Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 328 5

INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE JANICE V. DEGAMO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The agricultural sector remains one of the most vital yet vulnerable pillars of the
Philippine economy. It provides livelihood to millions of smallholder farmers and
fisherfolk and is the primary source of food for the nation. However, despite their
indispensable role, many of our agricultural workers continue to suffer from poor market
access, lack of proper post-harvest facilities, low farmgate prices, and high transportation
and transaction costs.

‘A major contributing factor to these challenges is the absence of an efficient and
equitable marketing system that links producers directly to institutional buyers, retailers,
and consumers. The long chain of middlemen, coupled with inadequate infrastructure and
logistical bottlenecks, often leaves farmers with marginal profits and consumers with
high food prices.

This proposed measure seeks to institutionalize the establishment of Agri-Food
Terminals and Trading Centers in every province to serve as centralized hubs for the
aggregation, storage, and sale of agricultural and fisheries products. These facilities will
allow farmers and fisherfolk to directly engage with the market, increase their profit
margins, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance the mobility and accessibility of local
produce to different parts of the country at lower cost.

Approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

JANICE V. DEGAMO
Representati District of Negros Oriental

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3289

Introduced by HONORABLE JANICE V. DEGAMO

AN ACT
MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AGRI-FOOD TERMINALS AND
TRADING CENTERS IN EVERY PROVINCE PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the “Agri-Food Terminal
and Tradings Centers Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Principles and State Policies. — It is hereby declared the
policy of the State to give aid to farmers by providing venue to promote and market their
produce and giving them access to buyers who can offer competitive prices. Towards this
end, a comprehensive program for the creation of a nationwide system of agricultural
food terminals and trading centers is hereby established.

The goal of these centers is to provide an avenue where farmers and livestock
raisers can directly sell their products to institutional buyers and gain higher profit;
moreover, this endeavour for a higher mobility for locally produced agricultural products
to the whole country for cheaper cost of transportation.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

(@) Agri-Food Terminals - a centralized facility in a province where agricultural
products are assembled, stored, processed, and distributed.

(b) Trading Center - a facility that enables direct transactions between producers
and buyers, including institutional markets, wholesalers, and retailers.

(©) Smaltholder Farmers and Fisherfolk - agricultural workers with limited
access to resources, land, and capital.


SEC. 4. Establishment of Agri-Food Terminals and Trading Centers - The
Department of Agriculture (DA), in coordination with the Department of Public Works
and Highways (DPWH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and
concerned LGUs, shall establish and manage an Agri-Food Terminals and Trading Center
in every province within five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act. Cities and
municipalities are hereby encouraged to establish their own Agri-Food Terminals and
Trading Centers.

Agri-Food Terminal and Trading Centers shall have the following standards for
their creation and operation:

a. It shall be mandatory for the province to setup at least one Agri-food
Terminal and Trading Center adjacent to a train stations located within
the jurisdiction of the province concerned.

b. In provinces where there is no train station. Agri-food Terminal and
Trading Center shall be set up strategically near ports, bus terminals or
any transport hub within the jurisdiction of the province concemed.

c. For the first two (2) years from the date of operation, terminals/centers
shall concentrate on the top three agricultural products of the province.
The list shall be expanded to five after this period.

d. Each center shall be equipped with a warehousing center, cold storage
and any similar facilities necessary to accommodate and store
agriculture product.

SEC. 5. Work Plan. — In line with this Act, the Department of Agriculture shall
develop the following:

a. A plan of bringing the program down to the grassroots, utilizing
available personnel and facilities on the local level and those of LGUs;

b. A pattern of cooperation and mutual assistance with LGUs, Peoples
Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations, which will
maximize people empowerment and participatory approaches to
program formulation, implementation and monitoring;

c. and A schedule of short-term, medium-term and long-term targets on
research and development, marketing, trade promotion/initiatives,
capacity building, among others.

SEC. 6. Funding. - The amount of Twenty-Five Bi Pesos
(P25,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated for the initial year of implementation of this
act, thereafter, the amount of Ten Billion pesos (P10,000,000,000.00) shall be included in


the budget of the Department for implementation and continued expansion of this
program. In addition, the establishment and operation of terminals and centers will be
made with the available participatory funding from the national government with
adequate equity from the Local Government Units.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (30) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Interior and
Local Government, in consultation with appropriate government agencies and other
stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act.
The implementing rules and regulations shall include a template to guide the cities and
municipalities in the establishment of their own Agri-Food Terminals and Trading
Centers.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. — If, for any reason, any scction of this Act shall be
deemed unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be
affected and shall thereby remain in force and effect.

SEC. 10, Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions,
rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity, — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,