Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. 10656 
_______________________________________________________ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO 
_______________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Constitution mandates the state to promote the Local Food 
Production Industry through appropriate technology and research, with 
adequate financial, equipment and other support services. 
 The Republic of the Philippines cannot rely on importation to 
supplement its food needs. We must find a permanent and lasting solution to 
our recurring food supply shortage.  
Rice being the national food, deserves a special consideration. We must 
ensure a stable and sufficient rice production by involving as many 
stakeholders as possible in the agricultural sector. 
We must review the mandate and flow of operations of all our 
government agencies involved in the production and distribution of all our key 
food products (specially rice) to improve synergy in pursuant to the mandate 
of this House Bill. 
This House Bill envisions a highly acceptable and perpetual solution to 
the perennial problem on the supply of our key food products. It has been 
proven that the food supplies from overseas sources are very erratic and 
therefore very unreliable.  
Our farmers and fisherfolks should be encouraged to produce more to 
meet our domestic food demands, they should be provided with adequate 
support through irrigation, better seedlings, enhanced stocking, improved 
farm mechanization, and accessible and agricultural credits.   
Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
July 29, 2024
10:33 am


Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO Ph.D.   


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. 10656 
__________________________________________________________ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO 
__________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION 
INDUSTRY, TO ESTABLISH FOOD SECURITY, 
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 " 
Local Food Production Act of 2024 ". 
SECTION 2.  
DECLARATION OF POLICY - it shall hereby be a 
declared policy of the state to: 
a) Ensure sufficient grains and all other key products, specifically those
manufactured from domestically land-based agricultural activities.
b) Promote reasonable prices specially during times of calamities and in all
cases of emergency situations.
c) Take the lead role in order to provide the necessary resources, planning,
organizational and control systems to optimize the agricultural
production.


 
d) Provide the appropriate technical support, regulatory principles, and 
monetary guidelines. 
e) Initiate progress monitoring to all sectors actively involved. 
 
SECTION 3.  
ESTABLISHMENT OF STORAGE FACILITIES. — 
There shall be established at least one food cold storage facility center for 
agricultural products in every province in the country in order to ensure the 
preservation and safety of perishable agricultural products, such as crops, 
fruits, vegetables, and meat and improve food security. 
Existing structures, facilities and equipment’s that would meet the 
standard requirements could be upgraded to effectively serve and be 
designated as such in compliance with rules and regulations set by the 
Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 
and other subject matter experts. 
SECTION 4.  
FOOD SECURITY COUNCIL - for purposes of this act, 
to execute the foregoing policy, there shall hereby be created the FOOD 
SECURITY COUNCIL. This council shall have the overall authority and 
responsibility and accountability for crafting and formulating a comprehensive 
program for the implementation of local food production.  
 
The FOOD SECURITY COUNCIL shall be composed of the following: 
• Secretary – Department of Agriculture (chairperson) 
• Secretary – Department of Trade and Industry 
• Secretary – Department of Finance 
• President – Land Bank of the Philippines 
• Administrator – National Food Authority 
• Representative – Famers sector 
• Representative – Consumer sector 
• Representative – Private sector 
• Representative – Grains, Seeds sector  
• Representatives – Dominant Farmers Party list 
 


 
The Council shall formulate its own implementing rules and regulations 
to govern its proceedings. The Council shall choose its official home base and 
organize a staffing protocol to aid and carry out its functions. 
 
SECTION 5.  
CAPACITY AND ROLE OF THE COUNCIL 
To engage and assure the Food Security Policy of the state, the Council 
shall have the following powers and functions: 
1. To establish satisfying levels of annual inventory based on the 
appropriate calendar year for all key food products. Meeting the 
minimum indicated factors of the following: 
 
• Keeping the prices of all key food products stable; 
• Improving farmer’s income, ideal levels for production; 
• Identify the regions where productions are to be 
domestically produced or foreign sources if they are to be 
imported; 
• Indicate the strategic services for these key food 
products; and 
• Institutionalize the interaction and relations of the 
availability and supply of these key food products.  
 
2. To enforce and create, through agencies the appropriate 
standards of the following: 
 
• Transfer of these key food products; 
• Preservation; 
• Benchmark of practice and packaging; 
• Units of measurement; 
• Analysis and testing; 
• Specifications; 
• Inspection and sampling; 
• Storage; 
• Distribution and shipping; 
• Milling and drying; 
• Handling, hauling and grading 
 
3. To mandate the specific agencies to effectively seizure whenever 
there is improper acquisitions (hoarding, cornering) of these 
key food products. Including all facilities and machineries used; 
 


 
4. To authorize inspection by these specific agencies of these key 
products that are stored in private warehouses, for inventory; 
 
