NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Third Regular Session 
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24 JUN 13 All :15
SENATE
s.B. No. 2708
KKbVcO 3'-
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8178 OR THE
"AGRICULTURAL TARIFFICATION ACT OF 1996," AS AMENDED
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The passage of the Rice Tariffication Act last February 2019 resulted in a decline 
of rice retail price from PhP 40.75 per kilo in 2018 to PhP 36.93 per kilo in 2020. 
However, the price of rice has increased from there, to PhP 51.41 in April 2024. In 
addition, the subsequent large scale rice importation has resulted in a decrease of the 
farmgate price of dry palay, from PhP 20.40 per kilo in 2018 to PhP 16.72 per kilo in 
2020, before increasing to PhP 24.52 in 2024 due to the E! Nino phenomenon.
While the Philippines' compliance with its World Trade Organization (WTO) 
obligation to impose a bound tariff rate system through the Rice Tariffication Act is 
important, recent experience asserts government's role in managing, regulating, and 
even intervening in national rice supplies to guarantee food security and farmers' 
income.
This bill seeks firstly to expand the function of the national rice buffer to cover 
both natural catastrophes and commodity crises. It explicitly defines the power of the 
Executive to automatically undertake safeguards and other measures in the event of 
both a rice shortage, as predicted to happen in the near future, and a rice surplus, as 
endured through February 2019 by allowing the government to either undergo or stop 
importation of rice as needed.
The bill defines and strengthens the power of the Department of Agriculture to 
monitor warehouses and other related entities to prevent rice hoarding. It also allows 
the Department of Agriculture to import rice for price stabilization purposes. The bill 
also imposes fines for non-utilization and under-utilization of import permits.
As far as the development of the sector is concerned, the bill expands the Rice 
Fund to PhP 15 billion and extends its life up to 2031. It also allocates 5% of the Rice
1


Fund to local government units for buying palay, 5% as a subsidy as milling, and 5% 
as financial assistance for rice cooperatives and farmer's associations.
For the abovementioned urgent reasons, the passage of this bill is sought.
IMEE R. MARCOSr'


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Third Regular Session 
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24 JUN13 All :15
S.B. No
SENATE
2708
Rl;C£:V/tD &’'■
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8178 OR THE 
"AGRICULTURAL TARIFFICATION ACT OF 1996," AS AMENDED
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in Congress 
assembled:
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SECTION 1. Section 3 (e) of R.A. No. 8178 is hereby amended to read as 
follows:
"SEC. 3 (e) 'Buffer Stock' refers to the optimal level of rice 
inventory that shall be maintained at ALL TIMES FOR USE 
DURING EMERGENCIES, IN ORDER [any given time te-he 
used for emergency situations and] to sustain the disaster relief 
programs of the government during natural or man-made 
calamities, AS WELL AS DURING COMMODITY MARKET 
CRISES, FOR THE PURPOSE OF STABILIZING PRICES IN 
THE COMMUNITY MARKET AND ENSURING FOOD 
SECURITY;"
XXX."
SEC. 2. Section 4 of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 8178, as amended by R.A. No. 
11203, is hereby further amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 4. Repeal. - The following laws and all other laws or 
provisions of law prescribing quantitative import restrictions or 
granting government agencies the power to impose such 
restrictions on agricultural products or hindering the


