Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by: Hon. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONAL CACAO DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, CREATING 
FOR THE PURPOSE THE PHILIPPINE CACAO COUNCIL, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to the Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao, Inc. (CIDAMi), 
“There is a growing demand for cocoa products and the world may soon run out of chocolate - 
giving rise to the Philippine Cacao Challenge 2020. Given the current increasing demand in 
chocolate and cocoa products (paired with a dwindling supply of cacao due to an array of 
farming challenges), it is expected that there will be a cacao shortfall by the year 2020.” 
The Philippine Cacao Challenge 2020 is a national roadmap for the cacao sector where 
the country targets to start producing 100,000 metric tons of fermented beans annually starting 
2020. It plans to grow the production areas and productivity in the Philippines, targeting to 
have 58 million cacao trees and as many as 130,000 farmers. 
Based on the following table, the global demand for cacao has tripled since 1970: 
(Image taken from: http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/y4343e/y4343e05.htm) 
According to CIDAMi, “Asia is one of the recently fastest growing consumers of cacao, 
experiencing a 12% growth between 2003 and 2008. In the Philippines, the average annual 
cocoa consumption is 50,000MT according to a Department of Agriculture (DA). Euromonitor 
International expects the Philippine chocolate market to grow by 13% by 2017. And that is 
forecasted to reach 100,000MT by 2020 (DA).” 
The global demand is expected to reach between 4.7 Million to 5 Million metric tons by 
the year 2020, and global supply will be at a deficit of 1 Million MT according to the 
Department of Agriculture. For the Philippines alone, the local consumption is at 50,000MT 
July 6, 2022
10:43 am
1411


annually, but the local supply is only around 10,000MT, making the country a net importer. 
This looming deficit has given rise to the Philippine Cacao Challenge, which commits the 
Philippines to producing 100,000MT by the year 2020 and onwards (The Philippine 2020 
Cacao Challenge, http://www.cidami.org/philippine-2020-challenge/). 
Cacao is a small evergreen plant introduced by the Spaniards to the Philippines in 1674 
to 1680. Its seeds or beans are used to make cocoa and chocolate, which has medicinal uses 
as well as culinary purposes. 
The very rich and fertile soil of the country is very well suited in the production of cacao 
but, ironically, the country still imports a large amount annually. As of 2008 the country only 
has 1.5 million cacao trees producing around 6,000 metric tons annually. This placed the 
country as 18th in the rankings in the world among cacao-producing nations. Southern 
Mindanao is the country's largest cacao-producing region, particularly Davao Oriental with 
nearly 4,000 hectares planted to cacao trees, followed by the CALABARZON region, 
particularly Quezon and Cavite. 
This bill envisions the creation of a national program, which seeks to gather government 
agencies together with the Department of Agriculture as lead agency to do education and 
training of all stakeholders in the cacao industry, collecting relevant researches, scientific 
studies, and market strategies, extending technologies and creating international linkages for 
development, promotion and be a competitor in the world cacao market. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
   Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan 
 4th District, Quezon 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by: Hon. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONAL CACAO DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, CREATING 
FOR THE PURPOSE THE PHILIPPINE CACAO COUNCIL, 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 "Philippine Cacao Industry 
Development Act". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to develop a 
sustainable and competitive cacao industry that is environmentally sound, economically viable, 
socially responsive and aimed to spur development through livelihood creation, job generation, 
and income augmentation thereby contributing to poverty alleviation, inclusive growth, and 
peace and order attainment particularly in the rural areas. 
Towards this end, the State shall promote and support the sustained production of 
Philippine cacao and increase value adding activities by allocating adequate financial 
resources to the cacao industry towards the attainment of its full potential in the domestic and 
international markets, and making cacao as one of the leading agricultural exports of the 
country. 
SEC. 3. Objectives.  - This Act aims to achieve the following objectives: 
(a) To enhance and increase the production of cacao through expansion and/or
rehabilitation of cacao production areas;
(b) To formulate strategies and craft action plans, anchored on the value chain
approach that will provide development interventions from farm to market and bean
to bar for an enhanced and sustainable growth of the Philippine cacao industry;
(c) To improve the country's cacao seed system and production of quality planting
materials to ensure traceability and reliability of cacao plantations;
(d) To institutionalize adaptive sustainable land management system with the
participation of smallholders and private sector in nursery establishments and
commercial-scale plantations for inclusive agribusiness;
(e) To optimize local production capacity by providing improved and climate resilient
technologies for cacao production and modern technologies for processing cacao
beans and the application of sustainable agricultural practices towards meeting
world standards for competitiveness;
(f) To integrate and harmonize programs, projects, and activities of government
agencies and the private sector supportive of the short, medium, and long-term
agenda of the cacao industry;
(g) To encourage private sector investment in agribusiness through policy reforms and
advocacy, investment promotion, access to financing, and cost-effective incentives;
(h) To promote Philippine cacao in the local market and in the international market by
providing the needed marketing support through a proactive product and market
1411