5. To implement monitoring and progress tracking of these key 
products for prices and stocks movement; 
 
6. To locate and encourage the creation of food terminal markets 
on a nationwide scale; 
 
7. To identify trading centers to serve as a conduit facility; 
 
8. To promote efficient distribution to all consumers; 
 
9. To promote a transparent marketing system; 
 
10. 
 To enhance the interest of more farmers and consumers; 
 
11. 
 To track the demand and supply indicators of these key 
food products. All imports and exports in coordination with the 
Bureau of Customs; 
 
12. 
  To monitor the impact on farmers’ income, their standards 
of living, and consumer prices in collaboration with the 
Department of Trade and Industry; 
 
13. 
 To create the appropriate implementing rules and 
regulations governing the importation of all key food products. 
 
14. 
 To establish an annual ideal inventory level, in the concept 
of licensing, and; 
 
15. 
To prescribe penalties and fines for non-compliance. 
 
 
SECTION 6. 
MANDATES OF THE COUNCIL – to institutionalize 
all foregoing policies, the Republic of the Philippines shall focus all its 
development plans and programs towards the achievement of the following: 
• Improve the income of all farmers and agricultural communities; 
• Provide all the necessary subsidies and production support; 
• Organize inter-relationships among stakeholders within the food 
industry; 
• Maximize food supply efficiency; 
• Establish negotiability with integrity for all guarantees; 
• Development of guidelines to enhance transparency and 
competitiveness; 
• Adopt innovative techniques to reduce cost and improve quality; 
• Protect local farmers from the impact of globalization; 


 
• Enable local farmers to gain access to enhance post-harvest facilities; 
• Encourage the private sector to engage; 
• Enable the private sector to participate in this production; 
• Promote government guarantees; 
• Access capital market funding for food production;   
• Preserve strategic reserves of all key agricultural products;  
• Maintain a good buffer stock for all food essentials throughout the year;  
And Maximize the production of all key food products. 
The Department of Agriculture shall provide the necessary technical and 
financial assistance to ensure the effective operation of the facilities. 
 
SECTION 7. 
SUPERVISING AND ASSESSMENT CONCERNS. — 
the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Department of Trade and 
Industry (DTI), shall provide the necessary technical and financial assistance 
to ensure the effective operations and build-up. 
SECTION 8.  
IMPLEMENTING AGENCY. — the Department of 
Agriculture (DA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and subject 
matter experts.  
SECTION 9.  
IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. — 
Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of 
Agriculture (DA), in consultation with the Department of Trade and 
Industry (DTI), and other concerned government and private agencies, 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of 
this Act. 
SECTION 10. 
TRANSITORY PROVISION – Existing industries, 
businesses and offices affected by the implementation of this Act shall be given 
three (3) months transitory period from the effectivity of the IRR or such other 
period as may be determined, to comply with the requirements of this Act. 
SECTION 11. 
APPROPRIATION. — The amount necessary for the initial 
implementation to fund this act shall be charged under the Department of 
Agriculture (DA).  


 
The amount of five (5) billion pesos (Php 5, 000,000,000.00) necessary 
for the initial implementation to fund this act shall be charged under the 
Department of Agriculture (DA).  
The amount determined by the Food Security Council for the 
implementation of this Act shall be charged under the existing funding of the 
Department of Agriculture (DA).  
Thereafter such amounts necessary for the successive and continuous 
implementation of this Act, including the operations maintenance of reserves 
shall be automatically appropriated in the General Appropriations Act (GAA). 
Thereafter, such amounts necessary for the implementation of this act shall be 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).  
The agencies concerned shall provide for the continued maintenance, 
operation, and management of all the facilities and equipment’s. 
SECTION 12. 
CONTINUING APPROPRIATION. - The Department 
of Budget and Management (DBM) is hereby mandated to include annually 
in the next five (5) years, in the President's Program of expenditures for 
submission to Congress, and release, an amount not less than two (2) billion 
pesos (Php 2, OOO, OOO, OOO.OO) for the implementation of this Act. 
SECTION 13. 
PERIODIC REPORTS - The Secretary of the (DA) 
shall submit periodic reports on its findings and make recommendations on 
actions to be taken by Congress and Senate and the appropriate department, 
and in order to carry out the objectives and mandates of this Act. 
SECTION 14. AUTOMATIC REVIEW - Every three (3) years after the 
effectivity of this Act, an independent review panel composed of experts to be 
appointed by the President of the Republic shall review the policies and 
programs in the agriculture sector and shall make recommendations, based 
on its findings, to the President and to both Houses of Congress. 
 


 
SECTION 15. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. — If any provision of this Act 
shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions which are 
not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 16. REPEATING CLAUSE. — All laws, decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, contrary 
to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby modified, amended or repealed 
accordingly. 
SECTION 17. EFFECTIVITY. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation. 
Approved,