Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

70
House Bill Rages

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Pepito M. Pico

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Coffe is an essential part of the daily routine of millions of Filipinos, whether consumed for

pleasure or as a pick-me up at the beginning of the day, or towards the end of an all-night study

session. As much of a necessity as coffee has become in our modern world, it only stands to

become even more as increasing evidence is found concerning the health benefits that come

from coffee consumption. Our country has the potential to become a major player in this-
growing market, if the industry is properly developed.

The Philippines is one of the few countries that produces the four varieties of commercially-
viable coffee Arabica, Liberica (Barako), Excelsa and Robusta. Today, the Philippines
produces 30,000 metric tons of coffee a year, up from 23,000 metric tons just three years ago.
However, coffee farming in the country is still primarily dominated by small farmers, and our
production grossly lags behind demand. This bill —a refiling of House Bill 4178 filed by former
DIWA Party-list Representative Emmaline Villar and as a counterpart of Senate Bill No. 321
with the support of its author, Senator Cynthia Villar ~aims to develop our coffee industry and
centralize efforts for promotion and programs for its benefit, through the creation of a National
Coffee Board.

PEPITO M. PICO
Representative, DIWA Party-list

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No.8 704

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Pepito M. Pico

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR THE COFFEE INDUSTRY
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION 1. Title - This act shall be known as the "Coffee Development Act."
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote
the coffee industry as an income source of farmers and increase farm productivity for
sustainable development.
SECTION 3. Development of the Coffee Industry - The Department of Agriculture (DA), in
consultation with the Department of Science and Technology, state universities and colleges,
farmer groups, local government units, and the private sector, shall formulate necessary
programs and projects for the advancement and industry-wide development of coffee in the
Philippines, as follows:

a. Organize systematic programs that could improve coffee production including the
development of effective production systems;

b. Promote the coffee industry to investors;
c. Provide technical assistance on planting systems and rehabilitation of farms;
d. Develop efficient and productive processing technologies for coffee beans;

e. Allow and facilitate the establishment of credit programs in government banks for
coffee farmers;

f. Conduct research and other scientific studies on coffee;

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g. Establish and maintain a germplasm collection and gene bank for coffee;

h. Provide marketing and promotions of coffee for domestic and export markets;

i. Classify coffee as a high value crop;

j. Establish a coffee processing facilities for farmers and farmer's organizations; and

k. Coordinate and collaborate with other government and non-government agencies
involved in the development of the coffee industry.

SECTION 4. Creation of a National Coffee Board - There shall be a National Coffee Board
that shall direct, supervise and monitor the development and promotion of the coffee industry.
The board shall be composed of:

a, The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture as Chairman;
b. The Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry as Vice Chairman;

c. One (1) representative from the League of Municipalities where coffee is primarily
grown;

d. One (1) representative from an Non-governmental Organization working on coffee
production, research and development, processing or promotion;

e. One (1) representative from coffee growers;
f. One (1) representative from coffee traders; and
g. One (1) representative from coffee processors.

SECTION 5. Secretariat of the Coffee Board - The Undersecretary of Agriculture in Charge
of Crops and the Head of the Bureau of Plant Industry shall be the Secretariat of the Board.
The Office of High Value Crops Development shall establish an office space for the Coffee
Board for their meetings.

SECTION 6. Appropriation - The amount of fifty million pesos (Php50,000,000.00) shall be
allocated from the Special Activities Fund of the President of the Republic of the Philippines
or from any other sources that may be identified for the purpose for the operation, industry
development as contained in Section 3 hereof. Thereafter, such sum required shall be included
in the annual General Appropriations Act of the Department of Agriculture.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause - All existing laws, rules and regulations or part thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, superseded or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the
Official Gazette or in two (2) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

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