development program that will position Philippine cacao in the local and global 
markets; 
(i) To uplift the welfare and increase the income opportunities of the country's 
smallholder cacao farmers, producers, processors, and retailers, including their 
dependent families, by improving their productive capacities and enhancing 
production quality towards attaining inclusive growth; 
(j) To provide technology upgrading and continuous innovation in the design, 
manufacturing, and/or assembly of locally-produced farm equipment and post-
harvest tools for cacao production and processing to improve productivity and 
efficiencies; 
(k) To create a proactive and responsive national implementing office that will review, 
approve, implement, monitor and evaluate cacao-related programs, projects, and 
activities to ensure the focused development of the cacao industry that is aligned 
with the Philippine Cacao Industry Roadmap and subsequent program extension 
and cacao industry development plans;  
(l) To strengthen research for development of the cacao industry; and 
(m)To harness, strengthen, and enhance existing participatory mechanisms to ensure 
full engagement and active participation of various stakeholders in the development 
of the cacao industry. 
 
SEC. 4. The Philippine Cacao Industry Development Program. - To ensure  a 
harmonized and collaborative implementation of policies, programs and projects for the 
advancement, industry-wide development, and inclusive growth of the cacao industry through 
a value chain approach,  as well as increased and sustained yield and income; improved farm 
productivity and quality; enhancement of farmers' capabilities and skills; and to achieve the 
objectives set forth in this Act, the Philippine Cacao Industry Roadmap crafted in consultation 
with the cacao industry stakeholders including any updates thereon, is hereby adopted.     
 
The Philippine Cacao Industry Roadmap shall serve as a vital document to provide 
direction to the cacao industry stakeholders for the optimal realization of the targets towards a 
sustainable and globally competitive Philippine Cacao Industry that will likewise contribute to 
attaining food security and poverty alleviation. The strategic interventions, programs and other 
activities from the national down to the local levels shall be anchored on the Roadmap.  It shall 
be regularly reviewed and evaluated to determine the accomplishment of its targets. It shall 
likewise be continually and regularly updated in consultation with industry stakeholders to 
make it consistent with, and adaptive to, the current industry situation.   
 
SEC. 5 The Philippine Cacao Industry Council. - For a focused and harmonized 
implementation of the Philippine Cacao Industry Roadmap and of the provisions of this Act, 
and to catalyze, provide leadership, and proactively engage stakeholders in the promotion and 
development of a champion cacao industry, there is hereby created a Philippine Cacao 
Industry Council, otherwise known as the Council.  The Council, which shall be constituted 
within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act, shall be attached administratively to the 
Department of Agriculture (DA) and shall have the following composition:  
 
(a) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), as Chairman; 
(b) Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), as Vice-Chairman; 
(c) Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), as member; 
(d) Secretary of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), as member;   
(e)Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), as member; 
(f) Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), as 
member; 
(g) Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), as member; 
(h) Commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), as member; 
(i) Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority 
(TESDA), as member; 
(j) Administrator of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA); 


(k) Two (2) representatives from civil society organizations from Luzon; 
(l) Two (2) representatives from civil society organizations from Visayas; and 
(m) Two (2) representatives from civil society organizations from Mindanao. 
 