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liberalization of the importation, exportation and trading of rice 
are hereby repealed^, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED UNDER 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8800, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
SAFEGUARD MEASURES ACT.
X X X.
SEC. 3. A new Section 5 is hereby inserted after Section 4 of R.A. No. 8178, as 
amended, to read as follows:
"SEC. 5. STRENGTHENING THE REGULATORY 
FUNCTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
(DA). - THE DA SHALL EXERCISE ITS AUTHORITY TO 
OVERSEE AND ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH ALL 
PERTINENT STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS IN 
QUALITY AND SUPPLY OF RICE IN THE PHILIPPINES.
THE DA IS HEREBY EMPOWERED TO:
(1) REQUIRE THE REGISTRATION OF ALL GRAINS 
WAREHOUSES AND MAINTAIN A NATIONAL DATABASE 
OF SUCH REGISTRATIONS;
(2) 
INSPECT WAREHOUSES, AGRICULTURAL 
FACILITIES, FARMS, AND RELATED ENTITIES AS 
NECESSARY TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH 
STANDARDS RELATED TO RICE QUALITY AND SUPPLY;
AND
(3) COLLECT AND ANALYZE DATA ON RICE TRADE 
ACTIVITIES FOR INFORMED POLICY AND 
OPERATIONAL DECISIONS.
THE BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY (BPI) SHALL HAVE 
THE AUTHORITY TO INSPECT IN RELATION TO 
SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY STANDARDS AND 
FOOD SAFETY OF THE WAREHOUSES WHERE THE 
LOCAL MARKET PLAYERS (I.E. PADDY TRADERS,
MILLERS, WHOLESALERS, AND RETAILERS) AND 
IMPORTERS STORE OR KEEP THEIR MILLED RICE.
THE DA INSPECTORATE AND ENFORCEMENT SHALL 
HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ASSIST BPI IN CONDUCTING 
REGULAR AND UNSCHEDULED INSPECTIONS OF 
AGRICULTURAL FACILITIES, FARMS, AND RELATED


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ENTITIES TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH HEALTH, 
SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS.
PROVIDED, THAT, IF SO REQUESTED BY THE DA, THE 
NFA, PNP, NBI, OR RELEVANT LGU OR OTHER 
GOVERNMENT AGENCY SHALL PROVIDE ITS PROMPT 
RESPONSE AND ASSISTANCE IN THE 
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION."
SEC. 4. A new Section 6 is hereby inserted after Section 5 of R.A. No. 8178, as 
amended, to read as follows:
"SEC. 6. POWERS OF DA ON PRICE STABILIZATION AND 
SUPPLY REGULATION. - THE SECRETARY OF THE 
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, UPON THE 
RECOMMENDATION OF THE NATIONAL PRICE 
COORDINATING COUNCIL (NPCC), OR LOCAL PRICE 
COORDINATING COUNCIL (LPCC) AS APPROVED BY 
THE NPCC, MAY DECLARE AN EMERGENCY, HEREIN 
REFERRED TO IN THIS ACT AS FOOD SECURITY 
EMERGENCY, DUE TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING 
CONDITIONS:
(I) A SHORTAGE IN THE SUPPLY OF RICE;
(II) A SUSTAINED INCREASE IN THE PRICE OF RICE;
OR
(III) AN EXTRAORDINARY 
PRICE OF RICE.
INCREASE IN THE
WHEN SUCH CASES OCCUR, THE DA MAY:
(1) USE EXISTING NFA INVENTORY, PRIMARILY 
INTENDED FOR BUFFER STOCKING, TO SUPPLY AREAS 
WHERE THE EXTRAORDINARY INCREASE IN PRICES OR 
ACUTE SHORTAGES IN SUPPLY OCCUR;
(2) REPLENISH THE INVENTORY UTILIZED FROM 
AVAILABLE LOCAL SOURCES;
(3) SHOULD THERE BE NO AVAILABLE LOCAL 
SOURCES, THEN THE DA MAY RESORT TO 
IMPORTATION; AND
(4) MAINTAIN A BUFFER FUND NOT EXCEEDING 
FIFTY PERCENT (50%) OF THE ALLOCATION INTENDED 
FOR CALAMITIES TO BE AVAILED OF AND UTILIZED


