Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1713

House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2™ District, locos Norte

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The corn is one of the most valuable crops in the Philippines, second to
rice.’ With about fourteen (14) million Filipinos considering corn as their staple food,
and about six hundred thousand (600,000) farm households relying on corn as their
primary source of livelihood’, its significance in the country’s agricultural landscape
and Filipino way of life cannot be overstated.

The Philippine corn industry at present has seen a recent increase in
production, thereby seeing the apparent potential of the same for export due to
surplus? However, the industry remains relatively underdeveloped and faces
challenges, such as high production costs, seeds, fertilizers, labor, environmental and
topographical concerns, which largely affect the entirety of the country’s corn
industry---both in quantity and quality.

While the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Science
and Technology (DOST) have research institutions under their wing specializing in
major crops and other related industries research, there is yet to have a specialized
research bureau that shall be tasked to conduct such intensive studies for corn, an
undervalued crop that has so much potential.

In line with the foregoing concern, this measure has been crafted. This
legislation aims to fully develop and utilize corn as one of the most essential crops in
the country, primarily in the pursuit of food security and self-sufficiency.

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

ANGI BARBA

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‘arn Program (4). Department of Agriculture-Repional Off II (DA-RFO Il) webste. Rerieved 4 September 2023,

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._ 1713

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2" District, Ilocos Norte

AN ACT
PROMOTING AND SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
CORN INDUSTRY, ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE CORN
RESEARCH INSTITUTE (PHILCORN), AND FOR OTHER,
PURPOSES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Corn
Industry Development Act of 2025.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State hereby declares its
policy to promote and support the development of the corn industry, increase
the income of corn farmers and farm workers through improved productivity,
product diversification, and employment generation.

To achieve these goals, the State shall establish productivity improvement
programs, provide the necessary infrastructure support, enhance research and
development on product diversification, provide human resource
development and extension services, and provide financial assistance to small
corn farmers and farm workers.

SECTION 3. Corn Industry Development Committee. - The
Corn Industry Development Committee, hereinafter referred to as the
Committee, is hereby created under the Office of the President, and shall be
composed the following members:

(a) Secretary of Department of Agriculture (DA) as Chairman;

(b) Secretary of Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);


(c) Director General of Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA);

(d) Secretary of Department of Science and Technology (DOST);

(e) Secretary of Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG);

(6) Commissioner of Commission of Higher Education (CHED);

(g) Commissioner of Professional Regulation Commission (PRC);
(h) Secretary of National Economic Development Authority (NEDA);
(i) Secretary of Department of Transportation (DOTr);

G) Secretary of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH);
(k) Representative of Philippine Ports Authority (PPA);

() Representative of National Irrigation Administration (NIA);

(m) Secretary of Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR); and

(n) Commissioner of Bureau of Customs (BOC).

The Committee is hereby mandated to implement the provisions of this
act.

SECTION 4. Productivity Improvement Programs. - To boost
the production of corn, and increase the incomes of corn farmers and farm
workers, the following Productivity Improvement Programs shall be
implemented:

(a) Farm Support Program - The Committee, particularly
Department of Agriculture (DA) shall make available a
support program which shall include, among others, the
provision of socialized credit, and farm management and
technical assistance services. Socialized credit shall be made
available, through the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP),
for the acquisition of farm inputs, farm machineries and
implements necessary for the continuous production of
corn: Provided that the loans shall be made available to corn
farmers duly registered with the DA: Provided, further, that
the lender shall have a lien on the harvest of farmers who
obtained the loan until the crop loan is fully paid: Provided,
finally, that farmer borrowers cannot be granted another
oan until existing loans are fully paid. Farm Management


and Technical Assistance Services - The Committee,
particularly the DA, the Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE), the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA), state universities and
colleges (SUCs), and other concerned private and
non-government organizations (NGOs), shall formulate and
implement a deployment program of agricultural engineers,
agriculturists and farm technicians for the provision of farm
management and technical assistance services to corn
farmers.

(b) Farm Mechanization Program - Corn farmers and farm
workers shall be encouraged and trained to utilize
appropriate agricultural machinery and equipment
necessary for the efficient planting, cultivation, care and
maintenance, harvesting and handling of corn and its
by-products. The Committee, particularly the DA, in
partnership with local government units (LGUs), consistent
with the provisions of Republic Act No. 10601, otherwise
known as the Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Law,
Shall: Introduce and expand the use of machineries for the
different stages of and corn farming; and, Formulate and
implement a Corn Farm Mechanization Program at the
barangay level. To develop and deploy appropriate
machineries and equipment, the Committee particularly the
DA, through its research centers, in collaboration with the
Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and
Mechanization, the Bureau of Agricultural Research, SUCs,
other concerned government agencies, and industry
stakeholders, shall formulate and conduct research
development and extension programs for corn farm
mechanization and engineering.