The government sector representatives in the Council may appoint an official alternate 
with a rank of an Undersecretary or its equivalent.  The official alternate shall possess the 
same powers as the Heads of the above-named government agencies and whose acts shall 
be considered as acts of the heads of office being represented.  
 
Representatives from the civil society organizations shall be appointed by the DA 
Secretary from among the officers and members of existing regional cacao councils and 
associations of cacao farmers and other private stakeholders of each island.  They shall be 
chosen based on the following minimum qualifications: 
 
(a) Must be a resident and citizen of the Philippines; 
(b) Must be an active member of a non-government cacao organization, association or 
cooperative, or known and recognized in the cacao industry as an expert in cacao; 
(c) Must be engaged in cacao production, research and development, processing, 
promotion, or in any activity in the cacao value chain from production to local and/or 
international marketing; and 
(d) Must be a person of integrity, respected by the industry, and willing to serve with 
utmost responsibility and efficiency. 
 
Representatives from the civil society organizations shall serve for a period of two (2) 
years. When a vacancy arises due to the resignation, removal for cause, death or incapacity of 
a member, a replacement shall be appointed who shall serve for the remainder of the 
representative's term of office.  
 
Government sector representatives shall not be entitled to compensation in the 
discharge of their functions in the Council but they shall be entitled to reimbursement of any 
reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their functions.  Private sector 
representatives shall be entitled to honoraria or allowances for the expenses incurred in the 
discharge of their functions as members of the Council.  
 
SEC. 6. Powers and Functions. - The Council shall have the following general powers 
and functions:  
 
(a) Formulate, adopt and implement sustainable and industry-wide development policies 
and programs to steer the growth of the cacao industry towards increased 
production of fine quality Philippine cacao and its intensive marketing and 
promotions for domestic and export markets;   
(b) Through the Cacao Program Management Office, oversee the implementation of the 
Philippine Cacao Industry Roadmap; 
(c) Ensure the availability of adequate funding for the accomplishment of the targets in 
the roadmap, and compliance with the declared policies and attainment of the 
objectives of this Act; 
(d) Formulate the criteria and guidelines for the establishment of Cacao Centers of 
Excellence in major cacao producing regions or in areas suitable for cacao 
production, and ensure the conduct of relevant research, scientific study and 
feasible marketing strategies; 
(e) In collaboration with the Information and Communications Technology Services of 
the implementing agencies, establish, maintain and integrate a web-based Cacao 
Production and Farmers Information System which shall be linked to the Farmers 
and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Information System (FFEDIS) of the DA 
established pursuant to Section 10 of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11321 or the Sagip 
Saka Act and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.   
(f) Ensure the establishment of cacao production and post-production/ value-adding 


