NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 2428
<©£f!£p of !i;f iii:
23 AUG 30 P4-40
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SEED LIBRARIES 
THROUGHOUT THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING THE NECESSARY 
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Many indigenous communities have a long-standing practice of maintaining 
seed libraries to fulfill their planting requirements each season. Through careful 
selection, storage, and preservation of the best seeds for successive crops, they have 
achieved continuous improvement in crop quality over generations.
In modern agriculture and gardening, buying seeds has become the norm. 
Some companies even produced seeds that are meant to be planted only once. Open 
pollinated varieties that can be planted and selected became few and hard to find.
The concept of seed libraries started in Berkeley, California in 1999. In later 
years, regular libraries also started to have seed library programs. They can range 
from a simple shelf for seed exchange to elaborate programs of seed lending, exchange 
events, propagation training, and other activities.
In the face of climate change and increasing threats to biodiversity, fostering 
collaborative efforts within communities has become crucial to determine the most 
effective means of cultivating essential crops. Establishing platforms for farmers.


gardeners, and public servants to exchange information and share experiences has 
become vital in this context.
In view of these, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
OREN LEGARDA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 2428
VrJ.,
23 AUG 30 P4:40
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SEED LIBRARIES 
THROUGHOUT THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING THE NECESSARY 
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
1 
Section 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the national policy to
2 
ensure food security, democratize and make widespread the growing of food and
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protect the ability of Filipino society to revive food production systems and natural
4 
ecosystems in instances of disaster or shortages.
5 
Sec. 2. Establishment of Seed Libraries where appropriate. -
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1) 
The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall set up seed libraries and
7 
storage facilities in local government units (LGUs), to ensure the regular availability
8 
of seeds of grains and vegetables. It shall likewise coordinate with the Department of
9 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the collection and preservation of
10 
seeds of critically endangered food products.
11 
2) 
The DENR shall have its own seed library in the Ecosystems Research
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and Development Bureau (ERDB) and in all levels it deems appropriate in order to
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ensure wide availability of tree and native plants that are non-food for its greening
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and other ecosystem recovery programs. It shall revisit its seed production areas and
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prepare for mas years when dipterocarp species shed its recalcitrant seeds to enable
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the department, with the help of civil society, to ensure sufficient propagation,
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especially of critically endangered trees.


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3) The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher
2 
Education (CHED) shall ensure that within the laboratories of schools with approved
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agriculture, forestry or similar courses, seed preservation and instruction for such
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shall be incorporated.
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The DA, DENR and DepEd shall coordinate and organize seminars, workshops
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and other trainings for the professional benefit of custodians of seed libraries and issue
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rules and regulations, individually or jointly, in order to support capacity building for
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seed collection, storage and germination.
9 
Sec. 3. Role of the Department of Interior and Local Government. - The Department
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of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall provide guidelines for local
11 
governments to establish seed libraries as appropriate for urban and rural gardening
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and food production as well as for ecosystem restoration and ensure the availability
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of seeds for the revival of natural ecosystems whenever they are devastated by natural
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or human-caused disasters.
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Sec. 4. Operations. The entities that establish seed libraries shall ensure that they
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are run by personnel who are either dedicated to the task or have clear and measurable
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targets in their work. They shall include such personnel as necessary expenses for
18 
operations in their regular budgets and targets. Such persormel shall gather data to
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determine the needs of the locality for seeds, the availability, the appropriate seeds it
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would need to make available, and the successful protocols for germination and
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nursery care.
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Sec. 5. Period of Implementation. - Within 120 days, the DA, DENR and DepEd
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shall have plans for the establishment of seed libraries where appropriate and include
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the budgets for such in their plans and requests under the General Appropriations
25 
Act.
26 
Sec. 6. Functions of the Seed Libraries. - The seed libraries shall have the following
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functions:
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1) 
Collect local seeds in current use by the agriculture department in the
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LGU, have samples available for display and keep them viable;
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2) 
Distribute any excess inventory to farmers who they validate as having
31 
capability to propagate the seeds, on the condition that a reasonable percentage of
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seeds produced upon harvest shall be turned over to the Seed Library;


1 
3) 
Make a record of the mast fruiting and mast years of known tree stands
2 
in the locality and mobilize for their gathering and immediate distribution of
3 
recalcitrant ones and the distribution and/or storage of orthodox seeds;
4 
4) 
Keep records of farmers report on the performance of the seeds sourced
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from the library;
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5) 
Keep records of protocols for storage, germination and nursery
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establishment for the priority seeds as needed by the local community, determined
8 
through research and interview protocols; and
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6) 
Engender the exchange of seeds among farmers and gardeners in the
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local community and forge connections that would assist them in successful
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propagation.
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The public libraries and barangay reading centers shall determine if they have
13 
personnel, room, and space to run a seed library program in addition to their existing
14 
programming.
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Sec. 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this
16 
Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its
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enactment into law and for the next five (5) years; thereafter, the appropriate units
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shall undertake the maintenance of seed libraries.
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Sec. 8. Tax Exemption. All donations to all seed libraries, whether in seeds or
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equipment to store and keep seeds viable, shall be valued and may be used for tax
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deduction purposes in full as long as the seed library custodian and his or her
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immediate supervisor accepts the donation as needed for its operations and stocking.
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Sec. 9. Submission of Reports. - Within ninety (90) days from the approval of this
24 
Act, and at the end of every calendar year thereafter, the Director of the National
25 
Library shall submit progress reports to the Committee on Agriculture of the House
26 
of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines regarding the implementation of
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this Act.
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Sec. 10. Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the approval of this
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Act, DA, DENR and DepEd in coordination with the DILG, shall promulgate the
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implementing rules and regulations.
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Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - All acts, presidential decrees, executive orders, and
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issuances inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.


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Sec. 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
2 
unconstitutional or inoperative, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in
3 
force and effect.
4 
Sec. 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
5 
publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,