SECTION 5. Research and Development. - The Committee,
particularly the DA, in coordination with the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST), as we as relevant SUCs, and government research and
development institutions, and the private sector, shall intensify researches on
high yielding or flood resistant corn varieties; pest control and prevention;
latest farming and harvesting technologies; soil analysis and fertility mapping
of corn areas; weather monitoring and climate change adaptation measures;
and other viable products that can be derived from corn

SECTION 6. Extension Services. - Extension services that can be
provided shall include, but not limited to, provision of technical assistance


and advice, conduct of tests, propagation, and dissemination of high yielding
varieties, and operation of demonstration farms.

SECTION 7. Human Resources Development. — The
Committee, particularly the DOLE, in collaboration with the DA, the
Commission of Higher Education (CHED), the TESDA, the Professional
Regulation Commission (PRC), and the private sector, shall formulate and
implement a Human Resources Development (HRD) Master Plan for the corn
industry which shall include, but not limited to, the following:

(a)Capacity-building, skills trainings, institutional strengthening of corn
industry workers and small farmers and their organizations to actively
contribute in productivity and competitivene:

(b)Conduct of capability trainings or attendance to local or international
trainings and seminars by corn farmers and farm workers on the latest
technologies related to corn farming and production of other products
from corn;

© Formulation and implementation of competency standards and
training regulations for technical vocational education and training for
the corn industry by the TESDA;

(@) Scholarship programs for the underprivileged but deserving college
and postgraduate students who are taking up courses in relevant fields
of discipline in SUCs which have programs in agriculture, agricultural
engineering and mechanics, and chemical engineering; and for
vocational courses and skills development for farmers and farm
technicians and skilled corn farm workers; and

(©) Upgrading of facilities, faculty development and strengthening of the
on-the-job training programs for agri-based higher education
institutions in corn areas towards the production of highly employable
and globally competitive graduates needed by the corn industry.

SECTION 8. Infrastructure Support. - To facilitate the transport,
marketing and export of corn produce and other products derived therefrom,
and complement productivity improvement measures in this Act, transport
infrastructures, farm-to market roads and irrigation facilities shall be
provided.

(a) Transport Infrastructures — The National Economic

Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Transportation
(DOTR), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and


the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) shall include in their annual
Development Plans and Priority Investment Programs the immediate
construction and/or improvement of existing transloading ports for
coast-wide transport, sale or export of corn products in key corn
producing areas.

(b)  Farm-to-Market Roads — The NEDA, the DA, the DPWH, and
concerned local government units (LGUs), shall include in their
annual Priority Investment Programs the immediate construction
and/or rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads in key corn producing
areas.

(©) _ Irrigation — The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the
Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), and concerned
LGUs, in coordination with the DA, shall construct appropriate,
efficient and cost effective irrigation facilities, pump and other
pressurized irrigation systems, rain capture and water impounding
facilities in corn producing areas. The DA and NIA shall include in its
annual budget the item or provision on construction and rehabilitation
of irrigation facilities, rain capture and water impounding facilities in
corn producing areas.

SECTION 9. Classification and Regulation of Supply of Corn.

- The Committee, particularly the DA, in the exercise of its regulatory
authority, shall classify imported corn according to their appropriate
classification when imported at a time that domestic productions are
sufficient to meet domestic requirements. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) shall
require importers or consignees to secure from the DA the classification of the
imported corn prior to its release.

SECTION 10. Appropriations. - In the succeeding years from the

effectivity of this Act, the amount of Four billion pesos (P 4,000,000,000.00)
shall be appropriated annually and to be allocated as follows:

(a) Twenty percent (20%) for socialized credit under the Farm Support
and Farm Mechanization Programs;

(b) Fifteen percent (15%) for research and development,
capability-building and technology transfer activities under
Research and Development, Extension Services and Human
Resources Development;


(c) Fifteen percent (5%) for scholarship grants to be provided under
paragraph (4) of Section 7 of this Act; and

(a) Fifty percent (60%) for infrastructure support programs.

In the identification and prioritization of specific programs and
projects, the Committee, particularly the DA, shall conduct prior consultations
with corn farmers and farm workers, and producers of corn by-products. The
Committee shall issue the necessary guidelines for this purpose.

SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The
Committee shall create the implementing rules and regulations for this Act
within ninety (90) days of its enactment, in consultation with relevant
government agencies and corn industry stakeholders.

SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the validity of the remaining provisions hereof shall
remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive
orders and rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with any
provision of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after
fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two

(2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,