facilities; adoption and use of modern and advanced technologies for a more 
profitable, efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly cacao production;  
(g) Establish a system for the conduct of capacity building, education, and training of 
cacao farmers and their organizations; 
(h) Serve as the official platform/venue for convergence on policy-making and 
operations relative to the cacao industry, and to call upon, coordinate and/or 
collaborate with other agencies of the government, including bureaus, or 
government-owned and -controlled corporation, local government units, other 
concerned agencies, the private sector, and other stakeholders; 
(i) Formulate policies and programs to promote agribusiness ventures on cacao 
industry; 
(j) Establish linkages and collaborate with national and international organizations, 
development institutions and funding networks of the cacao industry; 
(k) In coordination with the Agricultural Credit Policy Council and other credit facilities 
and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, formulate and recommend policies and 
programs on easy access credit programs and provision of crop insurance for the cacao 
industry stakeholders; 
(l) Officially represent the industry in national and international cacao events and fora; 
(m) Serve as the sole authorized body in the conduct of major cacao events and 
activities such as cacao congress, conference, cacao cupping/ sensory and other relevant 
activities for the promotion of the cacao industry;  
(n) Promote and pursue Philippine cacao branding such as denomination of origin, 
Geographical Indications, etc.; 
(o) Develop efficient and effective marketing and promotions systems of cacao for 
domestic and export markets; 
(p) Review, harmonize and update existing standards on cacao and direct or 
recommend the crafting of additional standards, as necessary; 
(q) Review existing and recommend new legislation to develop the cacao industry and 
promote the welfare of cacao stakeholders; 
(r) Formulate consultation mechanism to ensure that farmers, farm workers, processors, 
and other stakeholders of the cacao industry may actively participate in policy-making, 
strategic planning, implementation monitoring and feedback needs and concerns of the cacao 
industry; 
(s) Mobilize existing nationwide network of consultative mechanisms to ensure 
participation of multi-stakeholders in policy development, strategic planning, and monitoring 
and feedback in the implementation of the Philippine Cacao Industry Development Program;  
(t) Conduct an annual review and assessment of the implementation of the Roadmap in 
coordination with the  
(u) Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) and other relevant 
stakeholders to determine the accomplishment of the cacao industry as provided in the 
Roadmap, and to identify the gaps, issues and challenges in its implementation; and 
(v) Perform other functions and duties as may be necessary. 
 
SEC. 7. Meetings. The Council shall regularly meet at least once every quarter, or as 
often as the Chairperson deems necessary.   The presence of the majority of all the members 
of the Council shall constitute a quorum.  The use of digital technology in the conduct of 
meetings and approval of Council Resolutions shall be allowed, subject to such security 
measures as the Council shall implement.  
 
SEC. 8. Cacao Program Management Office. - To manage, oversee and ensure the 
implementation of the Philippine Cacao Industry Roadmap, the Cacao Program Management 
Office (Cacao PMO) is hereby created.  It shall be headed by an Executive Director to be 
designated by the Chairperson of the Council and shall be under the supervision of the DA 
Undersecretary in charge of High Value Crops.  
 
 The Executive Director shall identify the personnel of the Cacao PMO, subject to the 
approval of the Secretary of DA.  The salaries and positions of the personnel of the Cacao 


PMO shall be based on the Revised Compensation and Position Classification System and 
other civil service rules and regulations. 
 
SEC. 9. Functions of the Cacao Program Management Office. - The Cacao PMO shall 
manage and ensure the implementation of the Philippine Cacao Industry Roadmap and shall 
identify and recommend to the Council the strategic programs, projects, and interventions to 
be prioritized for implementation. It shall further: 
 
(a) Provide support services for the coordination and monitoring of the implementation 
of the programs, policies and plans formulated pursuant to this Act; 
(b) Ensure that the roadmaps and other programs are implemented and targets 
accomplished; 
(c) Establish a monitoring and evaluation system by which the Cacao Development 
Programs shall be evaluated; 
(d) Execute policy decision of the Council; 
(e) Prepare quarterly report on the implementation of the roadmap to be submitted to 
the Council;  
(f) Prepare annual work plan and operating budget of the Council and the Cacao PMO 
for approval of the Council; 
(g) Recommend policies and procedures for Council approval;  
(h) Function as the Secretariat of the Council and provide general administrative and 
technical support; 
(i) Coordinate with the appropriate government agency and private institutions in the 
establishment of an accurate cacao industry data; and 
(j) Perform other related functions as may be assigned by the Council.  
 
SEC. 10. Regional Cacao Councils (RCC). - For an effective and efficient 
implementation of the provisions of this Act, the Council shall create Regional Cacao Councils 
in cacao-producing regions which shall be composed of the following: 
 
(a) Regional Director of DA, as Chairman; 
(b) Regional Director of DTI, as Vice-Chairman; 
(c) Regional Director of DOST, as member; 
(d) Regional Director of the DILG, as member; 
(e) Three (3) representatives from civil society organizations of the cacao industry in the 
region, who shall be chosen by the government representatives of the RCC from a list of at 
least three (3) nominees from the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council. They shall have 
the same term and qualifications as the government representatives in the Council. 
 
