FIFTEENTH CONGR

OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPP
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE!

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR TE ABLISHM OF A CRYOGENIC
BANK FOR INDIGENOUS PLANT SPECIES TO BUFFER AGAINST
EXTINCTION DUE TO y fl

OR, AND FOR OTL

PURPOS!

planatory Note

Per square kilometer the Philippines probably contains more biodiversity than any
country in the world. It has several centers of biodiversity and endemism and its
biological richness has been as “Galapagos times ten’. The country has more that 52,17
deseribed 5} and the number continues to be updated as new species are discovered”
Half of the described species are found no where else in the world. The Philippines is
considered one of the 18 mega-diversity countries which together contain 70-80% of the
global diversity. More than one half of the recorded 1,130 terrestrial wildlife species are
found no where else in the world

On plants alone. the diversi More than half of the 10.000 to 14,000
species of vascular and non-vascular plants are endemic (peculiar to a particular location)
in the country

ountry is also one of 25 biodiversity hot spots of the world, One of the

the destruction of the habitat of wildlife. More than 93% of the

country’s forest has been lost in the last 500 years, The more than 300,000 ha of
mangrove at the turn of the 20" century have been reduced to only about 247,000 ha. As"
a result of all these, 418 species were already listed in the 2000 IUCN Red List as
threatened.

However, the
reasons for thi

" Heaney, R. L and J Regal
Museum, University of €



To address the conservation of biological diversity of the country Congress has passed
RA 7586 in 1992 known as the National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS). The.
purpose of this Act is to protect biodiversity through the establishment of Protected :
Areas, As of 2007 there were already 107 Protected Areas covering 3.34 million hectares,
77 of which are terrestrial and 30 marine Protected Areas.

Another major n ce of many plants and animals and their
becoming threatened to extinction is the impacts of climate change. Many plants cannot
adjust to rising temperature and they become extinct, Many crops and forest plants have
been affected by climate change.

To buffer against the impacts of diminishing habitat and disastrous effects of climate
change that could cause the extinction of crops and forest plants there is a dire need to
establish a facility where seeds could be stored without negatively affecting their
viability. Such isa cryogenic facility where seeds could be stored for decades and still
retain their germinative capacity.

ANGEL B. PALMONES


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF PUALLIPPINES,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HB. No. 3204.

INTRODUCED BY THE HONORABLE ANGELO PALMONES

Re it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

assembled

ARTICLE |
n of Policy and Objectives

Title, Declar:

SECTION 1. Title - This Act

hall be known as the Cryogenic Seed Bank Act of 2010.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy and Objectives ~ The destruction of forests has
concomitantly destroyed much of the biodiversity that was contained therein such that the
Philippines has been identified as one of the biodiversity hot spots of the world, ‘This has
brought about the inclusion of 418 native species in the International Union for the
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as threatened species. The situation has heen
aggravated by the escalating impacts of climate change where plant species that could not
adjust and adapt to increasing temperature of the atmosphere has the possibility of
becoming extinct. Recognizing the critical importance of maintaining the biodiversity in
the country in sustaining human life and development, it is hereby declared the policy of
the State to secure the existence for posterity for the present and future Filipinos native
crops and other plants through the establishment of facilities that will ensure their
viability thus ensuring sustainable sources of planting materials and buffer them against
extinction.

Itis the objective of this Act to establish at least one cryogenic seed bank where seeds of
native crops and forest plants are stored for posterity and secure them from extinction,

SECTION 3. Definition of terms — For the purpose of the Act the following terms shall
have following meaning:


Cryognic facility
Seed bank
Endemic species

Vascular species

Non-vascular spe:
Biodiversity
Threatened species

SECTION 4 ~ Establishment of a cryogenic seed bank — For the purpose of storing seeds

of important native crops and forest plants a cryogenic seed bank shall be established
with in campus of the University of the Philippines Los Baitos (UPLB).

SECTION 5 ~ Management of the cryogenic seed bank ~ The eryogenie seed bank shall
be managed by the UPLB. For this purpose UPLB shall formulate and promulgate
protocols for the use of the facility, Provided that it will ensure that seeds of important
crops and forest plants shall be collected and stored, UPLB is also mandated to maintain
the facility.

“SECTION 6 — Funding sources — For the construction of the facility it is hereby allocated
One Billion Pesos (P1,000,000,000) from the unallocated funds of the National Treasury.
Another 500 Million pesos shall be allocated from the income of PAGCOR.

The UPLB is hereby authorized to seek funding from multilateral and bilateral sources
for the maintenance of the facility.

Eunds for the first year of operation of the facility shall come from the original allocation
for the establishment of the facility. Funds for subsequent years for operations shall be
included as additional appropriations in the annual budget of UPLB.

SECTION 7 Role of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources ~ The Department of Agriculture and the Department of
vironment and Natural Resources shall assist actively the UPLB identify, collect sceds
and provide the same to UPLB for inclusion for storage in the eryogenie sced bank. ‘The
Department shall establish within their programs projects for the collection of the seeds

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations — The University of the Philippines
Los Banos shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act within a
period of 180 days from its approval. It shall hecome effective alier thirty (30) days



following their publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) maj
general circulation,

aily newspapers of

SECTION 9. Separability clause — [any section or provision of this Act shall be
declared invalid or unconstitutional, such shall not invalidate any other section or
provision of this Act

SECTION 10, Repealing Clause — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof which are in conflict with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION U1. Effectivity ~ This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days following its full
publication in the Official Gazette or two (2) major daily newspaper of general
circulation ;

Approved