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ONLY TO REPLACE THE VOLUME OF RICE INVENTORY 
UTILIZED FOR THE PURPOSE.
PROVIDED, THAT THE DISTRIBUTION OR SALE OF RICE 
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION SHALL BE 
LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
(1) 
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES/ENTITIES 
AUTHORIZED TO HANDLE SALE OF RICE;
(2) RETAIL OUTLETS; AND
(3) KADIWA STORES, CENTERS AND OUTLETS."
SEC. 5. Section 5 of R.A. No. 8178, as amended, is hereby renumbered as 
Section 8 and further amended to read as follows:
"SEC. [5]8. Issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import 
Clearance for Rice for the Sole Purpose of Ensuring Food Safety.
- All importers of rice are required to secure a Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) from the Bureau of 
Plant Industry prior to importation in accordance with existing 
laws, rules and regulations: Provided, That the clearance shall 
not provide for import volume [and timing] restrictions:
Provided, further. That failure on the part of the BPI to release 
the SPSIC without informing the rice importer of any error, 
deficiency, omission, or additional documentary requirement 
shall mean automatic approval of the SPSIC applied for within 
seven (7) days after submission of the complete requirements.
The imported rice should arrive before the [expiration of-the 
SPSIC from the BPI] DATE INDICATED IN THE SPSIC 
ISSUED BY THE BPI, AFTER WHICH THE SPSIC SHALL 
BE CONSIDERED EXPIRED. THE BPI SHALL IMPOSE A 
FEE EQUIVALENT TO THE MARKET VALUE OF THE 
UNUTILIZED/UNDER-UTILIZED SPSIC TO ENSURE 
TIMELY ARRIVAL OF IMPORTED RICE.
The food safety regulatory function of the NFA under Item (i).
Section 16 of R.A. No. 10611, otherwise known as the 'Food 
Safety Act of 2013', is hereby transferred to the BPI."
SEC. 6. Section 7 of R.A. No. 8178 as amended, is hereby renumbered as Section 
10 and further amended to read as follows:
"Sec. W 10. Powers of the President - Consistent with the 
Philippine national interest and the objective of safeguarding


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Filipino farmers and consumers, the President is hereby 
empowered to act with full delegated authority subject to the 
provisions of the CMTA in the following circumstances:
"(a) The President may increase, reduce, revise, or adjust 
existing rates of import duty up to the bound rate committed by 
the Philippines under the WTO Agreement on- Agriculture and 
under the ATIGA, including any necessary change in classification 
applicable to the importation of rice: Provided, That the power 
herein delegated to the President shall only be exercised when 
Congress is not in session: Provided, further. That any order 
issued by the President adjusting the applied tariff rates shall 
take effect fifteen (15) days after publication;
(b) In the event of any imminent or forecasted shortage, or such 
other situation requiring government intervention, the President 
is empowered for a limited period and/or a specified volume, to 
allow the importation at a lower applied tariff rate to address the 
situation. Such order shall take effect immediately and can only 
be issued when Congress is not in session;
HOWEVER, WHEN THERE IS AN EXCESSIVE SUPPLY OF 
IMPORTED OR LOCAL RICE RESULTING IN A CRASH IN 
LOCAL RICE PRICES, THE PRESIDENT MAY SIMILARLY 
STOP OR PROHIBIT FURTHER IMPORTATION FOR A 
LIMITED PERIOD AND FOR SPECIFIED VOLUME UNTIL 
SUCH TIME AS BOTH RICE SUPPLY AND PRICES 
STABILIZE; and
(c) In case the calculated out-quota tariff rate referred to under 
Section 6 (c) of this Act exceeds one hundred percent (100%), 
the provision of Paragraph 1, Section 1608(a) of the CMTA shall 
also not apply.
The power herein delegated to the President may be withdrawn 
or terminated by Congress through a Joint Resolution."
SEC. 7. Section 8 of R.A. No. 8178 is hereby renumbered and amended to read 
as follows:


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"SEC. fS} 10. Maintenance of Rice Buffer Stock. -The NFA shall, 
in accordance with the IMPLEMENTING rules, regulations, and 
procedures to be promulgated, maintain AND MANAGE AN 
OPTIMAL [sufficient] rice buffer stock to be sourced solely from 
local farmers. THE NFA SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO 
PURCHASE LOCAL MILLED RICE AS NECESSARY TO 
FULFILL ITS MANDATE UNDER THIS LAW, SUBJECT TO 
EXISTING LAWS, GOVERNMENT RULES, AND 
REGULATIONS.
SEC. 8. Sections 13 of R.A. 8178 is hereby renumbered and 
amended to read as follows:
"Sec. {48} 17. Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund. - 
There is hereby created a Rice Competitiveness Enhancement 
Fund, herein referred to as the 'Rice Fund'. The Rice Fund shall 
consist of an annual appropriation of FIFTEEN BILLION 
PESOS (P15,000,000,000.00) [Ten billion pesos 
(P10,000,000,000.00 for the next six (6) years following the- 
approval of this Act] UNTIL THE YEAR 2031 and shall be 
automatically credited to a Special Account in the General Fund 
of the National Treasury which shall be in place within ninety 
(90) days upon the effectivity of this Act.
XXX
The amount allocated shall be released directly to the 
implementing agencies as provided for in this Act based on the 
objectives and plans of the rice industry roadmap: Provided, 
That the unutilized portion of the Rice Fund allocated to the 
implementing agencies AND COLLECTIONS FROM 
REPAYMENTS FROM LOAN BENEFICIARIES INCLUDING 
INTERESTS, IF ANY, shall not revert to the General Fund but 
shall continue to be used for the purpose for which it was set 
aside. Fund releases charged against the Rice Fund shall not be 
subject to any ceiling by the Department of Budget and 
Management (DBM).
Any program undertaken in accordance with this Act shall only 
be deemed complementary and supplementary to and shall not 
be a replacement of any existing programs for rice and rice


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farmers already implemented by the DA and other agencies 
concerned.
Subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules and 
regulations, the Rice Fund shall be allocated and disbursed to 
rice producing areas, as follows:
(a) Rice Farm Machineries and Equipment - [Fifty percent 
(50%)] THIRTY PERCENT (30%) of the Rice Fund shall 
be released to and implemented by the Philippine Center for 
Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PFIilMech) as 
grant in kind to eligible farmers associations, registered rice 
cooperatives, and local government units (LGUs), in the 
form of rice farm equipment, POSTHARVEST, AND 
PROCESSING FACILITIES such as WAREHOUSES, 
GRAIN STORAGE FACILITIES, DRYING FACILITIES, 
tillers, tractors, seeders, threshers, rice planters, harvesters, 
irrigation pumps, small solar irrigation, reapers, driers,
mechanization]: Provided, That the PhilMech shall, 
whenever feasible, procure from accredited local 
manufacturers AND MACHINE FABRICATORS IN 
ESTABLISHING FARM-LEVEL FABRICATION, REPAIR 
AND MAINTENANCE FOR FARM IMPLEMENTS AND 
EQUIPMENT to assist in the promotion of locally 
manufactured farm machineries and equipment;
XXX
(b) Expanded Rice Credit Assistance - Ten percent (10%) of the 
Rice Fund shall be made available in the form of credit 
facility with minimal interest rates and with minimum 
collateral requirements to rice farmers and cooperatives, to 
be managed equally by the Land Bank of the Philippines 
(LBP) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP)tt 
aod].
FURTHER, THE CREDIT ASSISTANCE COMPONENT 
OF RCEF SHALL OPERATE AS A REVOLVING FUND, 
WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST PAYMENTS 
ON LOANS MADE FROM THE FUND TO BE RE-


