FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 2574

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The country is experiencing rice crisis right now. The prices of staple
foods continue to rise. This problem is very ironic considering that Philippines
has vast farmlands. One recommendation to solve the rice crisis is to launch
another Green Revolution.

Government officials and business leaders who are seeking a long-term
solution to the perennial problem of rice shortage in the country would do well
to consider the recommendations made by experts at the recent Asian-
European Editors Forum in Bangkok. The recommendations include the
launching of another Green Revolution which, according to the New York
Times, is generally believed to have saved one billion lives over six decades.

The Green Revolution raised rice yields in Asia from 1.5 tons per
hectare in the 1960s to 4 tons per hectare today. Duncan Macintosh,
development director of the International Rice Research Institute which played
a key role in the project, said IR8 (semi-dwarf) launched the Green Revolution
and saved tens of millions from starvation in Asia. The Green Revolution was
also the foundation for startling economic growth in Southeast Asia.

The Green Revolution in the 1960s up to the early part of the 1980s was
one of the major factors that enabled the Philippines not only to be self-
sufficient in rice but also to export some of it to neighboring countries in 1977-
78. There is no reason why the Philippines, with its natural resources, trained
manpower and favorable climate, cannot replicate the Green Revolution and
finally attain rice self-sufficiency.

The experts’ recommendations at the Bangkok forum included:

1. Increasing productivity in rain-fed rice which could reduce poverty
and increase global food supplies.

2. Providing adequate water control by setting up intensive,
productive irrigated systems.


3. Developing the means for farmers to adopt and use existing
technologies that are known to raise yields.

4. Developing rice varieties that can cope with climate change.
Macintosh said that an increase in temperature of 1 degree
Celsius causes a 10 percent drop in yield. He said problems that
are bad now and will worsen with climate change are droughts,
flooding and salinity.

5. Solving the problem of too much water including recurrent
flooding, because rice downs in an excess of water.

6. __Intensifying research for environmentally and socially adapted
plants, including hybrid plant breeding and genetic engineering,
7. Making agriculture a political priority and increasing investments

in rural infrastructure and market developments.

This bill seeks to address the problem of rice crisis and to ensure rice
production in the country.

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

RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ

MAXIMO BL JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No___25'74
AN ACT
LAUNCHING ANOTHER GREEN REVOLUTION PROGRAM IN THE
COUNTRY

Section 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is the declared policy of the state
to sustain rice production in the country.

Section 2. Relaunching of Green Revolution- To sustain rice
production in the country, the Department of Agriculture shall relaunch a Green
Revolution Program taking into consideration the following:

) increasing productivity in rain-fed rice;

b.) providing adequate water control by setting up
intensive, productive irrigated systems;

.) developing the means for farmers to adopt and use
existing technologies that are known to raise yields;

4.) developing rice varieties that can cope with climate
change;

) solving the problem of too much water including
recurrent flooding:

£)_ intensifying research for environmentally and socially
adapted plants, including hybrid plant breeding and
genetic engineering.

Section. 3. Appropriations. The necessary budget to implement this
Program shall be included in the 2009 budget of the Department of Agriculture.

Section 4. Rules and Regulations. — The Department of Agriculture
shall promulgate the rules and regulations for the effective enforcement of the
provisions of this Act


Section 5. Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act or
any part thereof be declared invalid, the other provisions, so far as they are
separable from the invalid ones, shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, issuances, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

Section 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,