Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

3185

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Sharon S, Garin

Explanatory Note

This bill is a re-filling of the bill filed on 6 November 2012 and is pending with the House
Committee on Agriculture and Food since 12 November 2012.

Locally known as “bunot,” coco coir is touted as the “golden fiber” that gives hope and holds
much promise for our coconut farmers especially with their coconut trees ageing. Not only
could it be used as an excellent planting medium additive that could fertilize an otherwise
degraded soil, but coco coir could also be used as insulation, carpet, car seat stuffing, mat,
upholstery cushion, rope and cordage, fishing net, flooring material, filtration pads, mattress
fiber, pot liner, brush, erosion control (coco nets) and many other uses waiting in the wings

During the State of the Nation Address last July 2012, President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy”
Aquino expressed enthusiasm about the use of coco coir, stating, among others, that we
should not waste the opportunity of its high export demand.

In 2011 alone, there was a 39.15% increase in the quantity of coco coir exports from 4.43
million kilograms (net) worth US$974,586 in 2010 to 6.16 million kilograms (net) worth
U5$2.01 million.

In response to growing demand for coconut coir, the government aims to invest in 2013 a
total of P1.75 billion to further develop the coconut industry as well as provide countryside
development and employment generation,

Although the country produced more than 15 billion coconuts in 2009 and has a potential
coir supply of 723,900 metric tons, it only shipped 4,561 metric tons of coir products which
is a pittance compared to other coconut producing countries. One of the reasons for this is
that there are only 18 Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)-registered operating coir
producers/exporters from Southern Luzon, Bicol, Visayas, and Mindanao, with 11 of them


producing one metric ton per day, 7 having an actual production of § to 20 metric tons per
day.

There is also a need to bring together concerned local government units, relevant agencies
and institutions to look into and facilitate provision of strategic interventions to the industry
in the areas of production and productivity enhancement, technology development and
promotion, entrepreneurship and organizational development, market development and
promotion, financing and policy support, among others.

During the National Coco Coir Summit held in Davao City last 2011, Department of Trade
and Industry (DTI) Secretary Gregory L. Domingo stated that the coco coir industry can
provide more job opportunities in the countryside and we only need to maximize the
potentials of the industry and address the gaps. It was projected that the Philippine export
earnings for coco products can reach as much as US$ 6.53 million by 2016 from US$1.1
million in 2008 as base year (25% average annual growth rate).

This measure makes the Philippine Coco Coir industry Development a priority program of
the government. It creates the Philippine Coco Coir Industry Development Council to
provide for the overall policy and program directions through the Philippine Coco Coir
Industry Development Plan, The components of the development plan include:

* site identification;
scientific research and development;
‘* creation of domestic demand;
‘* production support and extension;
‘* market promotion and business development;

Infrastructure development;
quality assurance for health and proper trading; and
Philippine Coco Coir Information Center;

Should this measure be enacted, it would provide the policy underpinning for the
development and growth of the coco coir industry,

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

REP. SHARON'S: GARIN
AnyiblsOwa Party List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular ses 85

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Sharon S. Garin

AN ACT
TO PROMOTE AND STRENGTHEN THE PHILIPPINE COCO COIR INDUSTRY,
PRESCRIBING ITS UTILIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT AS A PRIORITY PROGRAM, AND
ALLOCATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Coco Coir Industry Development
Act of 2012."

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote
industrialization and full employment based on sound agricultural development and
agrarian reform, through industries that make full and efficient use of human and natural
resources, and which are competitive in both domestic and foreign markets. To this end,
the State shall promote the rapid, steady and continuous integrated development and
growth of the coco coir industry, recognizing the coco coir’s salient role as a strategic,
indigenous, replenishable and renewable source of livelihood and tool for agricultural
productivity. It is also hereby declared a policy of the State to acknowledge the great
contribution of coco coir in environmental protection and management, more importantly
in light of the perils of climate change.

Section 3. Priority Program. ~ It is hereby authorized and prescribed, as a priority program,
the scientific advancement, processing, utilization, and business development of coco coir
under the Philippine Coco Coir Industry Development Plan.

