Pecniblic ofthe Philippines
‘HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

te
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
‘First Regular Session

5273
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by; HON. *KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

call ACT ESTABLISHING EMERGENCY RICE RESERVES AND FOR OTHER
mi i PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE, i

1119. our country, Aside from being a staple food to provide
9S, it ds)part of our cultureand heritage. Thus, there is a need
order to ensure that there will be enough supply of rice to the
aera ‘

ANTONIO R SY-ALVARADO,
Representative

“ «First District of Bulacan

|

i! Lin proiibe



Quezon City

| EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
: ‘ |) First Regular Session

5273

HOUSE BILL NO. _

\ Introduced by: “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT ESTABLISHING EMERGENCY RICE RESERVES AND FOR OTHER
te } PURPOSES

| Be itenacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Tee) eas ca |

fect {haere Rrawnen thes Emereeoey Rice Reserves Act

SECTION 2, Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to ensure an
adequate supply of rice at reasonable and affordable rice for the people in times of calamities,

SECTION 3. Definition of Terns. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:

Ee Olen eae araiextintore erent tut nice tes os Ged eh autour nt ligated fo
typhoons, flaods, droughts, earthquakes, fire, volcanic eruption, lahar flows, and acts of
man such as political and/or civil disturbance, and wide-spread civil unrest; and

b). Emergency Rice Reserves the inventory or stock of rice and/or palay by the National Food
Authority (NFA), equivalent to the 15 day average national daily rice consumption to be
maintained as a matter of national policy.

i

| SECTION 4. Management. —|In order for the National Food Authority (NFA) to effectively
perform the functions and i a provided for in this Act, it shall:

i

1), Maintain and manage a government rice reserve equivalent to fifteen (15) days of the
national rice consumption for the current year and. determine the location and
distribution of such stocks into depots nationwide.

Procure stock from small farmers’ cooperatives and import only under abnormal conditions
Uetermined through consultation with all affected sectors unless directed otherwise by the
President. Provided, that the quality of the imported rice shall be regular milled rice, thirty-five
percent (35%) broken, or better, Provided further, that if all or part of the initial reserye is
important, NFA will have the option to release the imported stocks at a price that will allow it to
procure locally its equivalent volume in palay form to maintain the fifteen (15) day rice reserve
~~~ Release to the market of said government rice reserve upon the declaration of a state of
calamity by the President of the|Republic of the Philippines. Provided that such declaration shall
Specifically state that NFA rice feserve is to be released to the market upon the recommendation

of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture; provided further, that the release price of said

‘tice shall be based on the prevailing market price immediately prior to the occurrence of the

“calamity, i ee

SECTION 5. Refill of Enwolie Rice Reserve, ~ The NFA shall ensure that rice stocks are

hd i dance with * provision of this Act. 7



SECTION 6. Appropriations. — There shall be appropriated from the funds of the National
Treasury a seed money of (PHP 4,000,000,000.00) Four Billion pesos for its initial operations and
Constituted into a revolving fund held in trust by NFA used for funding replenishment and as a
depository for funds obtained from the sale/monetization of food security stocks. Thereafter, all
| stich amounts as may be necessary for the continued operation of said Fund which shall include

“Maintenance and/or increase of the Food Security Rice Reserve, shall be automatically

ropriated in the General Appropriations Act as approved by Congress.

| SECTION 7. Monitoring and Review. — The NFA shall regularly review and assess the national
palay and rice situation and, on the bases of the data and information collected, prepare a report t0
be submitted to the Office of the President and to both Committees on Agriculture of Congress.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations, — The NFA shall, within sixty (60) days
‘+ from the effectivity of this Act, issue the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.

‘ SECTION 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act be deemed unconstitutional or
invalid, the other provisions not effected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. — All. acts, presidential decrees, executive orders and
istrative orders, rules and regulations, and other such issuance or parts of thereof which are
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Pera