The functions of the RCC shall include but not limited to the following: 
 
(a) Localization and implementation of the Philippine Cacao Industry Roadmap, 
including any revisions and updates thereof in the region; 
(b) Coordinate and collaborate with partner agencies in the region and with the local 
government units; 
(c) Monitor and assess the implementation of the roadmap in their respective region; 
(d) Prepare the Annual Work and Financial Plan of the RCC; 
(e) Regularly submit a report to the Council on the status of the implementation of the 
roadmap to include the issues and challenges encountered; 
(f) 
Upon 
consultation 
with 
the 
cacao 
industry 
stakeholders, 
make 
policy 
recommendations that will enhance existing practices;  
(g) Assist in the conduct of survey, profiling, review, and evaluation of information/data 
for the regional cacao industry database; and  
(h) Perform such other necessary functions that may be assigned by the Council.  
 
The RCC shall be assisted by a support staff to be determined and approved by the 
RCC. 


SEC. 11. Establishment of Cacao Centers of Excellence (Centers). - For the enhanced 
development of the Philippine Cacao Industry, the DA shall establish and maintain Cacao 
Centers of Excellence in major cacao-producing regions and in areas suitable for cacao 
production. The establishment and operations of the Center shall be subject to such criteria 
and guidelines as may be formulated by the Council.  In coordination and collaboration with the 
DOST and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), relevant government agencies and State 
Universities and Colleges, the Centers shall function as follows:  
 
(a) Organize systematic programs to improve cacao production including the 
development of effective production and post-production systems to produce fine cacao; 
(b) Serve as cacao farmer resource center for cacao production from farm to market 
and from bean to bar, to include best practices aligned with the world standards in the cacao 
value and supply chains; 
(c) Serve as product development hub for value-added cacao and cacao by-products as 
results of continuous research and development; 
(d) Serve as the central site for networking and training; 
(e) Develop capacity building programs and initiatives for cacao farmers and other 
stakeholders in the cacao value chain; 
(f) Assess, establish, and conduct collaborative research on emerging technology on 
cacao; 
(g) Establish and maintain cacao bean grading laboratory to improve and maintain 
cacao quality;  
(h) Develop pool of experts of certified cacao graders and promote culture of cacao 
bean profiling and grading using the globally accepted standards and protocols with the 
following core implementing functions: cacao research and development, technology transfer 
and capacity building, socio-economics evaluation, and policy research; 
(i) Develop new clonal varieties which are high yielding, good quality, and pest and 
disease-resistant cacao varieties which can be easily mass propagated. 
(j) Provide technical assistance on nursery establishment, planting systems and 
rehabilitation of farms; 
(k) Develop efficient, sustainable, productive, modern and advanced post-harvest and 
processing technologies for cacao beans; 
(l) Establish and conduct collaborative research and other scientific studies; 
(m) Partner with accredited training centers and implement cacao farming schools as 
the major channels for technology transfer; 
(n) Develop and implement programs on capacity-building activities for cacao farmers 
and other stakeholders in the cacao value chain; 
(o) Establish and maintain a germplasm collection and gene bank for cacao; and  
(p) Perform other functions as may be necessary. 
 
The Council shall prioritize the establishment of Centers in existing facilities of the DA, 
DTI, and of State Universities and Colleges.  It may likewise collaborate and partner with the 
private sector in the establishment of Centers. 
 
