Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 2576 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by Representative 
BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT PROMOTING CROP DIVERSIFICATION AND THE PRODUCTION OF 
RICE 
ALTERNATIVES, 
ESTABLISHING 
THE 
CROP 
DIVERSIFICATION 
INCENTIVE PACKAGE (CDIP), CREATING PILOT IMPLEMENTATION MODELS, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippine economy continues to grapple with structural food security challenges, 
foremost of which is the nation’s longstanding overdependence on rice. With over 80 percent of 
Filipinos’ caloric intake derived from rice, any disruption in its supply—whether due to climate 
change, pest outbreaks, or price manipulation—poses significant risks to national stability. In 
both 2023 and 2024, rice alone contributed nearly 50 percent of headline inflation, underscoring 
the urgent need to diversify the country’s staple food sources. 
In his 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 
reaffirmed this priority, stating that the government had already proven that rice could be sold at 
₱20 per kilo without losses to farmers and had launched the program in various provinces 
through the Kadiwa network. 1 However, achieving this target sustainably and without distortions 
1 https://www.sunstar.com.ph/amp/story/manila/summary-ferdinand-marcos-jrs-sona-2025 
July 29, 2025
6:55 pm


to farmgate prices requires a structural shift—namely, reducing national overreliance on rice 
through the active promotion of rice alternatives and diversified cropping systems. 
This proposed measure—the Crop Diversification and Rice Alternatives Act—supports 
this national goal by institutionalizing a strategic shift from single-crop, rice-centered agriculture 
toward regionally suited, resilient, and profitable crop diversification models. Inspired by the 
President’s call to “invest in the Filipino” and to support agriculture as a base for key industrial 
growth, the bill promotes staple substitutes such as corn, cassava, kamote, ube, adlai, legumes, 
and other climate-resilient crops2. These crops not only reduce vulnerability to price shocks but 
also offer industrial and nutritional value, aligning with the government’s agenda to expand 
exports in food processing, halal products, and biotechnology. 
Evidence from Vietnam and Thailand, two of Southeast Asia’s most successful 
agricultural economies, shows that crop diversification boosts food security, enhances farmer 
incomes, and strengthens ecological sustainability. In Vietnam, diversification led to reduced per 
capita rice consumption and increased intake of protein-rich and vitamin-dense foods such as 
vegetables, legumes, and fruits. This allowed Vietnam to increase its rice exports even as 
domestic rice dependency fell—improving both economic and nutritional outcomes.3 Similarly, 
Thailand's diversification strategy, especially under the “New Theory” land use model 
championed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, enabled smallholder farmers to maintain a 
year-round source of food, water, and income by allocating land into structured portions for rice, 
alternative crops, aquaculture, and housing.4 
This bill mirrors such models by mandating pilot implementation of diversified farming 
systems in selected Philippine provinces. It introduces a 30:30:30:10 land-use scheme—30 
percent for rice, 30 percent for diversified crops, 30 percent for water or aquaculture, and 10 
percent for livestock and housing—adjusted to local environmental conditions. These models 
will be supported by the proposed Crop Diversification Incentive Package (CDIP), which 
provides targeted subsidies, low-interest loans, crop insurance, technical training, and guaranteed 
minimum price support for rice alternatives. This support directly complements the President’s 
pledge to provide collateral-free loans and livelihood assistance to 2.5 million low-income 
families, including smallholder farmers (SunStar, 2025). 
Moreover, the bill aligns with the government’s initiative to boost the production of key 
agricultural commodities beyond rice and pork, including corn, banana, mango, cacao, 
calamansi, and sugarcane (SunStar, 2025). Many of these are included in the DA’s priority crop 
list and are suitable as regional rice substitutes. The bill will also leverage existing 
infrastructure—such as the Kadiwa distribution system—for public procurement of rice 
4 https://www.fao.org/4/x6906e/x6906e0c.htm 
3 https://www.fao.org/4/x6906e/x6906e0d.htm#TopOfPage 
2 https://www.sunstar.com.ph/amp/story/manila/summary-ferdinand-marcos-jrs-sona-2025 


alternatives, particularly in school feeding programs and LGU meal services, supporting both 
nutrition goals and local economies. 
Importantly, this measure strengthens the Department of Agriculture’s Monitoring and 
Evaluation (M&E) mandate by requiring annual reporting to Congress on productivity, farmer 
income, climate resilience, and inflation impact. It also mandates close consultation with farmers' 
organizations, 
agricultural 
universities, 
indigenous 
communities, 
and 
local 
governments—ensuring that diversification strategies are informed by science, local knowledge, 
and regional suitability. 
In summary, this bill supports the President’s call to grow agriculture as the backbone of 
national development. It addresses the inflationary burden of rice, empowers rural 
microenterprises, diversifies farmer income sources, and strengthens food system resilience—all 
while enabling the Philippines to pursue both domestic food sovereignty and global trade 
competitiveness. 
The urgent passage of this measure is earnestly sought. 
HON. BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
Representative 
FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-List 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 2576 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by Representative 
BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT PROMOTING CROP DIVERSIFICATION AND THE PRODUCTION OF 
RICE 
ALTERNATIVES, 
ESTABLISHING 
THE 
CROP 
DIVERSIFICATION 
INCENTIVE PACKAGE (CDIP), CREATING PILOT IMPLEMENTATION MODELS, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Crop Diversification and Rice 
Alternatives Act of 2025.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to secure food self-sufficiency, 
stabilize staple food prices, increase rural incomes, and build agricultural resilience by promoting 
the production, consumption, and marketing of rice alternatives and diversified staple crops. The 
State shall invest in sustainable agricultural systems that reduce excessive dependence on rice, 
respond to regional suitability, and enhance both domestic food security and export 
opportunities. 
SEC 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 


