Senate Office of the Sertetary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 NOV 11 P3:38 SENATE 1495 RECEIVED BY: S. No. — Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE UTILIZATION OF THE APPROPRIATIONS INTENDED FOR THE RICE SUBSIDY PROGRAM OF THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM (4PS) UNDER THE GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF RICE FROM LOCAL FARMERS EXPLANATORY NOTE Rice remains the staple food of the Filipino people, and ensuring both its availability and affordability is a matter of national interest. At the same time, rice production sustains millions of local farmers whose livelihoods are often undermined by the volatility of market prices, the influx of imported rice, and the lack of sufficient government support mechanisms. The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11310, provides conditional cash transfers to poor households in order to improve their health, nutrition, and education. Among its components is a rice subsidy equivalent to Six Hundred Pesos (P600) per household per month. While this provision is intended to augment food security for beneficiaries, its current cash- based implementation often does not translate directly into rice consumption and, more importantly, does not contribute to strengthening the local rice industry. This measure seeks to authorize the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to directly utilize the appropriations intended for the 4Ps rice
subsidy for the purchase of palay from local farmers. The DSWD, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Food Authority (NFA), shall ensure that the procured rice is distributed to qualified 4Ps beneficiaries, in lieu of cash transfers for rice subsidy. Through this approach, the bill aims to achieve two objectives: (1) guarantee that poor and vulnerable households, particularly 4Ps beneficiaries, receive their intended rice subsidy in the form of actual rice, thereby enhancing household food security; and (2) provide stable market support to local rice farmers, protecting them from price fluctuations and ensuring a fair return for their produce. The measure further identifies qualified beneficiaries, including 4Ps households, victims of natural and man-made disasters, indigenous peoples in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, homeless street families, and transitioning households vulnerable to economic shocks. Ultimately, this bill is a dual-purpose intervention: it strengthens the country's social protection framework for the poor while directly supporting the agricultural sector-an indispensable pillar of food security and rural development. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID Senator
Sentale Office of the §eiretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session NOV 11 P3:38 SENATE 1495 S. No. — RECEIVED BY: Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE UTILIZATION OF THE APPROPRIATIONS INTENDED FOR THE RICE SUBSIDY PROGRAM OF THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM (4PS) UNDER THE GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF RICE FROM LOCAL FARMERS Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - The Department of Social Welfare and
2 Development (DSWD) is hereby authorized to utilize the appropriations intended for 3 the rice subsidy of the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) 4 under the annual General Appropriations Act for the purchase of palay from local farmers.
SECTION 2. Qualified Beneficiaries. - Instead of a cash subsidy, the DSWD is
7 hereby mandated to distribute rice to the following qualified beneficiaries of 4Ps: (i) 8 those registered in the Pantawid Pamilya Information System; (ii) victims of natural 9 and man-made disasters rendered homeless and with no means of livelihood; (iii) indigenous peoples in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas; (iv) homeless 11 street families; and (v) transitioning households whose level of well-being have improved but still at high risk of subsequently falling back into survival level as they 13 precariously live with little or no buffer against economic shocks.
SECTION 3. Rice Subsidy. - The 4Ps beneficiaries shall be given rice equivalent
to the cash subsidy in the amount of Six Hundred Pesos (Php 600) per month on a per household basis. Only 4Ps beneficiaries who comply with the conditions provided
1 in Section 11 of Republic Act No. 11310, otherwise known as the "Pantawid Pamilyang 2 Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act," are entitled to the rice subsidy.
SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days
4 from the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the DSWD, in consultation with the 5 Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Food Authority (NFA), shall establish 6 the procedures and guidelines for the purchase of palay from local farmers, and the 7 distribution of rice by the DSWD-designated outlets to 4Ps beneficiaries. The Secretary 8 of the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Director General of the National Economic 9 and Development Authority (NEDA) shall likewise provide support in the crafting of 10 the procedures and guidelines.
SECTION 5. Report to Congress. - The DSWD Secretary shall submit a year-
12 end report to both Houses of Congress on the implementation of this Act.
SECTION 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to cover the initial
14 implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Thereafter, such sums 16 as may be necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the General 17 Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment.
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any provision of this Act
is declared unconstitutional or invalid, parts of provisions of this Act that are not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders,
issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified and/or superseded as case may be by this 24 Act accordingly.
SECTION 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier. Approved,