SEC. 12. Whole of Government Approach. - To further strengthen the convergence and 
the consultative and collaborative mechanism particularly in the regions, all departments, 
agencies, and instrumentalities of government, including government-owned or -controlled 
corporations (GOCCs), shall give their support, perform their functions and deliver the required 
services under this Act in accordance with their respective mandates as provided in their 
charters and under existing laws, provide assistance and cooperation to the Council in 
discharging its functions and more importantly, in implementing the Philippine Cacao Industry 
Roadmap, to include but not limited to the following:  
 
(a) National Economic Development Authority (NEDA);  
(b) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 
(c) State Universities and Colleges;  
(d) Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);  


(e) Government financing institutions;  
(f) Other agencies or institutions as may be deemed necessary.  
 
The Council shall ensure that an effective platform is established for the active 
participation of all stakeholders in the cacao industry for consultative and continuing 
discussions affecting the cacao industry from the national level to the regional, provincial, and 
municipal levels. 
 
SEC. 13. The Role of Local Government Units (LGUs). - Recognizing the role, 
participation and support of the LGUs in the delivery and implementation of agricultural 
projects and programs, the Council and the RCC shall coordinate and establish partnerships 
with the LGUs for the implementation of this Act. (NOTE: TWG agreed to include data 
collection, monitoring and geo-tagging and submission of reports to the Council - DA and DTI 
to submit additional inputs on who will conduct data gathering) 
 
The LGUs with areas suitable for cacao production are mandated to align their cacao 
production projects with the Roadmap.  They are likewise mandated to provide counterpart 
funding and services to boost the production of cacao in their jurisdiction. 
 
SEC. 14. Local Chocolate Shops. - All shops serving cocoa or chocolate drink, including 
local and foreign franchises, restaurants and hotels are encouraged to serve and include in 
their menus cacao/chocolate that are grown, produced, sourced and manufactured locally.  
 
For purposes of this Section, the DTI, shall conduct a separate consultation with 
relevant stakeholders, including cacao shop owners and franchisees, for the formulation of the 
guidelines to implement this section.  The guidelines shall be incorporated in the Implementing 
Rules and Regulations of this Act.   
 
The DTI shall be the lead agency in the implementation of this Section.  
 
SEC. 15. Tax Incentives. - Any donation, contribution, grant, in cash or in kind, whether 
local or foreign, which may be made by individuals and organizations, including private entities, 
which shall provide the appropriate services, technology, facilities, materials and other inputs, 
and delivery support services for the promotion and development of the Philippine cacao 
industry, shall be exempt from the donor's tax and the cost of which shall be considered as an 
allowable deduction from the gross income of the donor in accordance with the provisions of 
the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended. 
 
SEC. 16. Review of the Roadmap. - The Council, in coordination with the Philippine 
Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) and other relevant stakeholders, shall update the 
Philippine Cacao Industry Roadmap every five (5) years, or sooner as may be deemed 
necessary.   
 
SEC. 17. Mandatory Review and Impact Assessment. - The Council, in partnership with 
the PCAF and other concerned government agencies, the private sector and other 
stakeholders, shall conduct a mandatory review of the implementation of this Act, and submit 
such report to Congress to assess its impact and measure its effectiveness. The mandatory 
review and impact assessment shall be conducted not later than five (5) years from the 
effectivity of this Act, and every five (5) years thereafter.  
 
SEC. 18. Appropriation. - The funds necessary to carry out the initial implementation of 
this Act shall be charged against the respective budget of concerned agencies for the current 
year. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC. 19. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred twenty (120) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DA, in collaboration with the DTI, DOST, 


DILG, ULAP, and CHED, and in consultation the DAR, DENR, PCA, FDA, cacao farmers' 
organization and association, and other relevant stakeholders shall promulgate and issue the 
necessary implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. The 
implementing rules and regulations issued pursuant to this Section shall take effect fifteen (15) 
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
SEC. 20. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in full force 
and effect. 
 
SEC. 21. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, administrative orders, and 
rules and regulations inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
 
Nothing in this Act shall amend, modify or repeal the provisions of Republic Act 7900, 
otherwise known as High-Value Crops Development Act of 1995. 
 
SEC 22. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the 
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
 
Approved,