HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES pate; 26 JUL 2016
Quezon City 7
TINE: A
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS BY:
First Regular Session
TPATION UNIT
House Bill No. _ 1963 BULLS AND NOX SERVICE

Introduced by Representative Estrellita B. Suansing

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.

HON. ITA B. SU.
1s District, Nueva Ecija

* This bill is a re-file of House Bill No. 1556 file during the 16 Congress.


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1963

House Bill No.

i by Representative Estrellita B. Suansing

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 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.


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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:

a. 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;

b. To acquire, obtain and purchase such machinery, materials, equipment
and supplies as may be necessary to execute such researches and
experiments work successfully;

c. To buy, sell, assign, operate, rent or lease any other equipment and
materials for the production, manufacture, handling, transportation
and warehousing of onions;

d. To grant loans, on reasonable terms to planters when it deems such
loans advisable; and

e. 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 IIT
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 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:


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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:

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


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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 VII
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.

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. 2ffectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,