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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
1st Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representatives ERIC G. YAP and PAOLO Z. DUTERTE 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
By virtue of Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), Php 10 billion 
is allotted from 2019 to 2024 or a span of six years for the Department of Agriculture’s 
Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) in pursuit to modernize the 
country’s rice industry through a wide array of programs such as the distribution of 
farm machinery equipment and inbred certified seeds and credit support and training 
of farmers.  
Notwithstanding the improvement brought by RCEF for two (2) years, rice sufficiency 
is still not optimal. Due primarily, among others, to the lack of drying facilities which 
compelled the farmers to sell their palay to as low as Php 12 per kilo to local traders, 
making it difficult for them to recover their expenses. To date, the National Food 
Authority (NFA) is buying clean and dry palay with 14 percent moisture at Php 19 per 
kilo. This competitive buying price of the NFA, however, will only be met upon the 
minimum moisture content that the dry palay must possess, making rice drying 
facilities a critical component of the rice industry.  
This bill seeks to establish rice drying facilities for both the NFA and the local farmers’ 
use. The NFA shall procure, build, install, operate, manage, and/or maintain rice 
drying facilities sufficient in quantity and geographically accessible to local farmers to 
enable it to buy rice directly from local farmers. Through the procurement of such 
drying systems or facilities, the local farmers will be able to reach the moisture 
requirement of the NFA, thus assuring revenue. 
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12:20 pm
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This proposed measure is most importantly sought for the adequacy of the country’s 
rice stocks, thereby ensuring the nation’s food security. 
 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
ERIC G. YAP  
 
 
 
PAOLO Z. DUTERTE 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
1st Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representatives ERIC G. YAP and PAOLO Z. DUTERTE 
AN ACT  
MANDATING THE NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH RICE 
DRYING FACILITIES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
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 “NFA Rice Drying 
Facilities Act” of the Philippines. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the declared policy of the State to recognize 
the indispensable role of the agricultural sector for national growth and development. 
As such, the State shall foster an enabling environment for rice producers, and provide 
the most appropriate equipment and infrastructure to help rice farmers sell and 
market their produce. 
SEC. 3. Drying Facilities. The National Food Authority (NFA) shall procure, 
build, install, operate, manage, and/or maintain rice drying facilities sufficient in 
quantity and geographically accessible to local farmers to enable it to buy rice directly 
from local farmers. These drying facilities shall be used by the NFA solely to dry rice 
to be bought directly from local farmers. 
The NFA shall allow local farmers to use these drying facilities at no cost for 
rice to be directly sold to the NFA. 
SEC. 4. Appropriations. The amount necessary for the implementation of this 
Act, i.e., to enable the NFA to procure, build, install, operate, manage, and/or 
maintain sufficient rice drying facilities around the Philippines, shall be charged 
against the appropriations for the Department of Agriculture and/or sourced from 
PAGCOR, PCSO, and the MALAMPAYA Funds. 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. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Department of Agriculture shall, through the NFA, issue the 
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necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act, including 
the procedures for use of drying facilities by local farmers.  
 
SEC. 6. Separability Clause. Should any part of this Act be declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof that are not affected thereby 
shall continue to be in full force and effect.  
 
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, 
rules and regulations, and issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.  
 
SEC. 8. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper or general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,