Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, __4626

Introduced by Representative GERALDINE B. ROMAN

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Rice is staple food in the Philippines, and farming is a major source of
employment in the rural sector. This is especially so in Dinalupihan, Bataan,
where 2,978.7 hectares or 20% of the total land area is agricultural, and some
2,757.2 hectares are irrigable lands used for rice production.

Notwithstanding the Philippine Rice Research Institute’s' (PRRI) efforts to
improve rice production, rice production and the farmgate price of palay have
fallen? Hence, there is a need to diversity income-generating activities of rice
farmers to ease economic dependence on the sale of rice and promote the sale of
rice-based products to supplement their income. Specifically, the State should
proactively teach farmers how to develop quality rice-based products, such as but
not limited to rice noodles, egg roll wrappers, edible rice paper, rice-flour cakes
and dumplings, rice bran oil, rice-alcoholic beverages, rice vinegar, rice milk, rice
syrup (an alternative sweetener), puffed rice, and rice crackers. It should also
develop their entrepreneurial skills, including how to effectively market rice-
based products, and facilitate access to microloans to finance their business. In
T See Executive Order No. 1061, November 5, 1985, entitled “Establishing the Philippine Rice Research
Institute (PRRI),” as amended by Executive Order No. 60, November 7, 1986.

2 See Louise Maureen Simeon, “Palay production down 5% on Q2,” The Philippine Star, 2019,

https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/08/17/1943999/palay-production-down-5-q2 (last visited August 19,
2019).


the last couple of years, the PRRI has taken to doing so, but only as a sideline to
its principal mandate (to improve rice production) and on a limited scale, i.e., only
on demand, on select municipalities, and for a few rice-based products.

This bill seeks to establish the Dinalupihan Rice Development Center in
Dinalupihan, Bataan, to help rice farmers augment their income by proactively
promoting and assisting them in the manufacture and marketing of rice-based
products. Immediate passage of this bill is sought.

(ime

GERALDINE B. ROMAN


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, _4626_

Introduced by Representative GERALDINE B. ROMAN

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE DINALUPIHAN RICE DEVELOPEMT
CENTER IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF DINALUPIHAN, PROVINCE
OF BATAAN, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Dinalupihan Rice Development
Center Act.”

See. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote
industrialization, rural development, full employment, a rising standard of living, and an
improved quality of life for all farmers by encouraging entrepreneurship and activities that
add value to agricultural products and provide additional sources of income.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, “rice-based products” refer to products
made or derived from rice, such as but not limited to the following: rice noodles, egg roll
wrappers, edible rice paper, rice-flour cakes and dumplings, rice bran oil, rice-alcoholic
beverages, rice vinegar, rice milk, rice syrup (an alternative sweetener), puffed rice, and rice
crackers.

Sec. 4, Dinalupihan Rice Development Center. - The Dinalupihan Rice Development
Center (“Center”) is hereby established in the municipality of Dinalupihan, Province of
Bataan, under the Department of Agriculture, The Center shall serve as a “one-stop-action-
center” and shall coordinate closely with the Department of Trade and Industry and
Department of Science and Technology to proactively promote and assist rice farmers in


manufacturing and marketing rice-based products, and facilitate access to loans to obtain
needed technology and equipment for the business.
Sec. 5. Duties and Functions. - The Center shall exercise the following duties and
functions:
a) Integrate, collate, and support research, programs, and studies on rice-based
product development;
b) Conduct continuing research on rice-based product development;

¢) Undertake research and generate relevant, efficient, cost-effective and

scientifically viable approaches to achieve greater sustainability in rice-based

product development;

d) Impart technical knowledge and train rice farmers on rice-based product
development;

e) Upgrade the entrepreneurial skills of rice farmers through training courses,
seminars, and workshops;

f) Collaborate with national, regional, and international research institutions with
knowledge and expertise on rice-based product research and development;

2) Coordinate with local government units, non-governmental organizations, and
private sector groups and interests involved in rice-based product development;

h) Facilitate access to loans to establish and operate a rice-based product
development business;

i) Encourage the creation of farmer cooperatives to achieve efficiencies in rice-
based product development, better qualify for business loans, and boost
marketing initiatives; and

j) Receive and manage grants, aid, donations, or any kind of assistance or gratuity
from donors, foreign or domestic, to better achieve the Center’s objectives.

Sec. 6. Executive Director. - The Center shall be headed by an Executive Director who shall
be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Secretary
of Agriculture, The Executive Director shall be a recognized agriculturalist with extensive
experience in rice-based product research and development or a highly regarded
entrepreneur in the field.

Alll other officers and employees of the Center shall be appointed by the Secretary of
‘Agriculture upon the recommendation of the Executive Director and in accordance with
existing Civil Service laws, rules, and regulations. A representative from the Department of
Trade and Industry, a representative from the Department of Science and Technology, and a


professor of Agriculture at the Bataan Peninsular State University shall be members of the
Center’s staff.

Sec. 7. Duties and Responsibilities of the Executive Director. - The Executive Director
shall exercise the following duties and responsibili

a) Exercise over-all supervision and direction over the implementation of all
research and development and training programs of the Center and, in general, to
supervise and direct its management, operation, and administration;

b) Execute contracts, incur obligations, acquire and dispose of assets, and deliver

documents on behalf of the Center;

Approve the organizational structure, operational and staffing pattern, operating

and capital expenditure of the Center;

d) Recommend the appointment of the officers and employees of the Center on the
basis of the highest standards of merit, probity, and fitness for public servants,
subject to Civil Service laws, rules, and regulations;

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Implement policies, decisions, orders, rules, and regulations issued by the
Department of Agriculture; and

f) Exercise such other powers, functions, duties, or tasks as may be authorized,

delegated, or assigned by law and competent authority,

Sec. 8. Annual Report. - The Executive Director shall submit to the President of the
Philippines, through the Secretary of Agriculture, an annual report dealing generally with the
activities and operations of the Center, accompanied by an audit report of the relevant
accounts.
Sec. 9. Donations and Solicitations, - The Center may solicit and receive donations or
endowments of money, property, or services which shall be exempt from income taxes,
taxes on gifts or gratuities, and all other taxes, charges, or fees imposed by the government
or any political subdivision or instrumentality thereof.

Government and public corporations are hereby authorized to give grants to the
Center from the unimpaired surplus of funds at their discretion.
See. 10. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act
shall be charged against the appropriations for the Department of Agriculture, Thereafter,
the required budget for continued implementation of this Act shall be submitted to the
Department of Budget and Management for inclusion in the General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations, — Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity
of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for
the effective implementation of this Act.


Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees or issuances, executive orders,
letters of instruction, administrative orders, rules or regulation inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 13. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the
remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and
effect.
Sec. 14. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,