Za GP RESE

Republic of the Philippines Ki IN
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 9ECEIVED 2
Quezon City ATE:MAY 05 i

18™ CONGRESS : :
First Regular Session Time: _Stege
&,
aan aL LS
House Bill No. tos ey
INDEX

Introduced by Representative EVELINA G. ESCUDERO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Grounded on the constitutional prescription on social justice and the
fundamental principles of food security, this bill seeks to establish stability in the
production and purchase of local produce of domestic farmers and producers, and at
the same time to provide support to the government's social amelioration programs
in times of crisis.

Consequently, it mandates, as a matter of priority, both the national and local
governments to buy local produce first to the exclusion of foreign or imported
produce under certain requirements and conditions.

This proposal is not intended to shun importation or the trade and
consumption of foreign or imported goods but as a reasonable policy to promote
and safeguard the country’s local produce. It ensures both income and production
for local farmers and producers, thereby strengthening food security and supply
chain. If adopted as a matter of practice, it is believed that it will not only address
subsisting food insecurities and social amelioration woes under normal situation but
more so in times of crisis, especially in this current Corona Virus Disease 2019
(COVID 19) pandemic where the whole world is greatly affected by its highly
contagious nature.

Respectfully submitted.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City
18™ CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, __ 6689

Introduced by Representative EVELINA G. ESCUDERO.

AN ACT
MANDATING THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO
PURCHASE THE PRODUCE OF LOCAL FARMERS OR PRODUCERS
FOR RELIEF AND SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMS

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

Section 1. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared as a policy of the State,
consistent with the constitutional provisions on social justice and the fundamental
principles on food security, to ensure local food production.

As such, priority must be accorded to the produce of local farmers and
producers in terms of governmental purchases intended for social amelioration
policies such as relief and school feeding programs.

Sec. 2. Mandatory Purchase. - The National Government, through its various
departments and agencies, and local government units shall prioritize the purchase
of local produce of local farmers and producers intended for relief and school
feeding programs. Prioritizing the purchase of local produce shall mean the
exhaustion of all available and applicable local produce at the most reasonable and
practicable cost before resorting to imported or foreign produce.

Moreover, in the case of local government units, produce of local farmers and
producers within their respective territorial jurisdictions shall take precedence over
other produce outside their respective territorial jurisdictions to lower transportation
or other hauling costs in the delivery of such produce.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed as prohibiting the National
Government or a local government unit to purchase local produce in different
political subdivisions, provided that the requirement herein set forth is complied
with in the case of a local government unit.


Sec. 3. Exceptions. - Section 2 of this Act shall not be applicable in any of the
following cases where the local produce is:

a) No longer fit for human consumption;

b) _ Insufficient in quantity;

©) More costly and impracticable compared to imported or foreign
sources of produce; and

d) Inferior in quality.

Sec. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - For the effective
implementation of this Act, the Department of the Interior and Local Government
together with the Departments of Agriculture, Trade and Industry, Agrarian Reform
and Health shall within ninety (90) days from the effeclivily of this Act promulgate
the implementing rules and regulations.

Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, and rules and regulations
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or

modified accordingly.

Sec. 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain
valid and subsisting.

Sect. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
Publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

Approved,

( Chucdie!