Section 4, Implementing Agency. - There is hereby created a Philippine Coco Coir Industry
Development Council (PCCIDC), hereinafter referred to as the Council, administratively


attached to the Department of Trade and Industry, charged with the main function of
coordinating the activities of various agencies and instrumentalities to ensure the
accomplishment of the Philippine Coco Coir Industry Development Plan.

If ever practicable and required, the Chairman of the PCCIDC shall submit an annual report
to both Houses of Congress on the status of the implementation of this Act.

Section 5. Composition. - The PCCIDC shall be composed of the following:
Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) as Chairman;
Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DT!) as Co-Chair;
Administrator of the Philippines Coconut Authority;
Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST);
Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways;
Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR);
Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);
Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);
Administrator of Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA);
Representative from the League of Municipalities of the Philippines;
Representative from the League of Cities of the Philippines;
Representative from the Philippine Coco Coir Exporters Association, Inc.;
|. Representative from another reputable Private Industry Association;
Representative from Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs);

PRT RTO sR Spee se

The Council shall regularly meet every two (2) months and may hold special
meetings, whenever the need arises, to consider urgent matters upon the call of the
Chairman or any eight (8) Council members

Section 6, Council Secretariat. ~ To assist the PCCIDC, a Council Secretariat, headed by the
Undersecretary of the DTI-Regional Operations and Development Group (RODG), shall
likewise be created. Technical support shall be provided by the Coco Coir Technical Working
Group as headed by the Administrator of the PCA. They shall identify the gaps in the coco
coir industry value-chain and determine the most appropriate interventions to address
those gaps.

The Secretariat and technical staff shall be detailed from the existing personnel of OT!
without prejudice to the designation by the Council of such additional staff members as it
may deem necessary for the proper discharge of its function and responsibilities.

Section 7. Ph Industry Development Plan. - The Philippine Coco Coir
Industry Development Coordinating Council shall formulate a ten-year Plan for
Development, to be validated and updated annually. Such Plan shall serve as guide to the
formulation and implementation of plans, projects, programs, and policies for the scientific
propagation, processing, utilization, and business development of coco coir. The Framework
shall likewise provide for the following:

a. Site Identification — The DENR, in coordination with the DA, PCA, DAR and
the local government units, shall identify the broad areas suitable for the
production and development of the Philippine coco coir, within six (6)
months after the effectivity of this Act.


b. Scientific Research and Development ~ The DENR, PCA and DOST or
through its appropriate bureaus and offices shall undertake research and
development, development of efficient, effective and affordable
technologies (process, machinery and equipment) for other high-value
coco coir products, and facilitate promotion and transfer of such
technologies,

The same also covers the transfer and improvement of appropriate
technology and techniques, which will be utilized in every phase of coco
coir production, processing, marketing and distribution, Particular
emphasis shall be made on adoption and upgrading of post-harvest
technology;

Creation of domestic demand = The DPWH shall create the domestic
demand for coco coir by requiring the use/application of coco nets in
road and related infrastructure projects for erosion control as may be
appropriate and provide a mechanism for participation by the processors;

‘The DENR shall aggressively promote the use/application of coco nets in
mining areas for erosion control and related products such as plant liners
for the National Greening Program;

d. Production Support and Extension - The DENR, DA, DTI, and DOST in
coordination with the Local Government Units, Non-Governmental
Organizations, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), state universities
and colleges (SUCs), and other relevant government agencies, shall
establish programs which promote and provide adequate training on
adapting technologies to individuals engaged in production, processing,
marketing and distribution of + coco coir, _ strengthen
farmers’/producers’/processors’ cooperatives and organizations involved

the sustainable and viable development of the Philippine coco coir, and

afford opportunities for participation in international conventions,

workshops and for a;

e. Market Promotion and Business Development ~ The DTI, in coordination
with Private Industry Associations and Non-Government Organizations,
shall link-up agribusiness cooperatives and organizations directly with
consumers’ cooperatives and organizations, agro-processing companies,
or exporters to provide marketing outlets and assure relatively higher
and stable prices of coco coir. This also includes exploring national and

ternational markets and facilitating the participation of local farmers,

growers, and exporters in local and international conferences, trade fairs,
expositions, and exhibits;

