Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 40 79

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2" District, Ilocos Norte

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The proposed Philippine Corn Research Institute Act of 2025
establishes the Philippine Corn Research Institute (PhilCorn), a corporate
body under the Department of Agriculture (DA), to modernize the corn
industry, strengthen research and development, and improve the livelihood of
small and resource-poor farmers.

This bill seks to lead nationwide programs on corn breeding,
biotechnology, mechanization, pest management, sustainable and
climate-resilient farming, value-adding, and policy support, while conserving
traditional varieties and promoting hybrid and engineered strains.

Further, this proposed legislation establishes a _national
farmer-centered program to revitalize the corn industry through integrated
research, training, and extension services. Moreover, this measure seeks to
expand rural employment through diversified corn-based enterprises and
value-added processing, achieved through mandatory strategic partnerships
between government agencies, such as the DA, the Department of Science and
Technology, and their partnership and collaboration with state universities
and colleges (SUCs), non-government organizations (NGOs), and the private
sector, to ensure effective implementation.

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

ANGE! ‘COS BARBA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4079

House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
" District, Hocos Norte

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE CORN
RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREOF

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Philippine
Corn Research Institute Act.”

SECTION 2. Philippine Corn Research Institute. - The Philippine
Corn Research Institute, hereinafter referred to as PhilCorn, is hereby
established as a body corporate attached to the Department of Agriculture
(DA), to modernize the corn industry and thus improve the livelihood of corn
farmers in the rainfed, upland, and dry land farming communities, and to
enable them in coping with low crop yields arising from frequent droughts,
flood, global warming, soil degradation, rising food and fuel prices, and other
risks due to disruptions of international trade, as well as environmental and
climate changes.

SECTION 3. Objectives. - The objectives and goals of this Act are as
follows:

(a)To develop and implement a strong, dynamic, and innovative
farmer-centered and need-based national corn research for
development (R4D), training, and extension programs;

(b)To strengthen the national capacity for corn research and extension,
modernize production and utilization, as well as industrial processing
of corn and corn-based crops, diversify crop harvests through
sequential planting to sustain soil health and fertility, and thus,


enhance higher and sustained farm productivity and household

income;

(c) To improve the livelihood and economic conditions of small-scale and
resource-poor farmers who are growing corn after rice under irrigated
and rainfed conditions, as well as those in upland and dry land farming
ecosystems;

(a) To work closely with regulatory agencies, such as the Bureau of Plant
Industry-National Seed Quality Control Laboratory (BPI-NSQCL),
Quarantine Division, and the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC);
the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS); the Bureau
of Agricultural Research (BAR); private stakeholders, and
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the collection,
conservation, and utilization of endemic or traditional corn varieties, as
well as in the experimentation, planting, and monitoring of corn
hybrids and genetically modified organism (GMO) varieties;

(e) To develop and implement sustainable and environment-friendly corn
and corn-based farming systems in the vulnerable and marginal areas
like hillsides and sloping terrains and determine those areas where
crops other than corn may be more appropriate to grow and propagate;

() To gather and provide reliable and up-to-date data to guide policy
makers with regard to corn improvement and development, import and
export volumes, and develop strong linkages among stakeholders in
promoting the national corn industry;

(g) To expand employment opportunities through corn and corn-based
farming systems in the rural areas, and ultimately promote the general
welfare of corn farmers through higher efficiency and profitability in
production and industrial products development, processing, and
marketing;

(h) To initiate and undertake such other related programs in partnership
and in consultation with the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research
(DA-BAR), the DA regional integrated agricultural research centers
(DA-RIARCs), the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic
Resources, Forestry, and Natural Resources Research and
Development (PCAARRD), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and
the private sector; and


(@ To provide guidance and support to entrepreneurs, cooperatives, and
NGOs that produce or process corn for food and industrial purposes,
utilize com for animal feeds, and undertake value-adding for
commercial purposes.

