Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
 EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The government created the National Postharvest Institute for Research and 
Extension (NAPHIRE) on May 24, 1978 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1380 
to accelerate the development of the grains postharvest industry in the country. 
Its actual operations started in 1980 as a subsidiary corporation of the National 
Grains Authority (NGA) through Letter of Implementation No. 123. In 1982, a 
further expansion of its mandate incorporating all other food commodities was 
made through Letter of Instruction No. 1142 when NGA became the National 
Food Authority (NFA). 
NAPHIRE became an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in 
1986 through Executive Order 116. In 1992, it was transformed into a regular 
agency through Executive Order 494 and was renamed as the Bureau of 
Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE). 
However, by virtue of EO 366 or the government’s 2004 Rationalization Program, 
the BPRE was rationalized and renamed into the Philippine Center for 
Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech). 
This House Bill seeks to provide Modernization Funding to the Philippine 
Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech), to
promote the agriculture and fishery sectors by increasing resource-use efficiency 
and productivity, reducing losses and adding value to the produce through 
partnership-based R&D, extension, commercialization, and deployment of 
appropriate postharvest and mechanization technologies. 
November 7, 2022
10:55 am
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 Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.  
MICHAEL L. ROMERO  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR MODERNIZATION FUNDINGFOR THE 
PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR POSTHARVEST DEVELOPMENT AND 
MECHANIZATION (PHILMECH), INCREASING AND 
REORGANIZING ITS ADMINISTRATION, TO PROMOTE A PREMIER 
CENTER FOR POSTHARVEST AND MECHANIZATION 
DEVELOPMENT, GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE, AND FOOD-SECURE 
PHILIPPINES WITH EMPOWERED AND PROSPEROUS FARMERS 
AND FISHERFOLKS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 
1. 
DECLARATION OF POLICY – It shall hereby be a declared 
policy of the State to mandate PHilMech to generate, extend and commercialize 
appropriate and problem-oriented agriculture and fishery postharvest and 
mechanization technologies, practices and systems. 
The PHilMech shall further expand to include mechanization concerns from 
production to postproduction through the coordination and execution of 
research and extension activities and application of postproduction and 
agricultural mechanization technologies, in addition to its original mandate of 
developing the postharvest industry. 
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The state shall continually improve the effectiveness of our Quality Management 
System towards equitable development for improved quality of life for all. 
The state shall formulate policies for the efficient and effective administration 
and management of all manpower, skills and competencies to ensure 
compliance. 
SECTION 
2. 
MODERNIZATION FUNDING. – The amount of Five 
Hundred Million Pesos (Php 500,000,000.00) for the operation and 
administration of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and 
Mechanization (PHilMech) shall be chargeable against funds for the purpose 
and other sources recommended by the Department of Budget and 
Management (DBM). Thereafter, appropriations for the Philippine Center for 
Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) shall be included 
in the budget proposals under the Department Agriculture (DA). 
 
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall rationalize the existing 
organizational structure and staffing pattern of the in accordance with the 
provisions of this Act and relevant compensation and position classification laws, 
rules and regulations. 
Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued implementation of the 
modernization program, shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act (GAA). 
SECTION 
3. 
A 
PHILIPPINE 
CENTER 
FOR 
POSTHARVEST 
DEVELOPMENT AND MECHANIZATION (PHILMECH) MODERNIZATION 
FUND – There is hereby created the (PHILMECH) Modernization Fund to be used 
exclusively for the (PHILMECH) Modernization Program. 


The (PHILMECH) Modernization Fund shall be administered by the Secretary of 
the DA in accordance with existing government budgeting, accounting and 
auditing rules and regulations. 
SECTION 
4. 
PROGRESS REPORT – The Secretary of DA shall 
prepare an annual report on the status of the implementation of the 
(PHILMECH) Modernization Programs which shall be submitted, to the Office of 
the President and to the Chairpersons of the Committee of Agriculture and Food 
of the Senate and the House of Representatives. 
SECTION 
5. 
PERIOD OF IMPLEMENTATION – The modernization 
program under this Act shall be implemented for an initial period of two (2) 
years:  
Provided, that payments for multi-year contract obligations incurred 
under this Act may extend beyond this period:  
Provided, 
further, That 
the 
Philippine 
Center 
for 
Postharvest 
Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) shall continue to develop, 
modernize and constantly update its operational capabilities to keep pace with 
best global practices. 
SECTION 
6. 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS. – The Philippine Center 
for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) shall continue 
to exercise and uphold the following powers and functions; but not limited to: 
With the approved rationalization plan, the functions of PHilMech, formerly 
BPRE, has been strengthened. As a center, it is responsible for the conduct of 
innovative studies, research and development, acquisition, adaptation and 
development of strategies for the effective dissemination and application of 
technologies. 
 


The PHilMech is tasked to empower the agri-fishery sector through the 
effective delivery of the following functions: 
 
a) PHilMech takes the lead in the formulation and execution of 
mechanization and postharvest systems research and 
development in the agriculture and fishery sector; 
b) PHilMech adopts comprehensive training, extension and 
applied communication approaches and strategies; and 
c) PHilMech aggressively builds strategic alliances with RFUs, 
LGUs, academe, equipment manufacturers and other relevant 
local and international institutions in the conduct of its 
programs and projects. 
 
SECTION 
7. 
INCREASE OF PERSONNEL. – The Philippine Center 
for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) shall maintain 
the sufficient staffing pattern. Hence, it is authorized to increase its manpower 
to meet such required and may continue to increase personnel per percentage 
rate increase of committed mandates annually or as the need arises. 
SECTION 
8. 
TRANSITORY 
PROVISION – 
Existing 
industries, 
businesses and offices affected by the implementation of this Act shall be given 
six (6) months transitory period from the effectivity of the IRR or such other 
period as may be determined, to comply with the requirements of this Act. 
SECTION 
9. 
IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. – The 
departments and agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of this Act 
shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate the 
necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation. 


SECTION 
10. 
REPEALING CLAUSE. – All laws, decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 
11. 
SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. – If, for any reason, any 
section or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other 
sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby. 
SECTION 
12. 
EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. – This Act shall take effect 
after fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two 
(2) national newspapers of general circulation whichever comes earlier. 
Approved,