Republic of the Philippines S

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 6a
Quezon City ‘3 ea bE =)
= DATEP, 2 4 2020 HH
* 2u
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS a TIME 2p

Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo,__7751

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE MANUEL ANTONIO F. ZUBIRI

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The National Food Authority's (NFA) wide mandate to promote the integrated growth and
development of the food industry includes the growth and development of grains. In fact, it is the
National Grains Authority created under Presidential Decree No. 4 as amended by Presidential
Decree No. 699 and 1485 which was reconstituted as the National Food Authority.

The reconstitution of the National Grains Authority to the NFA did not divest it of the mandate to
handle grains nor limit it only to the handling of rice grains. If only, the said reconstitution
broadened its scope to promote food security through the development of the food industry.

To date, the NFA handles rice supply and as such have warehouses for the storage and safe keeping
of the same. However, there is a lack of provision for the storage and safekeeping of other grains.
As such, there is a need for the establishment of a Grain Central in every district nationwide. The
proper safekeeping and storage of our grain supply will not only ensure its preservation until
consumption but also the promotion of the development of the grain industry.

This representation recognizes that it is also the government’s duty to keep the economy from
collapsing by ensuring the survival of our farmers and thereby the continuation of their dedication
of keeping the land they own as agricultural. To keep our farms and farmers by aiding them in the
process of their planting and harvest is vital to the maintenance of food supply in the country. To
leave our beloved farmers to fend for themselves will drive away these heroes from the most
important profession of all which is farming.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

MANVEL ANTONIO F. ZUBIRI


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House BILLNo,__7752

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE MANUEL ANTONIO F. ZUBIRI

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GRAIN CENTRALS IN EVERY,
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT NATIONWIDE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the District Grain Central Act of 2020.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the declared policy of the State to attain food security
through the promotion and development of its grains and other food supplies. Through this end,
the State shall see to it that the grains produced by the nation’s hard-working farmers are circulated
in the market and consumed by the public to stabilize its prices for the protection of the farmers
meanwhile preserving said grains in district grain centrals akin to the warchouses for the storage

of palay.

SECTION 3. Establishment of District Grains Centrals. — There is hereby established in every
legislative district in the entire country a Grains Central which will process grain produce as well
as enable its proper storage pending its sale and consumption by the public.

The Department of Agriculture through the National Food Authority Council, shall make sure that
the components of a standard District Grains Central are met by ensuring that the same has the
provision for Silos, Warehouse, Mechanical Drier and Weighing Scale. Such other standards shall
be imposed by the concerned agencies in the construction of the grain central taking into
consideration the nature of the goods and the place where the district grain central is to be built.

SECTION 4. Appropriations. ~The amount necessary for the establishment of the district grains
centrals shall be taken from the current appropriations of the Department of Agriculture and
National Food Authority. Such other amounts necessary to completely accomplish the
establishment of the district grain centrals shall be included in the next appropriation of the
concerned department and agency.

SECTION 5. Staggered Construction of District Grains Centrals. — Establishment of the district
grains centrals shall be prioritized in areas where the most number and kind of grains are planted
and harvested. The Department of Agriculture shall set the priority list where such district grain
centrals will first be established in accordance with a published criterion.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason or reasons, any part or provision of this Act
shall be declared as unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof which are not
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - All provisions of existing laws, orders, rules and regulations or
parts thereof which are in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect immediately upon its publication in the
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,