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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

8707

House Bill No.

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Pepito M. Pico

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Mulberry is a plant with a wide variety of uses, from its delicious fruit, which is also being
studied for medicinal purposes relating to diabetes and Alzheimer's disease); to its leaves,
which are nutritious feed for a variety of animals, particularly for silkworms. The plant can
grow in temperate and warm climate and at a broad spectrum of elevations. The plant requires
very little maintenance, fertilization, or irrigation. As such, mulberry makes for an excellent
economic resource.

Unfortunately, in the Philippines, the mulberry is a vastly untapped resource. Mulberry
production and its beneficial consequences have not been given much attention. Currently.
there are two programs, both in silk production, that have a focus on mulberry: (1) the
Sericulture Research and Development Institute at the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State
University (DMMSU) in La Union; and (2) the Bago City, Negros Occidental Silk Production
Project of OISCA and the Province of Negros. For the country to better realize the potential of
mulberry production, and in order to become more competitive in its agriculture sector-- as
well as introducing a good potential income source for our small holder farmers -- the benefits
‘of mulberry and mulberry production must be promoted.

This bill ~ a refiling of House Bill 4176 filed by former DIWA Party-list Representative
Emmeline Villar and a counterpart of Senate Bill No. 323 with the support of its author, Senator
Cynthia Villar -- aims to promote the benefits of mulberry and to develop the production
thereof through the creation of Philippine Mulberry Industry Development Program, and the
National Inter-agency Mulberry Council.

PEPIYO M. PICO
Representatjve, DIWA Party-list

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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

8707
House Bill No. ___

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Pepito M. Pico

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL MULBERRY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Title. This, Act shall be known as the “National Mulberry Development Act."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to ensure
the general welfare of its people towards achieving better health and nutrition, higher levels of
rural income, promote environmental protection and enhance the general well-being of the rural
farming families, through the production and promotion of the mulberry as an industry.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For this purpose, the following terms shall refer to:

a) Program - the Philippine Mulberry Development Program designed to promote the
Mulberry Industry in the country.

b) Council - the National Inter-agency Mulberry Council established under this Act.

c) Secretariat - the Secretariat established to provide assistance to the council under this
Act.

SEC. 4. Institutionalizing the Philippine Mulberry Industry Development Program -
There is hereby established and institutionalized the Philippine Mulberry Industry
Development Program under the High Value Crops Development Act or RA. No. 7900.

SEC. 5. Objectives of the Philippine Mulberry Development Program (PMDP) - The
PMDP aims to make the Philippine Mulberry Industry competitive in the local and global
markets while establishing community based enterprises and providing opportunities for local
employment and for the people to avail of its medicinal benefits.

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SEC. 6. Creation of the National Mulberry Inter-agency Council. There is hereby created
a convergence, policy-making and directing body called the National Inter-agency Mulberry
Council, which shall have the general powers and attributes given under the Department of
Agriculture, High Value Crops Development Program.

SEC. 7. Members of the National Mulberry Inter-agency Council. The Council shall be
chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Undersecretary for Crops as Vice Chair, with
the following as members:

(a) The Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform or their designated representative;
(b) The Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry or their designated representative;

(©) The Secretary of the Department of the interior and Local Government or their designated
representative;

(a) The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology or their designated
representative;

(e) The Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or their designated
representative;

() Three (3) representative from mulberry farmers, processors and marketing service
providers.

To provide continuity, the designated representative of the Cabinet Secretaries shall be named
and shall be their regular representative in the Council in case they are absent.

SEC. 8. Powers and Functions of the Council. The powers and functions of the Council shall
include the following:

a) Update scientific research and development for the mulberry industry to enhanced
production efficiency for its optimum economic advantage;

b)

Promote the propagation of the mulberry trees on suitable land and locations
nationwide;

°)

Improve the small holder farmers* performance to reduce cost in the production,
processing and promotion of mulberry trees and fruits, in accordance with good
agricultural practices;

d) Ensure the development and availability of locally manufactures machines for the
efficient and cost effective processing of the mulberry products;

e)

Facilitate the establishment of a shared facility program for the development for the
industry players’ enterprise;

f) Promote the establishment of a credit and/or financing scheme for mulberry industry
players to include marginal farmers, cooperatives, and associations;

g) Ensure the markets for mulberry products locally and internationally;

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h) Annually review and submit a report to the COCAFM on the mulberry development
performance;

SEC. 9, Meetings and Quorum. The Council, shall meet regularly at least once every quarter
on a date to be determined by the Chair with prior notice. The Chair on his or her own may
convene special meetings to discuss urgent matters needing immediate resolution and actions.
To constitute a quorum and arrive to a decision, there should be at least five (5) members of
the council present.

SEC. 10. Secretariat and Support Staff - The High Value Crops Unit of the DA shall appoint,
from among its personnel, an in-charge to manage and who perform the direct the day-to-day
operations of the council.

SEC. 11. Cooperation with other Government Agencies and Private Business
Organizations - All units and agencies of the government shall support and cooperate with the
National Inter-agency Mulberry Council in the implementation of its functions and programs.

SEC. 12. Funding - On the year following the approval of this Act, there shall be a provision
annually in the General Appropriations Act under the Department of Agriculture, High Value
Crops Development Program an additional the amount of Fifty Million (P50,000,000.00) Pesos
for the implementation of the objectives of the Mulberry Development Act of 2016.

SEC. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - A committee, composed of representatives
from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agrarian Reform, the Land Bank of
the Philippines, the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Trade and
Industry, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of the
Interior and Local Government and one (1) each from the small farmers and commercial
producers sectors to be designated by the Secretary of Agriculture, shall formulate and
prescribe, after public hearing and publication as required by law, the implementing rules and
regulations in order to carry out the provisions of this Act. The representatives from the
Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry shall be the chairman
and the vice-chairman, of the committee.

SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws or parts thereof, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 15. Separability Clause - If any of the provisions of this Act is declared invalid, the
other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 16. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect immediately following its publication
in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,

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