HISTORY

The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) was created from the Bureau of Agriculture on January 1, 1930, by virtue of Republic Act No. 3639 of the Philippine Legislature. The said Act defines the powers and functions of BPI taking over the task on plant research and crop production.

Upon the promulgation of Republic Act No. 4007 known as the “Reorganization Law of 1932”, BPI was re-organized to consist of the following divisions: Administrative, Plant Investigation, Agricultural Extension, Plant Sanitation, and Plant Propagation.

General Memorandum Order No. 186, issued by the Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce merged the Home Economics Division of the Bureau of Science and the Agricultural Chemistry Section of BPI to form the plant utilization division on August 1, 1936.

Reorganization Plan No. 30-A, as implemented by Executive Order No. 216 created the Research Division and renamed the Plant Pest and Disease Control Division to Pest and Disease Control Division on January 6, 1957. The Production Division was also created to handle the planning and programming of seed production and propagation, along with the Laboratory Services Division which is responsible for providing common laboratory services and undertaking research on the utilization of plant products.

A new division, Crop Development Services was later renamed as Field Trial Services by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1050 dated January 1, 1977.

The Pesticide Analytical Laboratory was created as one of the sections under the Crop Protection Division through a Special Order from the Office of the Minister of Agriculture in 1978.

Executive Order No. 116, signed by then President Corazon C. Aquino in 1986 placed BPI under the Production Group and made BPI as one of the Staff Bureaus from its former function as a Line Bureau. The BPI shall be responsible for the production planning of improved planting materials; protection of agricultural crops from pests and diseases; development and improvement of farm equipment and other related structures to the plant industry; preparation of a program for the selection, production, and certification of improved planting materials, as well as guidelines for its implementation; recommendation of plant quarantine policies; and prescription of rules and regulations for the prevention, control, and eradication of pests, diseases, and injuries to plants and plant products. For its own sector, BPI shall be responsible for the recommendation of plans, programs, policies, rules, and regulations to the Minister of Agriculture and provide technical assistance in its implementation.

The National Seed Industry Council was created with BPI Director as the Executive Director through Republic Act No. 7038, also known as the Seed Industry Development Act of 1992. The Council Secretariat was likewise established to provide administrative and other support services to the Council, which is placed under the supervision of the Executive Director. Further, the Seed Quality Control Section under the Crop Production Division was constituted as the National Seed Quality Control Services (NSQCS). The NSQCS shall have control and supervision over existing field inspection and control services and seed testing laboratories established throughout the country.

Executive Order No. 366 of 2013, otherwise known as “Reorganization Plan of the Government Sector” created two divisions namely: Crop Research and Production Support Division (CRPSD) and Plant Product Safety Services Division (PPSSD). The CRPSD is mandated to develop crop farming technologies which aims to increase farmer’s productivity, conserve and utilize plant genetic resources, and ensure availability of quality seeds and plant materials. It merged the former Crop Research and Crop Production Support Division. On the other hand, PPSSD is created to ensure plant product safety for fresh and minimally processed agricultural produce through formulation of food safety protocols and monitor for compliance with food safety schemes as supported by its laboratory activities.

Upon signing of RA 11203 or “An Act Liberalizing the Importation, Exportation and Trading of Rice, lifting for the Purpose the Quantitative Import Restriction on Rice, and for Other Purposes”, the food safety functions of the National Food Authority (NFA) was transferred to BPI on March 2019.