Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _ 186

Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Republic of the Philip, ines cannot rely on importation to supplement its food
needs. We must find a permanent and lasting solution to our recurring food
supply shortage.

Rice, being the national food, deserves a special consideration. We must ensure
a stable and sufficient rice production by involving as many stakeholders as
possible in the agricultural sector.

We must review the mandate and flow of operations of all our government
agencies involved in the production and distribution of a!l our key food products
(specially rice) to improve synergy in pursuant to the mandate of this House Bill.

This House Bill envisions a highly acceptable and perpetual solution to the
perennial problem on the supply of our key food products. It has been proven
that the food supplies from overseas sources are very erratic and therefore very
unreliable.

Our farniers should be encourage to produce more to meet our domestic food
demands, they should be proyided with adequate support through irrigation,
better seedlings, enhange@ stocking, improved farm mechanization, and
accessible and agriculpgedl credits.

‘Thus, the early of this bill is earnestly requested.

MIC. ‘L_ L. ROMERO Ph.D.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 186

Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero

AN ACT

STRENGTHENING FOOD SECURITY, ESTABLISHING THE FOOD
SECURITY COUNCIL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Title — this act shall be known as the “FOOD SECURITY

ACT OF 2019”.

, SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - it shall be the policy of the

state to:
1. Ensure sufficient grains and all other key products specifically those
manufactured from domestically land-based agricultural activities.

2. Promote reasonable prices specially during times of calamities and in all

cases of emergency situations.


3. Take the lead role in order to provide the necessary resources, planning,

organizational and control systems to optimize the agricultural
production.

. Provide the appropriate technical support, regulatory principles, and
monetary guidelines.

5. Initiate progress monitoring to all sectors actively involved.

SECTION 3. Mission and Vision - to institutionalize all foregoing

policies, the Republic of the Philippines shall focus all its development plans and

programs towards the achievement of the following:

Improve the income of all farmers and agricultural communities;

Provide all the necessary subsic

ies and production support;
Organize inter-relationships among stakeholders within the food
industry;
Maximize food supply efficiency;
Establish negotiability with integrity for all guarantees;
Development of guidelines to enhance transparency and competitiveness;
Adopt innovative techniques to reduce cost and improve quality;
Protect local farmers from the impact of globalization;
Enable local farmers to gain access to enhance post-harvest facilities;
Encourage the private sector to engage;
Enable the private sector to participate in this production;
Promote government guarantees;
Access capital market funding for food production;
Preserve strategic reserves of all key agricultural products;
Maintain a good buffer stock for all food essentials throughout the year;
and

Maximize the production of all key food products.


SECTION 4. Implementing Guidelines: for purposes of this act,
To execute the foregoing policy, there is hereby creating the FOOD SECURITY
COUNCIL. This council shall have the overall authority and re: ponsibility and
accountability for crafting and formulating a comprehensive program for the
implementation of these policies.

The FOOD SECURITY COUNCIL shall be composed of the following:

¢ Secretary —- Department of Agriculture
* Secretary — Department of Trade and Industry
* Secretary - Depar:ment of Finance
* President — Land Bank of the Philippines
* Administrator — National Food Authority
« Representative — Famers sector
; * Representative - Consumer sector
* Representative — Private sector
* Representative - Grains, Seeds sector

+ Representatives — Dominant Farmers Party list

The Council shall formulate its own implementing rules and regulations
to govern its proceedings. The Council shall choose its official home base, and
organize a staffing pretocol to aid and carry out its functions.

SECTION 5. Capacity and Role of the Council

To engage and assure the Food Security Policy of the state, the Council shall
have the following powers:


1, To establish satisfying levels of annual inventory based on the
appropriate calendar year for all key food products. Meeting the
minimum indicated factors of the following:

* Keeping the prices of all key food products stable;

* Improving farmer’s income, ideal levels for production;

* Identify the regions where productions are to be
domestically produced or foreign sources if they are to be
imported;

* Indicate the strategic services for these key food products;
and

+ Institutionalize the interaction and relations of the

availability and supply of these key food products.

2. To enforce and create, through agencies the appropriate
standards of the following:

* Transfer of these key food products;
* Preservation;

* Benchmark of practice and packaging;
* Units of measurement;

* Analysis and testing;

© Specifications;

© Iaspection and sampling;

* Storage;

* Distribution and shipping;

* Milling and drying;

* Handling, hauling and grading


3. To mandate the specific agencies to effectively seizure whenever
there is improper acquisitions (hoarding, cornering) of these key

food products. Including all facilities and machineries used;

4. To authorize inspection by these specific agencies of these key

products that are stored in private warehouses, for inventory;

5. To implement monitoring and progress tracking of these key

preducts for prices and stocks movement;

6. To locate and encourage the creation of food terminal markets on

a nationwide scale;

7. To iaentify trading centers to serve as a conduit facility;

8. To promote efficient distribution to all consumers;

9. To promote a transparent marketing system;

10. To enhance the interest of more farmers and consumers;

11. To track the demand and supply indicators of these key food
products. All imports and exports in coordination with the

Bureau of Customs;

12. To monitor the impact on farmers income, their standards of
living, and consumer pr.ces in collaboration with the Department
of Trade and Industry;

13. To create the appropriate implementing rules and regulations
governing the importation of all key food products.

14. To establish an annual ideal inventory level, in the concept of
licensing, and;


15. To prescribe penalties and fines for non-compliance.

SECTION 6. Appropriation

The amount determined by the Food Security Council for the implementation of
this Act shall be charged under the existing funding of the Department of
Agriculture.

Thereafter such amounts necessary for the successive and continuous
implementation of this Act, including the operations maintenance of reserves

shall be automatically appropriated in the General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, issuances,

rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed

or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Separability Ciause. !f, for any reason or reasons, any
portion or provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the

remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and
effect.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect (15) days

upon publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,