<j \! ROUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Republic of the Philippines RECEIVED

House of Representatives pared | AUG 2016

ity Metro Manil:
Quezon City Metro Manila re: TL dp

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS BY:
First Regular Session

P REGISTRATION UNIT
House Bill_2150 BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

Introduced by REP, ENRICO A. PINEDA and REP. MICHAEL ODYLON L. ROMER

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The cost of food production in the Philippines is steadily increasing while the growth in
farmers’ income is relatively slow.

From 2009 to 2012, the total cost of rice production per hectare increased by 16.13% while
the average farmgate prices per kilo of dried palaywent up by only 0.49%!

Such asituation can further erode the already vulnerable financial standing of farmers.
Moreover, this predicament puts them further at risk from natural hazards like typhoons, droughts,
and pestilence.

‘A way to mitigate such financial vulnerability is to subsidize the irrigation service fee (ISF)
collected from landowners and farmers by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

Every year, an average farmer has to pay more than a thousand pesos for irrigation service
for two planting seasons, although such fees can cost more depending on the existing system’s
development scheme, planting season and type of crops planted.

ISF rates for the Bonga Pump Irrigation System, for example, can cost as much as 12 cavans
per hectare during dry season. At 18 pesos per kilo of palay, rice farmers depending on the Bonga
Pump Irrigation System have to shell out an equivalent of P10,800 per hectare when planting rice
during dry season.

Such high cost of irrigation service is one of the main reasons why the small, cash-strapped
farmers fail to pay the ISF year after year.

This bill seeks to assist small landowners and farmworkers who suffer gross neglect in spite
of the increasing demand for the commodity they produce.

This measure seeks to mitigate the impact of rising cost of agricultural inputs by providing
for full irrigation subsidy for small landowners who cultivate five hectares of land or less.

By subsidizing the cost of bringing water to farms, small farm owners and farmworkers are

afforded with more resources to further increase their productivity. Such assistance is only fitting
for people who worked hard to make sure Filipino households have food on their table.

‘Philippine Statistical Authority. (2012). Countrystat Philippines. Quezon City: Philippine Statistical Authority,



The ultimate beneficiaries of this scheme are Filipino households as the provision of water,
an_ indispensable ingredient in farming, will put more, accessible and affordable food on their
tables. It will redound to healthier Filipinos and defeat the scourge of food insecurity and
malnutrition.

In view of thé Tpregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought
ENRICO A. RINEDA MICHAEL ODYLON L. ROMERO

Representative, IPACMAN Partylist Repfésentative, IPACMAN Partylist



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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill 2100

Introduced by REP. ENRICO A. PINEDA and REP. MICHAEL ODYLON L. ROMERO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR FULL IRRIGATION SERVICE SUBSIDY FOR QUALIFIED
FARMERS, CONDONATION OF UNPAID IRRIGATION SERVICE FEES, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE CONTINUED OPERATIONS OF THE NATIONAL.
IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION

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

Si ION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Free Irrigation Service for Small
Farmers Act of 201

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the State to empower
small landowners and farmworkers through the provision of agricultural support services and
infrastructure, The State shall, therefore, provide adequate irrigation services at no cost to qualified
farmers and small landowners.

SEC. 3. Eligibility to Full Irrigation Service Fee Subsidy. — All Filipino farmers whose
farms or holdings cover an area not greater than five (5) hectares shall be exempt from paying
irrigation service fees.

Sec. 4.Condonation of Unpaid Irrigation Service Fees. — All unpaid irrigation service fees
due from a small landowner whose farms or holdings cover an area not greater than five (5) hectare
are hereby condoned by the Government, thereby relieving all small landowners or farmworkers
from the payment thereof.

Sec. 5. Appropriations for the Continued Operation of the National Irrigation
Administration (NIA). ~The funding requirement for the continued operation of NIA shall be
initiallysourced from existing appropriations of NIA and any funds in the National Treasury not
otherwise appropriated. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued operation and
management of national irrigation services shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of
this Act, the DA shall, in coordination with NIA and after consultation with directly affected
stakeholders, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to effectively implement the

provisions of this Act.


SEC. 7.Separability Clause. ~ If for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, such parts or portions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and
effect.

See. 8. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, issuances, rules
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

Sec. 9, Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in
at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

Approved,