:: Recognition and Protection of Farmers’ Rights: An Initial Critique on the Plant Variety Protection Act of 2002

This paper presents an initial critique of the Philippine Plant Variety Protection Act of 2002, focusing on its implications in the recognition and protection of farmers’ rights, as enshrined in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). The critique is based on the provisions of the law as adopted, and does not yet include an analysis of its implementing rules and regulations which have yet to be formulated.