f- Infrastructure Development - Access to post harvest facilities, storage
and distribution/transport facilities of existing government agencies shall



be facilitated by the DENR, Local Government Units, and DA. Assistance
shall be given to qualified and viable farmers'/producers’/processors’
cooperatives and organizations in the availment of soft loans or grants
for the construction of post-harvest, processing and storage faci

oF

g. Quality Assurance - To ensure health and proper trading, the DTI and
DOST, respectively, shall establish and enforce standards in grading,
sampling and inspection, tests and analysis, specifications, nomenclature,
units of measurement, packaging, preservation, conservation or
transportation of coco coir products and by-products; and

h. Philippine Coco Coir Information Center ~ The DTI in coordination with
Local Government Units shall establish a Philippine Coco Coir Information
Center in areas identified pursuant to Section 7a of this Act.

Section 8. Coco Coir Livelihood Programs. ~ The Department of Labor and Employment, in
cooperation with the Council and local government units, shall formulate and implement
Coco Coir Livelihood Programs for preference employment of special groups and
organizations of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), marginalized sectors, the unemployed,
and retrenched Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). The program shall have an appropriate
training and/or skills-retooling component to be provided by the Commission on
Information and Communications Technology (CICT) in coordination with the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) or allied government institution.

Section 9. Philippine Coco Coir Development Fund. - To provide for the funding
requirements for the propagation, production, processing, marketing and distribution of the
Philippine Coco Coir, there is hereby created a Philippine Coco Coir Development Fund
(PCCDF), with an initial amount of Thirty Million Pesos (P30,000,000.00) to be provided by
the Department of Budget and Management to the Department of Trade and Industry's
Regional Operations and Development Group (DTI-RODG) while the budgetary requirements
of cooperating agencies shall be incorporated in their respective locally-funded projects.
Other sources of funds, including but not limited to borrowings from local and international
funding institutions, shall also be authorized to further support the Fund.

Section 12. Incentives and Tax Exemptions. ~ The DA may give cash reward in recognition
of the best coco coir farm or plantation in the country. Coco coir farmers, producers,
processors, and exporters shall also avail of the following incentives and tax exemptions:
a. Exemptions from taxes and duties subject to the provisions of Article 62
of Republic Act 6938 or the Cooperative Code of the Philippines;
b. Exemption from the value-added tax in accordance with Section 103 of
the National internal Revenue Code, as amended;
c. Exemption from taxes, fees and charges under Title One of Book Two of
the Local Government Code of 1991 in accordance with Section 133(n) of
the said Code;
d. Exemption from the payment of duties on the importation of agricultural
equipment, machinery and implements as provided under Republic Act
8435 otherwise known as the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act
as amended by Republic Act 9281;


e. Zero-rated value-added tax (VAT) on transactions involving the
sale/purchase of organic farm inputs;

{Provision of preferential rates and special window to coco coir farmers,
producers, processors, and exporters by the Land Bank of the Philippines;

g. Credit, insurance, and financing services under Republic Act 8435
“otherwise known as the Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act and
Republic Act 10000 otherwise known as the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act
of 2009;

h. Incentives and benefits under Republic Act 9178 otherwise known as the
Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBE's) Act of 2002 for coco coir
business entity or enterprise whose total assets including those arising
from loans but exclusive of the land on which the particular business
entity's office, plant and equipment are situated, are not more than
Three Million Pesos (P3,000,000.00); and

i. Coco coir business entity or enterprise to be registered under the Board
of Investments (BO!) shall be entitled to the existing pertinent fiscal
incentives as provided by the Board of Investments or those provided
under Executive Order No. 226, as amended, otherwise known as the
Omnibus Investment Code of 1987,

Section 13. Appropriations. - There is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the
National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sums necessary to carry into effect the
provisions of this Act: Provided, That thereafter, it shall be included in the annual budget of
the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and every year
thereafter.

Section 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The PCCIDC shall formulate and
prescribe the necessary implementing rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of
this Act,

Section 15. Repealing Clause. - All laws or parts thereof, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

Section 16, Separability Clause. - If any of the provisions of this Act is declare invalid, the
other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 17. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect immediately following
publication in two newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette, whichever
comes first.

Approved,