EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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'19 
NOV 26 
P 3:11
S E N A T E
S.B. NO. 1195
Introduced by Senator Cynthia A. V illar
AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE USE OF THE RICE SUBSIDY AS PROVIDED FOR 
UNDER THE PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO  PROGRAM (4Ps) IN  THE 
GENERAL APPRPRIATION ACT OF 2019 FOR THE PURCHASE OF PALAY FROM 
FARMERS, MANDATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE DSWD IN  COORDINATION 
W ITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND NFA TO BUY PALAY FROM THE 
LOCAL FARMERS FROM THE PROVINCES OF PANGASINAN, ILOCOS NORTE, 
CAGAYAN, ISABELA, NUEVA VISCAYA, MINDORO ORIENTAL, MINDORO 
OCCIDENTAL TARLAC, NUEVA ECDA, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR AND ILOILO AND 
DISTRIBUTE RICE SUBSIDY IN THE FORM OF ACTUAL RICE, INSTEAD OF CASH 
ASSISTANCE, TO QUALIFIED BENEFICIARIES
Republic Act No. 11203 or an Act Replacing the Quantitative Import Restrictions on Rice 
with Tariffs, Lifting the Quantitative Export Restrictions on Rice, and for Other Purposes 
was enacted to help support the local rice industry specifically by creating a "Rice 
Competitiveness Enhancement Fund". The law aims to raise the income of palay farmers 
by making them competitive and provide affordable rice prices for consumers. It was 
signed in February 2019. The RCEF is a special fund to protect the rice industry from 
sudden or extreme price fluctuations. The Fund, shall consist of initial appropriation of 
PIO billion a year for the next six (6) years. The fund will be utilized to provide different


forms of assistance to the country's rice farmers such as the development of inbred rice 
seeds for our farmers, the development of rice farm equipment, and skills enhancement.
Under the measure, the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund shall be allocated and 
disbursed to rice-producing areas, as follows:
1. Fifty percent (50%) shall be utilized as grant in aid to eligible farmers associations, 
and registered rice cooperatives and LGUs, in the form of rice farm equipment for 
purposes of improving farm mechanization. The machines are tillers, tractors, 
seeders, millers, dryers and the like. It will be implemented by Philippine Center 
for PostFlarvest Mechanization and Development (Philmech);
2. Thirty percent (30%) shall be used for the development, propagation and 
promotion of inbred rice seeds to rice farmers.
3. Ten percent (10%) shall be made available in the form of credit with minimal 
interest to rice farmers and cooperatives to be managed equally by Land Bank 
and the Development Bank of the Philippines;
4. Another ten percent (10%) of the fund shall be for the extension services divided 
between Philmech, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Agricultural 
Training Institute (ATI) and TESDA to teach skills on rice crop production, 
modern rice farming techniques, seed production, farm mechanization, and 
knowledge/technology transfer thru farm schools nationwide.
But despite RCEF's on-going implementation of the identified interventions, the sudden 
impact of the influx of imported rice resulted in lower rice prices for consumers but also 
lower palay prices for the rice farmers.
Based on the foregoing, this bill proposes to use the rice subsidy as provided for under 
the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the General Appropriations Act of 2019 
for the purchase of palay from farmers, mandating for the purpose the Department of 
Social Welfare and Development in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and 
the National Food Authority to buy palay from the local farmers from the provinces of 
Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Viscaya, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro


Oriental, Tarlac, Nueva Edja, Zamboanga del Sur and Iloilo and distribute the rice subsidy 
in the form of actual rice, instead of cash to the qualified beneficiaries.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
/ i
SEN. CYNTHIA A. VILLAR


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
S.B. NO. 
1195
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*19 
NOV 26 
P 3 : ll
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CYNTHIA A.VILLAR
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AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE USE OF THE RICE SUBSIDY AS PROVIDED FOR 
UNDER THE PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM (4Ps) IN  THE 
GENERAL APPRPRIATION ACT OF 2019 FOR THE PURCHASE OF PALAY FROM 
FARMERS, MANDATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE DSWD IN  COORDINATION 
W ITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND NFA TO BUY PALAY FROM THE 
LOCAL FARMERS FROM THE PROVINCES OF PANGASINAN, ILOCOS NORTE, 
CAGAYAN, ISABELA, NUEVA VISCAYA, MINDORO ORIENTAL, MINDORO 
OCCIDENTAL TARLAC, NUEVA ECDA, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR AND ILOILO AND 
DISTRIBUTE RICE SUBSIDY IN  THE FORM OF ACTUAL RICE, INSTEAD OF CASH 
ASSISTANCE, TO QUALIFIED BENEFICIARIES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the Republic o f the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Under the 2019 budget, the allocation for rice subsidies amounts to P28.51 
billion and the same amount is proposed for the fiscal year 2020 Government 
Appropriations Act. The rice subsidy in the form of cash is given to beneficiaries through 
their existing Land Bank of the Philippines (Land Bank) through scheduled or coordinated 
payout through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). This is part


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of the Unconditional Cash Transfer or UCT which is a social welfare benefit provided under
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the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, which seeks to provide 10
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million indigent beneficiaries.
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SECTION 2. The beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya include: ” (i) those registered in
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Pantawid Pamilya Information System; (ii) victims of natural and man-made disasters
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rendered homeless and with no means of livelihood; (iii) indigenous peoples in
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geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas; (iv) homeless street families; and (v)
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transitioning households whose level of well-being have improved but still at high risk
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of subsequently falling back into survival level as they precariously live with little or no
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buffer against economic shocks."
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Section 
3. 
The above 
mentioned 
beneficiaries shall 
be entitled 
to 
Rice
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Assistance/Subsidy which amount is included in the total cash grant for Pantawid Pamilya
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or Six Hundred Pesos (PhP600) rice subsidy per month, on a per household basis and
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shall be given in actual kilos of rice instead of cash.
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SECTION 4. The DSWD together with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the
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National Food Authority (NFA) shall set the procedure, guidelines, and distribution system
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in the buying of palay from farmers, and distributing rice to the 4Ps beneficiaries who
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shall receive their rice subsidy from DSWD-designated outlets. The Department of
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Finance and the National Economic Development Authority shall likewise provide support
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in the crafting of the implementing rules.
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SECTION 5. 
The targeted areas shall be the rice producing PROVINCES OF
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PANGASINAN, ILOCOS NORTE, CAGAYAN, ISABELA, NUEVA VISCAYA, MINDORO
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ORIENTAL, MINDORO OCCIDENTAL, TARLAC, NUEVA ECIJA, and ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
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AND ILOILO.
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SECTION 6. A year-end report the program implementation shall be submitted by the
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DSWD to both Houses of Congress to determine its performance and effectiveness.


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SECTION 7. Separability Clause. 
If any portion or provision of this Act or the
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application thereof shall be declared invalid of unconstitutional, the validity of other parts
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or provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
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SECTION 8. Repealing 
Clause. 
All 
laws, 
decrees, 
executive issuances, rules
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and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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SECTION 9. 
E ffectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
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its publication in at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation.
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Approved