SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
AUG 22 P5 :11 
SENA1.E 
S. No. 1,;j46 
,', RE('EI.\'F1) BV:-f-
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 16 mandates that the State shall protect and advance 
the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and 
harmony of nature. In Section 20 of the same Article, the Constitution states that the State 
recognizes the indispensable role of the private sector, encourages private enterprise, and 
provides incentives to needed investments. 
The United States Congress reported a finding that farm worker productivity is based on 
the input of large quantities of fossil fuel-based energy and chemicals, with typically an input of 
as much as ten fossil calories used to produce a calorie of food output. Food production in this 
manner cannot be sustained if fossil fuels are depleted and become increasingly costly and 
scarce, and biofuels are not a viable alternative if their production consumes more energy than 
they contain. Reduction of energy consumption through maximum efficiency is a prerequisite to 
sustainable reliance on renewable resources at an affordable scale. 
This bill seeks to develop a program to encourage the participation of the private sector in 
developing and applying technologies which makes use of renewable energies in the agricultural 
• 
sector. 
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, 
MIRIAM DEF 
SOR S-ANTIJ/lO 
.oM" 
, This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth Congress, Second Regular Session. 
I 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 1346 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
.ienntr 
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'13 
AUG 22 P5 :11 
1 
AN ACT 
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PROVIDING FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, DEMONSTRATION, AND 
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COMMERCIAL APPLICATION ACTIVITIES TO ENABLE THE DEVELOPMENT OF 
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FARMS THAT ARE NET PRODUCERS OF BOTH FOOD AND ENERGY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Food and Energy Farm 
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Research Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It shall be the policy of the State to promote the 
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use of renewable energy. To this end, the State shall promote activities that encourage the 
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research and application of renewable energy technologies. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this act, the term: 
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(A) 
ELIGIBLE ENTITY - means-
(1) 
(2) 
(3) 
(4) 
a local government unit; 
a nonprofit organization or institution that farms or provides farm or 
educational services to persons or organizations that own or operate farms; 
a farm or farmer or for-profit corporation that farms, or group of such 
farms, farmers, or corporations, at least 50 percent of the gross revenue of 
which is derived from the sale of food or fiber grown on the farm, if the 
acreage under their control, individually and collectively, whether through 
ownership or leasehold interests, is less than 65 hectares; and 
institutions of higher education. 
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(B) 
RENEWABLE ENERGY - means energy obtained from a resource in a manner 
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capable of being indefinitely sustained or replenished. 
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(C) 
SECRETARY - means the Secretary of Agriculture. 
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(D) 
SELF-POWERED FARM - means a farm or collection off arms that-
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(1) 
(2) 
(3) 
(4) 
(5) 
is capable of independence from offsite sources of energy, fuel, and raw 
materials for fuel; 
is a community resource for food, and energy, fuel, or raw materials for 
fuel; 
minimizes or eliminates ongoing operating expenditures to offsite entities 
for fossil fuel-derived energy; 
employs sustainable farming practices for long term soil fertility; and 
produces at least two (2) times as much energy, including fuel or raw 
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materials for fuel, as it consumes both on site and in the transfer of farm 
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products to market. 
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SECTION 4. Department o/Science and Technology Recommendations. - The Secretary 
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shall enter into an arrangement with the Depattment of Science and Technology for-
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(A) 
The development of recommendations for appropriate evaluation measures and 
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criteria for the programs under this Act; and 
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(B) 
An evaluation of the feasibility of prize and best practices award programs as 
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tools to promote self-powered farms, and recommendations for how to carry out such progratns, 
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iffeasible. 
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Not later than one (1) year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
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transmit to the Congress a report containing the recommendations and evaluation as described in 
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this section. 
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SECTION 5. Research and Technology Development Program. - The Secretary shall 
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establish a program, taking into account the recommendations of the Department of Science and 
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Technology under Section 4, for the research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
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. application of energy technologies or other technologies that have the potential to increase 
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energy efficiency or otherwise to enable self-powered farms. The Secretary shall award grants 
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under this section to eligible entities, or consortia thereof, on a competitive basis. 
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SECTION 6. National Agricultural Demonstration Program Awards - The Secretary 
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shall establish a program, taking into account the recommendations of the Department of Science 
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and Technology under Section 4, for making awards to not more than thirty (30) natioual 
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agricultural research programs for the demonstration in a farm setting of the integration of 
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technologies developed under Section 5, or other technologies, in a manner that best achieves the 
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goal of self-powered farms. 
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SECTION 7. Loan Programs. -The Secretary shall provide, on a competitive basis, low-
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cost revolving loans and loan guarantees to eligible entities for the commercial application of 
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energy technologies or other technologies that will contribute to the goal of establishing self-
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powered farms. 
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(A) 
Preferences - In providing loans or loan guarantees under this section, the 
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Secretary shall give preference to applicants who propose to derive the highest proportion of 
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their energy needs from technologies that use biobased feedstocks or other renewable energy 
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sources. The Secretary shall give highest preference to applicants who propose to meet their 
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energy needs from biobased feedstocks or other renewable energy sources produced on that 
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farm. 
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(B) 
Oversight - The Secretary shall establish procedures to enable the Secretary to 
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oversee the operation of proj ects supported by loans or loan guarantees under this section, to 
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ensure that such projects are operated consistent with the goals and requirements of this Act. 
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(C) 
Loan Amount - The amount of a loan under this section shall not exceed eighty 
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(80) percent of the cost of the project for which the loan is provided. 
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(D) 
Guarantee Amonnt- The Secretary shall not guarantee under this section more 
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than eighty (80) percent of the principal of any loan. 
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SECTION 8. DOST Review. - The Secretary shall enter into an arrangement with the 
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Department of Science and Technology for a review of the programs under this Act and the 
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development of recommendations for improvements to such programs. Not later than four (4) 
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years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the Congress a report 
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containing such review and recommendations. 
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SECTION 9. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as is 
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necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. Thereafter, the 
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amount necessary for the continuation of the program shall be included in the annual 
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appropriation of the Department of Agriculture. 
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SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (IS) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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