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DEPOSITED INTO THE FUND AND MADE AVAILABLE 
FOR NEW LOANS TO ELIGIBLE BENEFICIARIES IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH BUDGETING, ACCOUNTING 
AND AUDITING AND OTHER PERTINENT LAWS, 
RULES AND REGULATIONS;
XXX
(E) SOIL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT - THREE PERCENT 
(3%) OF THE RICE FUND SHALL BE RELEASED TO 
AND IMPLEMENTED BY THE BUREAU OF SOILS AND 
WATER MANAGEMENT (BSWM) AND SHALL BE USED 
TO ADDRESS THE MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES 
THAT LIMITS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OTHER 
PRODUCTION SUPPORT SERVICES;
(F) PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT - TWO 
PERCENT (2%) OF THE RICE FUND THROUGH BPI 
AND DA-RFO REGIONAL CROP PROTECTION CENTER 
SHALL INTEGRATE COMPREHENSIVE PEST AND 
DISEASE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO PROTECT 
AND ENHANCE RICE PRODUCTION;
(G) SUPPORT TO MILLING - FIVE PERCENT (5%) OF 
THE RICE FUND SHALL BE RELEASED AND 
IMPLEMENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 
AGRICULTURE TO SUBSIDIZE MILLING OF PALAY;
(H) SUPPORT TO RICE PRODUCING LGUS - FIVE 
PERCENT (5%) OF THE RICE FUND SHALL BE 
RELEASED BY RICE PRODUCING LGUS TO 
IMPLEMENT PALAY BUYBACK PROGRAMS AS A 
MEANS FOR PRICE SUPPORT TO LOCAL FARMERS; 
AND
(I) SUPPORT TO COOPERATIVES AND FARMER 
ASSOCIATIONS - FIVE PERCENT (5%) OF THE RICE 
FUND SHALL BE RELEASED AND IMPLEMENTED BY 
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO PROVIDE 
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO RICE FARMER 
ASSOCIATIONS AND COOPERATIVES;


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"Provided, furthermore, that if the annual tariff revenues 
from rice importation exceeds FIFTEEN BILLION PESOS 
(P15,000,000,000.00) [Ten billion pesos 
(P10,000,000,000.00)] in any given year [within the six (6) 
year period following the effectivity of this Act] UNTIL THE 
YEAR 2031, the excess tariff revenues shall be earmarked 
by Congress and included in the General Appropriations Act 
(GAA) of the following year:
(a) Rice Farmer Financial Assistance - A portion of the 
excess rice tariff revenues shall be released to the DA 
and shall be used for providing direct financial assistance 
to rice farmers who are farming two (2) hectares and 
below regardless of whether they continue farming rice 
or not as compensation for the projected reduction or 
loss of farm income arising from the tariffication of the 
quantitative import restrictions on rice. 
FARMWORKERS DISPLACED BY FARM 
MECHANIZATION AND OTHER MODERNIZATION 
SCHEMES, LISTED IN THE REGISTRY SYSTEM FOR 
BASIC SECTORS IN AGRICULTURE (RSBSA) ARE 
ALSO ENTITLED TO DIRECT FINANCIAL 
ASSISTANCE;
XXX
(d) Crop Diversification Program - [A portion of the
shall be used foc -prcKjoctivity-enhancemcnt] TWENTY 
PERCENT (20%) OF THE EXCESS TARIFF 
REVENUES SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR 
PRODUCTION-ENHANCEMENT programs for rice 
farmers seeking to diversify production [towards] TO 
other crops[], POULTRY, LIVESTOCK, AND 
AQUACULTURE."
(E) IN CASES OF FOOD SECURITY EMERGENCIES 
AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE PRESIDENT, A 
PORTION OF THE EXCESS TARIFF REVENUES


