Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL nod 478

Introduced by REP. Michael L. Romero

EXPLANATORY NOTE

For purposes of this Act, this Program is the consolidation of small farms including
farms of agrarian reform beneficiaries, as one larger farm, with a minimum area
of thirty (30) hectares within a two-kilometer radius, to take advantage of the
economies of scale in the production of sugarcane, such that the activities in
the small farms are aligned and implemented to ensure the efficient use of farm
machineries and equipment, deployment of workers, volume purchase of
inputs, financing, and other operational advantages, as well as recognition by
sugar mills, government financial institutions, private investors, but the ownership

of each small farm remains with the landowners.

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), the Depariment of Agriculture (DA),
the Depariment of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and other concerned goverment
agencies shall provide common service facililies, such as farm machineries and
implements, grants or starl-up funding for the needed production inputs,
technology adoption, livelihood and skills training and other development
activities for the block farm and its members, and other support activilies that
may be identified,


Thus, the early passage of this bill s earnestly requested.

ICI ‘LL. ROMERO Ph.D


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Firs! Regular Session

Housé aut no4478

Introduced by REP. Michael L. Romero

AN ACT

STRENGTHENING THE SUGARCANE INDUSTRY, INCREASING ITS ANNUAL
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy- The Department of Budge! and
Management (D8M) is hereby mandated to include annually, starting the year
2017, an initial aggregate amount of Five billion pesos (PS,000,000,000.00) in the
President's program of expenditures for submission to Congress and allocated,

as follows:

(a) Fifteen percent (15%) for grants to block farms under the Block Farm

Program;

(b) Fifteen percent (15%) for socialized credit under the Farm Support and Farm
Mechanizalion Programs;

(c) Fifteen percent (15%) for research and development, capability building
and technology transfer activities under Research and Development, Extension

Services, Human Resources Development, and Farm Support Programs;


(d) Five percent (5%) for scholarship grants 10 be provided under paragraph (b)
of Section 6 of RA10659 otherwise known as the “Sugarcane Industry

Development Act of 2015", Human Resources Development; and
(e) Fifly percent (50%) for infrasiructure support programs.

In the identification and prioritization of specific programs and projects, the
Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) shall conduct prior consultation with
representatives of block farms, sugarcane farmers and workers, sugar millers,
refiners, bio-energy producers, and producers of other products derived from
sugarcane and its by-products. The Department shall issue the necessary

guidelines for this purpose.

For the current year, the DBM shall include in a supplemental budget, that may
be formulated, the amount of Five billion pesos (P5,000,000,000.00) and

following the allocation prescribed in this section

SECTION 2. Non-Exemption from Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program
(CARP) Coverage - Nothing in this Act shall exempt any landholding from CARP

Coverage:

SECTION 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Department of
Agriculture (DA), in consultation with concerned government agencies and
sugarcane industry stakeholders, shall issue the implementing rules and
regulations of this Act within ninely (90) days starting from the eff
Act.

ivily of this



SECTION 4. Separability Clause. -!f any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the validity of the remaining provisions hereof shall remain in full

force and effect

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, executive orders and
tules and regulations or part or parts thereof inconsistent with any provision of
this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SECTION 6, Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15)
days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers

of general circulation.

Approved,