
1) The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall set up seed libraries and storage facilities
in local government units (LGUs), to ensure the regular availability of seeds of
grains and vegetables. It shall likewise coordinate with the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the collection and preservation
of  seeds of critically endangered food products.
2)
The DENR shall have its own seed library in the Ecosystems Research and
Development Bureau (ERDB) and in all levels it deems appropriate in order to
ensure wide availability of tree and native plants that are non-food for its
greening and other ecosystem recovery programs. It shall revisit its seed
production areas and prepare for mas years when dipterocarp species shed its
recalcitrant seeds to enable the department, with the help of civil society, to ensure
sufficient propagation, especially of critically endangered trees.
3) The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher  Education
(CHED) shall ensure that within the laboratories of schools with approved
9394


agriculture, forestry or similar courses, seed preservation and instruction for 
such shall be incorporated.  
 
The DA, DENR and DepEd shall coordinate and organize seminars, workshops and 
other trainings for the professional benefit of custodians of seed libraries and issue 
rules and regulations, individually or jointly, in order to support capacity building 
for seed collection, storage and germination.  
 
Sec. 3. Role of the Department of Interior and Local Government. - The 
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall provide guidelines for 
local governments to establish seed libraries as appropriate for urban and rural gardening 
and food production as well as for ecosystem restoration and ensure the availability of 
seeds for the revival of natural ecosystems whenever they are devastated by natural or 
human-caused disasters.  
 
Sec. 4. Operations. - The entities that establish seed libraries shall ensure that they are 
run by personnel who are either dedicated to the task or have clear and 
measurable targets in their work. They shall include such personnel as necessary 
expenses for operations in their regular budgets and targets. Such personnel shall gather 
data to determine the needs of the locality for seeds, the availability, the appropriate 
seeds it  would need to make available, and the successful protocols for germination and 
nursery care.  
 
Sec. 5. Period of Implementation. - Within 120 days, the DA, DENR and  DepEd shall 
have plans for the establishment of seed libraries where appropriate and include  the 
budgets for such in their plans and requests under the General Appropriations Act.  
 
Sec. 6. Functions of the Seed Libraries. - The seed libraries shall have the 
following functions:  
1) Collect local seeds in current use by the agriculture department in the  LGU, have 
samples available for display and keep them viable;  
 
2) Distribute any excess inventory to farmers who they validate as having capability 
to propagate the seeds, on the condition that a reasonable percentage of seeds 
produced upon harvest shall be turned over to the Seed Library;  
 
3) Make a record of the mast fruiting and mast years of known tree stands in the 
locality and mobilize for their gathering and immediate distribution of recalcitrant 
ones and the distribution and/or storage of orthodox seeds;  
 
4) Keep records of farmers report on the performance of the seeds sourced from the 
library;  
 


5) Keep records of protocols for storage, germination and nursery establishment for 
the priority seeds as needed by the local community, determined through research 
and interview protocols; and  
 
6) Engender the exchange of seeds among farmers and gardeners in the local 
community and forge connections that would assist them in successful 
propagation.  
 
The public libraries and barangay reading centers shall determine if they have personnel, 
room, and space to run a seed library program in addition to their existing programming.  
 
Sec. 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act 
shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment 
into law and for the next five (5) years; thereafter, the appropriate units shall undertake 
the maintenance of seed libraries.  
 
Sec. 8. Tax Exemption. –  All donations to all seed libraries, whether in seeds or 
equipment to store and keep seeds viable, shall be valued and may be used for tax 
deduction purposes in full as long as the seed library custodian and his or her immediate 
supervisor accepts the donation as needed for its operations and stocking.  
 
Sec. 9. Submission of Reports. - Within ninety (90) days from the approval of this 
Act, and at the end of every calendar year thereafter, the Director of the National Library 
shall submit progress reports to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines regarding the implementation of this 
Act.  
 
Sec. 10. Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act, 
DA, DENR and DepEd in coordination with the DILG, shall promulgate the implementing 
rules and regulations.  
 
Sec 11. Repealing Clause. – All laws and executive issuances inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
 
Sec. 12. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, 
the same shall not affect the validity and effectiveness of its other provisions. 
 
Sec. 13. Effective Date. – This Act shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or one newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,