Pineapple Export Promotion Act

: TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) JUL 15 P3:22 First Regular Session RECEIVED U SENATE S.B. No. 657 Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS AN ACT URGING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, AND EXPORT PROMOTION OF PINEAPPLES, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE Pineapples are one of the primary agricultural exports of the Philippines. According to the Food and Agriculture Office (FAO), the Philippines remained the world's second largest pineapple exporter for the 15th straight year as total shipments in 2023 grew by almost three percent, driven by higher Chinese demand for premium quality fruits. The country exported 1.01 million MT of pineapples and pineapple products in 2023, valued at USD 732 million, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). China was the country's top buyer of pineapples, accounting for about 43 percent of total shipments. The Philippines also hiked its pineapple exports to South Korea and Japan by six to eight percent on an annual basis last year. Japan and South Korea accounted for 30 percent and 14 percent of the country's pineapple shipments last year, respectively. Together, these three countries account for 87% of the Philippines' pineapple exports. Almost 100% of Philippines' pineapple exports are to countries in Asia and the Pacific region. In total, the Philippines exported USD 760 million worth of pineapple products. Looking at the industry trend, export of pineapples remains constant, if not decreasing. On 2021, the Philippines exported USD 760 million worth of pineapple products, compared to the USD 732 million exported in 2023. The lack of growth in the industry is due to several factors. The pineapple industry regularly experiences the loss of 40% of the total fruit production due to hauling and transporting problems, in addition to rat infestation. There is a need to provide farm-to-market roads in pineapple planting regions in Northern Mindanao and SOCCSKSARGEN in order to reduce losses. There is also a need improve the access of farmers to cold storage facilities that will allow them

to ship their produce. This is important as proper postharvest handling is important in producing export-quality fresh pineapples. There is also a lack of processing centers to produce processed pineapple goods like pineapple juice and canned pineapples. Given the perishability of the fresh product and the existing world demand for processed pineapple products, there is a need to further develop the processed pineapple sector in order to expand the market reach of the local pineapple produce, as only 3% of the processed pineapple of the Philippines reach the US market. Farmers are also suffering from losses due to the infestation of insects and other pests. Pineapple plants suffer from parasites like the Phythophthora and the Fusarium fungi, nematode infestation, and Symphylan insect attacks. The Department of Agriculture needs to provide the farmers support in dealing with the pests associated with pineapples. For the abovementioned reasons, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. IMEER. MARCOST

CAR! 25 JUL 15 P3:22 TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session RECENDI SENATE S.B. No._65'% Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS AN ACT URGING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, AND EXPORT PROMOTION OF PINEAPPLES, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Pineapple Export Promotion

Act."

Sec. 2. Establishment of the Pineapple Export Promotion Council (PEPC). - A council,

composed of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) or his representative as the Chairperson, the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) or his representative, the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or his representative, and one (1) each from the pineapple growers and commercial processors' sectors to be designated by the Secretary of the DA shall be created immediately upon the effectivity of this Act to ensure the government's, support, and assistance to pineapple exporters. The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) under DA, through the office which implements the High-Value Crops Development Program, shall be designated as the PEPC'S Secretariat.

Sec. 3. Functions of the PEPC.- The PEPC, in consultation with the Department of

Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), state universities and colleges, pineapple growers' and processors cooperatives and organizations, local government units, and the private sector, shal formulate a ten (10) year framework to be validated and updated annually. Such Framework shall serve as guide to the formulation and implementation of plans, programs and projects for the production, processing and marketing of Philippine pineapple for export worldwide, as envisioned in this Act. The Framework shall likewise provide for the following: a) National Framework - The DA, DOST, state universities and colleges (SUCs), and

other stakeholders shall strengthen the conduct of researches on pineapple particularly on areas of crop improvement, crop protection, harvesting and postharvest handling, supply chain analysis, marketing and promotion; b) Investment Promotion and Facilitation - The DA and DTI shall develop programs establishing links between stakeholders in the Pineapple Industry and Government Financial Institutions (GFIs) and other financial cooperatives. The DA and DTI shall likewise develop and implement programs that would establish reasonable and innovative investment incentives to attract more players in the Pineapple Industry; c) Export Promotion Support - An integrated and strategic export promotion program for Pineapple Industry shall be created. The export promotion program shall be responsive to market conditions, needs of the exporters, and possibilities offered by new products and technologies. It shall likewise provide foreign trade and export promotion activities through trainings, technical assistance, capacity building, generating awareness on export opportunities, and export planning assistance; d) Strengthen Trade Policies and Support Network. - The DA shall be responsible in coordinating a consultative approach for the various stages of the trade policy making process. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) shall lead the negotiation of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to provide a competitive environment for pineapple exports abroad; and e) Monitoring and Evaluation. - The DA shall continuously monitor, track, and analyze the progress and outcomes of the programs to be implemented to determine over-all effectiveness.

Sec. 4. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement this Act shall be included

in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). Thereafter, such funds as may be necessary for the continued Implementation of this Act shall be included in the succeeding annual GAA.

Sec. 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or

unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order,

letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

Sec. 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,