REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ” RECEIVE]
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BiLLNO._4990

—
Introduced by REPS. ENRICO A. PINEDA, MICHAEL ODYLON L. ROMERO,
PhD., RICARDO “RJ” T. BELMONTE, SABINIANO S. CANAMA, RON P.
SALO, BENHUR B. LOPEZ, JR., TOMASITO S. VILLARIN, ANICETO BERTIZ,
TEODORO G, MONTORO, SALVADOR B. BELARO, JR., BENHUR B, LOP!
JR., VIRGILIO 8. LACSON, MAKMOD D, MENDING, CARLOS ROMAN L.
UYBARRETA, ORESTES T. SALON and MANUEL LUIS T. LOPEZ,

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Hemp is a miracle plant with a multitude of beneficial uses. Itis unfortunate
that it has been equated or otherwise mistaken to be the drug commonly known
as marijuana, The truth is, hemp is not marijuana and it has never been and will
never be as destructive and addictive as marijuana.

This bill seeks to underline the significant and beneficial industrial uses of
hemp which contrary to beliefs, do not contain the addictive element that its
prohibited drug of a brother is known for. On the other hand, hemp is a good
source of fuel, fiber, food and medicine as in any other cash crop that is commonly
cultivated among farms around the world. Its stalks produces what may be
considered the strongest fiber in the world which is being utilized for the
production of textiles, papers and even construction materials. Its seeds are a rich
source of oil which is used for industrial products such as plastics, paints, inks and
fuel and even soaps and cosmetics.

‘The cultivation of hemp as a cash crop is legally recognized in almost thirty
countries around the world including China and our Southeast Asian neighbor of
Thailand, In 2011 alone, global production of raw hemp amounted to 250M British
Pounds. If we account the amount of trading involved with its by-products, it
should increase exponentially. And it is in this context that the Philippines with its
rich and vast farmlands, can capitalize on the potential of hemp as a cash crop
which can significantly increase the livelihood of our farmers. It is imperative that
an in-depth and comprehensive study of the viability of hemp production under
the Philippine context be conducted.

Early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

ENRICO A. PINEDA MICHAEL ODYLON L. ROMERO,
1-PACMAN, PhD
1-PACMAN
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4990

ee
Introduced by REPS. ENRICO A. PINEDA, MICHAEL ODYLON L. ROMERO,
PhD., RICARDO “RJ” T. BELMONTE, SABINIANO S. CANAMA, RON P.
SALO, BENHUR B. LOPEZ, JR., TOMASITO 8. VILLARIN, ANICETO BERTIZ,
TEODORO G. MONTORO, SALVADOR B. BELARO, JR., BENHUR B. LOPEZ,
JR., VIRGILIO S. LACSON, MAKMOD D. MENDING, CARLOS ROMAN L.
UYBARRETA, ORESTES T. SALON and MANUEL LUIS T. LOPEZ

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

AN ACT
LEGALIZING THE CULTIVATION OF HEMP AS AN INDUSTRIAL CROP
THEREBY ESTABLISHING THE INDUSTRIAL HEMP RESEARCH
AND PROVING FUNDS THEREFORE

Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Industrial Hemp Research
Act of 2017”.

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. Itis the policy of the State to promote the growth
and development of agriculture as an industry and a source of livelihood to
farmers by providing them with viable farming options which would necessarily
improve the agribusiness investment climate, thereby increasing the competence
and efficiency of the sector as one of the primary backbones of the Philippine
economy.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following terms are
defined as follows:

a, Industrial Hemp. ‘The term “industrial hemp” shall mean the plant
Cannabis sativa L. and any part of such plant, whether growing or not
with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3
percent ona dry weight basis

b. Center. The term “center” shall mean the Industrial Hemp Research
Center which will be established under this Act.

c. Hemp Cultivation. Hemp Cultivation shall mean the act of planting and
gathering of raw industrial hemp.

d. Hemp Processing. Hemp Processing shall mean the act of converting
raw industrial hemp into industrial by-products. This shall not include
the processing of industrial hemp for purposes that will constitute a
violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Section 4. Industrial Hemp Research Center. There shall be established an
Industrial Hemp Research Center under the Department of Agriculture (DA)
which shall conduct the appropriate scientific studies and researches that would
promote the viability of cultivation of industrial hemp, including the marketing
and processing of its industrial by-products.


Under the supervision of the center, state universities and colleges engaged
in agricultural programs shall undertake an agricultural pilot study on the
viability of growing and cultivating industrial hemp.

Section 5. Allowable Industrial Hemp Cultivation and Hemp Processing. No
person, partnership, corporation, association or institution may engage in the
cultivation and processing of industrial hemp unless allowed by the center.

‘The center in coordination with the Dangerous Drugs Board shall establish
strict guidelines on the proper cultivation, application and uses of industrial
hemp.

‘The center in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
(PDEA) shall establish an enforcement and monitoring unit which shall strictly
monitor persons, partnerships, associations and institutions engaged in industrial
hemp cultivation and processing.

As far as practicable, only agricultural lands not utilized for the production
of rice, corn, sugar and other critical agricultural products may be used for the
cultivation of industrial hemp.

Section 6, Industrial Hemp Marketing and Promotion. The center in coordination
with the Department of Trade and Industry (DT1) shall engage in the marketing
and promotion of industrial hemp and its by-products. The center, DA and DTI
shall ensure the availability of market linkages for industrial hemp and its by-
products.

Section 7. Liability for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Nothing in
this law shall be construed to allow any person, partnership, corporation or
institution to cultivate and process industrial hemp other than that allowed by the
center nor shall it be allowed under this law to cultivate any plant or process any
substance which are prohibited under the Republic Act No. 9165 otherwise known
as the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and its amendments.

Any commission of an act prohibited under this law shall be prosecuted in
accordance with the provisions of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. If the
violation or offense is committed by a corporation, partnership, association or
other juridical entities, the penalty shall be imposed upon the directors, officers,
employees or other officials or persons therein responsible for the offense.

Section 8, Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, administrative
orders or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly

Section 9. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full
force and effect.

Section 10. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following
its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspaper of

general circulation.

Adopted,