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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH (18) CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5629

Introduced by: HON. JOSE CHRISTOPHER “KIT” Y. BELMONTE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Eight (8) months after the passage of Republic Act No. 11203 otherwise
known as the “An Act Liberalizing the Importation, Exportation, and Trading of
Rice, Lifting for the Purpose the Quantitative Restriction on Rice, and for Other
Purposes,” farm-gate prices of palay have plummeted to as low as P7 to P10
per kilo in some provinces, while the price of rice dropped by 2.9%, and the
price of palay by 17.48%;

The large drop of farm - gate price of palay has resulted in huge income
losses for rice farmers and the industry, which is now estimated to be around
P60 billion pesos.

This Bill seeks to appropriate a supplemental budget amounting to Php
6,000,000,000.00 to fund the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) for rice
farmers, which shall serve as an initial, supplementary, and transitional
measure and compensation for the reduction or loss of farm income arising
from the influx of imported rice, and to encourage rice farmers to continue
farming.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this Supplemental Budget is

earnestly sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH (18) CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO., 5629

Introduced by: HON. JOSE CHRISTOPHER “KIT” Y. BELMONTE

AN ACT
APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF SIX BILLION PESOS (P6,000,000,000.00) AS
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR F.Y. 2019 AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

Section 1. Appropriations. - The sum of Six Billion Pesos (P6,000,000,000.00) is hereby
appropriated out of any funds from the National Treasury of the Philippines not
otherwise appropriated, to supplement the FY 2019 Budget under the General
Appropriations Act of 2019 (Republic Act No. 11260) for the purpose of providing
unconditional financial assistance to rice farmers.

Section 2. Use and Release of Funds. The amounts appropriated herein shall be used to
provide direct cash transfers to vulnerable rice farmers who are planting one (1)
hectare or less, as compensation for the reduction or loss of farm income arising
from the influx of imported rice. Releases from this Fund shall be made by the
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) directly to the Department of
Agriculture.

Section 3. Availability of Appropriations. The appropriations authorized in this Act
shall be available for release and obligation for the purpose specified until December
31, 2020.

Section 4. Submission of Reports. The DBM and the implementing agency shall
submit, either in printed form or by way of electronic document, to the Senate
President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Commission on
Audit, the quarterly accountability reports on the utilization of funds. The DBM and
the DBM’s wed administrator or his/her equivalent shall be responsible for ensuring
that the said quarterly reports are likewise posted on the official website of the DBM
and the implementing agency.


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Releases from the said Fund shall be subject to the submission of a special budget
pursuant to Section 35, Chapter 5, Book VI of Executive Order No. 292, series of
1987.

Section 5. Separability Clause. If for any reason, any section or provision of this Act is
declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions of this Act
which are not affected shall continue in full force and effect.

Section 6. Repealing Clause. All provisions of existing laws, orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof which are in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions
of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Section 7. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect immediately upon its publication in
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the
Philippines.

Approved,