Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. pats

Introduced by Representatives
Estrellita B. Suansing and Horacio P. Suansing, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘There is nothing to behold when a person looks at onions. It is a simple
vegetable crop that is easy to overlook and disregard. Realistically, though, it
can be a source of development and productivity for our country. Better yet,
it can even be a source of pride for the nation.

A study of the farming industries in the globe will reveal that
establishing an onion industry can substantially benefit a country’s economy.
Australia, for instance, is an established onion producer that caters to both
its domestic and export markets. Other countries with farming industries
have relatively delved into onion production as well.

The Philippines, with all its farming background and setting can easily
turn into a respectable onion producing country. However, a comprehensive
study from the initial to the final stages of onion production has yet to be put
forth, if any, or altered to attune to modern conditions in case an
underperforming onion industry in the country beckons.

The bill proposing to create the Philippine Onion Research Institute is
the vehicle which will catapult the country’s onion industry into a more
progressive entity. An industry capable of serving the domestic and
international markets, bringing with it much-needed revenue, thus,
considerably affecting the lives of Filipinos in the process.

The bill also aspires to establish and operate one central experiment
station which will undertake extensive research in onion culture and
production such as, but not limited to, feasibility studies on merchandising
onion farms, for example. The institute shall be placed under the supervision
of the Department of Agriculture (DA) for the purpose of employing the
expertise of said agency and to assure the successful implementation of the
same. The DA as an administrative agency of the government is comprised by
experts in a specific field of specialization under its jurisdiction. Hence, the


decision to place the aforesaid establishment under the supervision of the
said agency certainly augurs well for the proposed bill.

The bill, in detail, intends to conduct all kinds of research work for the
onion industry; aiming to discover and introduce processes that will improve
productivity with such efficiency in all aspects of production. Moreover, the
bill aims to establish and maintain a sustainable and balanced relation
between production and consumption of onions in the domestic and foreign
markets in the process. All to be done at a projected reduction of cost
completing the metamorphosis of the country’s onion industry.

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

SUANSING, JR.
1st District, Nueva Hija 2n4 District, Sultan Kudarat


evyauaw

10

1
12
13
14

15
16

7
18

19
20
21

Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2405

Introduced by Representatives
Estrellita B. Suansing and Horacio P. Suansing, Jr.

AN ACT
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE ONION RESEARCH INSTITUTE

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

Chapter I
ESTABLISHMENT AND OBJECTIVES

SECTION 1. Name, Duration and Domicile. — There is hereby created
the “Philippine Onion Research Institute”, hereinafter called “PHIL ONIONS.
INSTITUTE”, which shall be organized within sixty (60) days after the approval
of this Act and shall have its main office in an appropriate and suitable place
in the Province of Nueva Ecija. This Corporation shall be under the supervision
of the Department of Agriculture.

SECTION 2. Purposes and Objectives. - The PHIL ONIONS
INSTITUTE shall have the following purposes and objectives:

a. To conduct research work for the onion industry in all its phases,
for the purpose of introducing such practices or processes that
will reduce the cost of production, increase and improve
productivity and achieve greater efficiency in the industry;

b. To improve existing methods of raining onions and onion
production;

c. To ensure a permanent, sufficient and balanced production of
onions for local consumption and exportation;

d. To establish and maintain a suitable and balanced relation
between production and consumption of onions, and such
marketing conditions therefore, as will ensure stabilized prices at


10

1
12
1B
4
15
16

7
18
19

20
21
22

23
24

25
26
27

28

29

31
32
33

35
36

a level sufficient to cover the cost of production plus a reasonable
profit; and

. To promote the effective merchandizing of onions in the domestic

and foreign markets so that those engaged in the onion industry
will be placed on a more economic stability and security.

Chapter II
POWERS

SECTION 3. Specific and General Powers. - To carry out the
purposes mentioned in the preceding Section, the PHIL ONIONS INSTITUTE
shall have the following powers:

as

To establish, keep, maintain and operate one central experiment
station to undertake extensive research in onion culture and
production, including studies as to the feasibility of merchandizing
onion farms, the control and eradication of pests, and the selection
of high yielding varieties of onions suited to the country’s climatic
conditions;

. To acquire, obtain and purchase such machinery, materials,

equipment and supplies as may be necessary to execute such
researches and experiments work successfully;

. To buy, sell, assign, operate, rent or lease any other equipment

and materials for the production, manufacture, handling,
transportation and warehousing of onions;

. To grant loans, on reasonable terms to planters when it deems

such loans advisable; and

. Generally, to exercise all powers necessary to carry out the

purposes for which it is created, in accordance with existing laws,
rules and regulations.