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SHALL BE USED FOR NFA PROCUREMENT OF 
LOCALLY PRODUCED PALAY OR MILLED RICE.
SEC. 9. Section 14 of R.A. 8178 is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 14. Beneficiaries of the Rice Fund. - The beneficiaries of 
the Rice Fund shall be those farmers and farmworkers [and then- 
dependents] listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in 
Agriculture (RSBSA), AND THEIR DEPENDENTS, and rice 
cooperatives and associations accredited by the DA AND OTHER 
KEY STAKEHOLDERS OF THE RICE VALUE CHAIN, 
INCLUDING INPUT SUPPLIERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, 
RICE MILLERS, AND RICE-BASED FOOD 
MANUFACTURERS. Within one hundred eighty (180) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the DA. in consultation with farmers' 
cooperatives and organizations and LGUs, shall REGULARLY 
validate and update the masterlist of eligible beneficiaries to 
ensure that those listed are legitimate farmers, farmworkers and 
rice cooperatives and associations.
X X X
SEC. 10. Sections 15 of R.A. 11203 is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 15. Rice Industry Roadmap. - Upon the effectivity of this 
Act, the DA, together with the NEDA, Department of Finance 
(DOF), DBM, DAR, National Irrigation Administration (NIA), 
TESDA, PCIC, National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Farmer 
Sectoral Council Representative and other government agencies 
concerned, including rice farmer representatives, shall be given 
a maximum of one hundred eighty (180) days to formulate and 
adopt the rice roadmap to restructure the government's delivery 
of support services for the agricultural rice sector.
"The following principles shall govern the development and 
implementation of the roadmap for the rice industry:
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(A) SHIFT THE RICE TOWARDS THE IMMEDIATE ACCESS 
OF RICE FARMERS TO CAPITAL MARKETS, WITH THE 
END OF DOUBLING THEIR INCOME WITHIN FIVE (5) 
YEARS;
"[(a)] (B) Raise sustainable investments in the rice industry 
particularly [ee] WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF [rice support] 
RURAL infrastructure SUCH AS FARM TO MARKET, 
IRRIGATION, and post-harvest facilities;
"[(b)] (C) Improve the productivity, efficiency and profitability 
of small rice farmers and landless farmworkers;
"[(c)l (D) Strengthen research, [afid] development [programs 
that will enhonce-^^e—rcsilicncy of the rice industry] AND
EXTENSION SERVICES ALONG SUSTAINABLE FARMING 
TECHNOLOGIES;
(E) PROVIDE AND PROMOTE BACKWARD AND FORWARD 
LINKAGES OF AGRICULTURE TO INDUSTRIES AND TO 
THE LOCAL MARKETS;
"[(d)] (F) Preserve and enhance the rice production capabilities 
of future generations;
"[(e)] (G) Provide accessible, targeted and technology-oriented 
support services that cover the entire value chain;
"[(f)] (H) Set up responsible, participatory and effective 
governance mechanisms; [and]
"[(g)] (I) Address impact of income loss caused by rice 
tariffication[.];
(J) ENFORCE THE LAWS AGAINST LARGE-SCALE 
AGRICULTURAL SMUGGLING, ANTI-DUMPING OF 
FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND RELATED
11


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GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO 
THE LOCAL RICE INDUSTRY;
(K) AGGRESSIVELY UNDERTAKE SOIL AND WATER 
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH REHABILITATION, 
REGENERATION AND CONSERVATION OF WATERSHEDS 
AND AQUIFER IN TANDEM WITH THE NATIONAL GRID 
CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NCGP) OF THE 
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL 
RESOURCES (DENR) AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
UNITS (LGUS);
(L) PROMOTE DIVERSIFIED FARMING SYSTEMS IN 
ORDER TO DEVELOP ON-FARM AND OFF-FARM 
LIVELIHOOD SOURCES FOR FARMERS.
X X X.”
SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within forty-five (45) days from 
effectivity of this Act, the DA, and DBM shall, in coordination with PHilMech, PhilRice, 
LBP, DBP, and other government agencies concerned and after consultation with 
directly affected stakeholders, promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively 
implement the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - If for any reason any part or provision of this Act 
shall be deemed unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall 
not be affected and shall remain in force and effect.
SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive issuances, rules and 
regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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