(a)​Rice Alternatives – Refers to crops that may substitute rice as staple food, including but 
not limited to: corn, wheat, kamote (sweet potato), ube, cassava, plantains, legumes, and 
adlai.  
(b)​Crop Diversification – The cultivation of multiple crop types within a farm or 
agricultural area to reduce risk, improve income, and promote agro-ecological 
sustainability. 
(c)​Crop Diversification Incentive Package (CDIP) – A support mechanism for farmers 
producing rice alternative crops, including subsidies, credit, insurance, and market 
support. 
(d)​Pilot Diversified Farming Model – A farming system model combining rice alternatives 
with livestock, aquaculture, and water-efficient practices in a defined land area. 
SECTION 4. National Crop Diversification Program (NCDP). – The Department of 
Agriculture (DA) shall lead the implementation of a National Crop Diversification Program 
which shall: 
(a)​Identify priority rice alternative crops suitable to each region, based on climate, soil, and 
market data; 
(b)​Encourage rice-alternative farming systems that improve food system resilience, farmer 
income, and climate adaptation; 
(c)​Promote staple crop export opportunities for viable commodities such as adlai, cassava, 
peanut, and legumes. 
SEC 5. Crop Diversification Incentive Package (CDIP). – The CDIP shall be extended to 
all registered farmers cultivating rice alternatives and shall include the following forms of 
assistance: 
(a)​Input subsidies (e.g., seeds, organic inputs, basic equipment); 
(b)​Access to credit from LandBank and other accredited financing institutions with 
preferential terms; 
(c)​Crop insurance designed for rice alternative crops; 
(d)​Guaranteed minimum price support; 
(e)​Access to post-harvest infrastructure and technical support; 
(f)​ Grant scaling based on land size, productivity, and adoption of climate-smart practices.​
 
SEC 6. Pilot Agroecological Diversification Sites. 
The DA shall establish at least ten (10) provincial pilot sites representing major agro-climatic 
zones of the country, prioritizing rice-vulnerable and climate-sensitive areas. 
Each pilot shall adopt diversified farming layouts such as: 


(a)​The “30:30:30:10” model (30% rice, 30% diversified crops, 30% water/aquaculture, 10% 
housing/livestock); 
(b)​Rice-legume-cassava integration or other climate-adapted combinations; 
(c)​Upland slope agroforestry and contour farming models.​
 
Each pilot site must have a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework reporting annually to 
Congress on: 
(a)​Food production levels; 
(b)​Farmer incomes; 
(c)​Price impact on rice and alternatives in local markets; 
(d)​Climate resilience outcomes.​
 
SEC. 7. Nutrition, Public Procurement, and Market Development. – The DA, in 
coordination with DTI, DepEd, and DSWD, shall: 
(a)​Conduct national campaigns on the health and culinary benefits of rice alternatives; 
(b)​Encourage public institutions to procure diversified staples for meal programs;  
(c)​Support product development, packaging, and marketing of value-added goods   
(d)​Assist cooperatives and MSMEs in building rice-alternative value chains for domestic 
and export markets. 
SECTION 8. Stakeholder Consultation and Local Integration. 
I.​
The DA shall ensure that crop diversification plans are formulated with: 
(a)​Farmers’ groups, cooperatives, agribusinesses, LGUs, and agricultural universities; 
(b)​Experts in trade, nutrition, climate science, and inflation mitigation. 
II.​
The plans shall align with the Philippine Development Plan, the National Food Policy, 
the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, and regional agro-industrial blueprints. 
SEC 9. Funding and Appropriations. – An initial amount of 200 million Pesos 
(₱200,000,000.00) shall be appropriated from: 
(a)​ The General Appropriations Act (GAA); 
(b)​The Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF); 
(c)​Grants, Official Development Assistance (ODA), or other funding sources. 
Annual budget allocations shall be determined based on program performance. 


SECTION 10. Extension of the ACEF Implementation Period. – The utilization period 
of Republic Act No. 10848, “An Act Further Extending the Period of Implementation of the 
Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF),” is hereby extended until 2045, in 
support of this Act. 
SEC 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). – Within ninety (90) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the DA shall, in consultation with stakeholders, issue the necessary IRR to 
implement this law. 
SEC 12. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder shall not be affected thereby. 
SEC 13. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules or regulations 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 14. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 
 
 
 
 
HON. BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
Representative 
FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-List