Chapter III
GOVERNING BODY

SECTION 4. Composition and Appointment. - All corporate powers
of the PHIL ONIONS INSTITUTE shall be vested in, and exercised by, a Board
of Directors consisting of five (5) members to be appointed by the President of
the Philippines: Provided, That at least one of the members shall come from the
Province of Nueva Ecija and the other one shall come from another onion-
growing province: Provided, further, That three (3) members of said Board shall
be appointed upon recommendation of the National Federation of Onion

2


Noawsw nv

10
1

12
13
14
15
16

7
18
19

20
2

22
23
24
25

26
27
28
29

30

31

32
33

34
35

Planters: Provided, finally, That the Chairperson of the Board shall be elected
by the members among themselves.

SECTION 5. Tenure and Compensation. - The members of the Board
shall serve as designated by the President of the Philippines in their respective
appointments for terms of two, four, and six years, respectively from the date
they qualify and assume office. Compensation of the members shall be
determined in accordance with existing laws.

SECTION 6. Powers and Duties of the Board of Directors. - The
Board shall have the following powers and duties:

a. To prescribe rules and regulations governing the manners in which
the general business of the corporation may be exercised;

b. To appoint and fix compensation of the General Manager, other
officers of the corporation, with the approval of the Secretary of
Agriculture. The Board, by a vote of majority of all members, may,
for just cause, suspend and remove the General Manager and
other officers of the corporation;

c. To approve the annual and/or supplemental budgets of the
corporation which may be submitted to it by the General Manager
from time to time; and

d. To perform such other duties as may be assigned to it by the
President of the Philippines or by the Secretary of Agriculture.

SECTION 7. Suspension and Removal of Directors. - Any member
of the Board of Directors may, for cause, be suspended or removed by the
President of the Philippines solely upon the recommendation of the Secretary
of Agriculture.

SECTION 8. Prohibition for Board Members. ~ No chairperson or
member of the Board of Directors of this corporation shall at the same time
serve in other corporation or agency in any capacity whatsoever, unless
authorized by existing laws.

Chapter IV
MANAGEMENT

SECTION 9. The General Manager - The management of the
corporation shall be vested in the General Manager.

SECTION 10. Powers and Duties of the General Manager. - The
General Manager shall have the following powers and duties:


1

12

13
14
15
16
7

18
19
20
21
22

23

24

25
26
27
28
29
30
31

32

33

34
35
36

a. To direct and manage the affairs of and business of the corporation
in behalf of the Board of Directors and subject to its control and
supervision;

b. To sit in all meetings of the Board and participate in the
deliberations thereon, but without the right to vote;

c. To submit within six (6) days after the close of each fiscal year an
annual report, through the Board of Directors, to the Secretary of
Agriculture; and

d. To perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the
Board of Directors from time to time.

Chapter V
CIVIL SERVICE LAW APPLICATION

SECTION 11. Application of Civil Service Law and Regulation. - All
officers and employees of the corporation shall be subject to the Civil Service
Law, rules and regulations, except those whose position may, upon
recommendation of the Board, be declared by the President of the Philippines
as policy-determining, primarily confidential or highly technical in nature.

SECTION 12. The financial transactions of the PHIL ONIONS
INSTITUTE shall be audited in accordance with existing laws and
administrative regulations. A report of audit for each fiscal year by the Auditor,
through the Commission on Audit, to the Board of Directors, and copies
thereof, shall be furnished to the Secretary of Agriculture.

Chapter VI
FUNDING

SECTION 13. Funding. - To raise the necessary funds to carry out the
provisions of this Act, an initial fund of Fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00) is
hereby appropriated, to be charged against the appropriations intended for the
Department of Agriculture under the current General Appropriations Act.
Revolving funds shall be derived from the contributions of the Philippine
Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office
and from sources of foreign origin.

Chapter VIL
LIQUIDATION

SECTION 14. Liquidation. - When its term or period of existence has
expired in accordance with the provisions of this Act, it shall be liquidated in
accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations thereof.

4


SECTION 15. Reversion to General Funds. ~ all hinds resulting from
dissolution and liquidation of the corporation as herein provided shall ipso jure
revert to the General Fund of the National Government.

Chapter VIII
FINAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 16. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain
in full force and effect.

SECTION 17. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,