EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

ied

House Bill No.
EXPLANATORY NOTE

The country is experiencing rice crisis right now. The prices of staple foods continue
to rise. This problem is very ironic considering that Philippines has vast farmlands. One
recommendation to solve the rice crisis is to launch another Green Revolution.

Government officials and business leaders who are seeking a long-term solution to
the perennial problem of rice shortage in the country would do well to consider the
recommendations made by experts at the recent Asian-European Editors Forum in
Bangkok. The recommendations include the launching of another Green Revolution which,
according to the New York Times, is generally believed to have saved one billion lives over
six decades

The Green Revolution raised rice yields in Asia from 1.5 tons per hectare in the
1960s to 4 tons per hectare today. Duncan Macintosh, development director of the
International Rice Research Institute which played a key role in the project, said IR8 (semi-
dwarf) launched the Green Revolution and saved tens of millions from starvation in Asia.
The Green Revolution was also the foundation for startling economic growth in Southeast
Asia.

The Green Revolution in the 1960s up to the early part of the 1980s was one of the
major factors that enabled the Philippines not only to be self-sufficient in rice but also to
‘export some of it to neighboring countries in 1977-78. There is no reason why the
Philippines, with its natural resources, trained manpower and favorable climate, cannot
replicate the Green Revolution and finally attain rice self-sufficiency.

The experts’ recommendations at the Bangkok forum included:

1 Increasing productivity in rain-fed rice which could reduce poverty and increase global food

supplies.

2 Providing adequate water control by setting up intensive, productive irigated systems.

3 Developing the means for farmers to adopt and use existing technologies that are known to
raise yields,

4 Developing rice varieties that can cope with climate change. Macintosh said that an increase

in temperature of 1 degree Celsius causes a 10 percent drop in yield. He said problems that
are bad now and will worsen with climate change are droughts, flooding and salinity

5 Solving the problem of too much water including recurrent flooding, because rice downs in an
‘excess of water.

6 Intensifying research for environmentally and socially adapted plants, including hybrid plant
breeding and genetic engineering.

7. ‘Making agriculture 2 political priority and increasing investments in rural infrastructure and

market developments,

This bill seeks to address the problem of rice crisis and to ensure rice production in

the country.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought

4
RUFUS B. Kborcvez



EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )

First Regular Session )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriquez
1848
House Bill No.
AN ACT

LAUNCHING ANOTHER GREEN REVOLUTION PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY

Be it enacted in the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

Section 1. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is the declared policy of the state to sustain rice
production in the country.

Section 2. Re-launching of Green Revolution. To sustain rice production in the country,
the Department of Agriculture shall re-launch a Green Revolution Program taking into
consideration the following:

a.) increasing productivity in rain-fed rice;

b.) providing adequate water control by setting up intensive,
productive irrigated systems;

c.) developing the means for farmers to adopt and use existing
technologies that are known to raise yields;

d.) developing rice varieties that can cope with climate change;

e.) solving the problem of too much water including recurrent
flooding;

f.) intensifying research for environmentally and socially adapted
plants, including hybrid plant breeding and genetic engineering.

Section. 3. Appropriations. The necessary budget to implement this Program shall be
included in the 2009 budget of the Department of Agriculture.

Section 4. _ Rules and Regulations. — The Department of Agriculture shall promulgate
the rules and regulations for the effective enforcement of the provisions of this Act

Section 5, Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act or any part thereof be
declared invalid, the other provisions, so far as they are separable from the invalid ones,
shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations or parts
thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 7, Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,