I 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS of the 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1996 
Introduced by HON. RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
A previous legislation-Republic Act 7900 or High Value Crops 
Development Act promotes the development of high value crops and provides the 
market orientation of developing the industry. 
High Value Crops Program provides the national directions and framework 
for harmonizing local initiatives. High value crops offer alternative profitable 
opportunities to smallholders and lend well to value adding activities and 
marketing agreements or joint ventures with users or processors. The market 
orientation of high value crops production systems is imperative in a free market 
economy and within the full implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian 
Reform Program (CARP) where large corporations will have to explore new 
management, production and marketing approaches to sustain their business 
operations. Structural adjustments need to be made to involve smallholders. Policy 
reforms have been defined with some in full implementation providing clear 
signals to the private sector as basis for making medium and long term investment 
decisions. 
The proposed amendment will further heighten the development of high 
value crops that will significantly be more competitive in a free market, develop 
agriculture in general, improve investment climate, competencies and efficiency of 
agribusiness and develop high value crops as export that that will significantly 
expand the foreign exchange earnings of the country. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill IS highly 
recommended. 
REVILLA, JR. 


: 
slo" c"H 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS of the 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
I 
~ 
OF irlE &fCRETAm 
" 
'., 
SENATE 
S.B. N~. 1996 
Introduced by HON. RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR. 
AN ACT 
AMENDING SECTIONS 3, 5, AND 7 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7900, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE HIGH VALUE CROPS DEVELOPMENT 
ACT OF 1995 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Sections 3, 5, and 7 of Republic Act No. 7900, otherwise 
known as the High Value Development Act of 1995 and or other purposes is 
hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Section 3. Scope of Application - This Act shall cover, BUT 
SHALL NOT BE LIMITED TO, upland dwellers as well as 
lowland 
tenant, 
indigenous 
and 
cultural 
commumtJes, 
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) beneficiaries, 
upland 
farm 
owners, 
farmers, 
organization/associations/cooperatives, community associations and 
farm workers, and to the extent herein provided, the departments, 
offices, agencies, subdivisions, branches of instrumentalities in the 
areas. 
"Section 5. Site Identification - The Department of Agrarian 
Reform and the Department of Agriculture, in coordination with the 
Department of Environment and Natural resources, and the 
municipal government concerned, ALONG WITH PRIVATE 
SECTOR INITIATIVE OR VOLUNTEERS, shall identify the 
broad areas suitable for high value crops production within six (6) 
months after the effectivity of this Act. Provided, that such 
identification shall be reviewed at appropriate intervals to ensure 
consistency with agrarian reform program and the national land use 
policy. 
1 


"Section 7. Farm Model - For the program, [farmers may 
adopt] PORTIONS OF LARGE LANDHOLDINGS NOT 
COVERED UNDER CARP MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE 
TO LANDLESS FARMERS FOR THE ADOPTION OF the 
cooperative system in putting up economically-sized farms for high 
value crops farming. Farmers-members shall collectively manage 
an individual farm which includes the contracting process and 
mean of production; planning and coordinating crop varieties; and 
raising breed hectarage, distribution and some measures with 
reference to the market it shall serve. Said farm models may be 
replicated by farmers' organizations all over the country." 
SECTION 2. Repealing Clause - All laws or parts thereof, decrees, orders, 
rules and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly; Provided, however, That nothing in this Act 
shall construed or applied as amending the CARE' and other laws on Agrarian 
Reform. 
'SECTION 3. Separability Clause - If any of the provisions 0 this Act is 
declared invalid, he other provisions not affected thereby shall remain full force 
and effect. 
SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall be effective fifteen (15) 
days after completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper 
of general circulation. 
Approved, 
2