SECTION 4. Duties and Functions. - The PhilCorn shall exercise the
following duties and functions:

(a) Plan, unify, strengthen, fund, conduct, monitor, and evaluate all
regional and national corn research, development, and technology
promotion in different scientific and technological fields and programs;

(b) Undertake the following eight (8) major thrusts that will increase and
sustain productivity of corn and corn-based farming systems, namely:
(1) Germplasm collection, conservation, breeding, and biotechnology
activities; (2) Natural resources management, watershed conservation,
drought adaptation and mitigation; (3) Corn engineering and farm
mechanization, and postharvest management; (4) Pest surveillance,
early warning system, integrated pest management, and biological
control methods; (5) Socio-economics, technology impact assessment,
and policy advocacy; (6) Seed production and dissemination,
technology packing and demonstration, promotion and deployment,
training and communication; (7) Processing and industrial-chemical
products development; and (8) Corn-based farming systems, farm
management improvement, and experiment station development;

(c) Lead and coordinate a national network of corn and corn-based
farming systems research and extension agencies, centers, and stations
located in the different agro-ecological regions of the country where
corn is a major crop;

(d) Develop technologies suitable for the rainfed, upland, and dry land
agro-ecosystems that will maximize the productivity and quality of
locally grown corn and corn-based crops while also reducing
production costs and ensuring long-term and sustainable corn and
corn-based production systems through genetic improvement,
environmental resources management, and soil health and water
conservation measures;

(©) Enhance and diversify the income of corn farmers by developing
suitable corn-based crops through crop rotation where applicable;
value-adding corn technologies through processing, packaging, and
marketing; and promotion of economically viable technologies and


entrepreneurial skills, giving emphasis on aspects necessary for group
endeavors of small-scale farmers, cooperatives, and seed growers;

(© Develop databases needed in the identification and preparation of
necessary policy recommendations towards efficient, highly productive,
and competitive corn industry and corn-based farming systems
through appropriate socio-economic measures and public-private
sector mobilization and participation;

(g) Organize and develop strong training and strategic communication
programs for corn and corn-based farming systems scientists, research
managers, and extension specialists to enable them to undertake
effective and timely technology promotion of packaged technologies
among clusters of farmers and corporate growers by utilizing modern
extension systems, such as information, education, and communication
(IEC), technologies, and participatory social mobilization procedures;
and

(h) Publish and disseminate research and extension findings and
recommendations through scientific journals, books, technical and
extension bulletins, videos, and other print and communication
channels.

SECTION 6. Corporate Powers. - The PhilCorn shall exercise the
following corporate powers:

(a) Exercise all the powers of a corporation under the general corporation
law, in so far as such powers are not inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act;

(b) Enter into, make, and execute contracts and agreements of any kind or
nature, and to sue and be sued in its corporate name;

(©) Borrow funds and obtain loans from all sources, whether local or
foreign and whether government or private, to help finance its research
programs and its capital and operating expenditures, or support to
farmers’ entrepreneurial activities;

(@) Invest in, purchase, or otherwise acquire, own, lease, mortgage, pledge,
sell, assign, convey, exchange, encumber, borrow, or otherwise deal in
real and/or personal properties of whatever kind and nature, or any
interest therein, including shares of stocks, bonds, notes, securities,
and other evidence of indebtedness of natural or juridical persons,


whether domestic or foreign, and whether government or private;

(e) Receive and acquire from any person, government, and private entities,
whether domestic or foreign, or from any corporation, partnership,
association, or other entity such characters, licenses, franchises, rights,
privileges, concessions, assistance, grants, donations, loans, and
contributions consisting of such properties, real or personal, including
funds and valuable effects, as may be useful, necessary, or proper to
finance its research, capital, and operating expenditures, or otherwise
carry out its purposes and objectives, and to administer the same in
accordance with the terms and agreement consistent with its purpose
and objectives; and

(O Acquire from the government, whether national or local or from any
person, corporation, partnership, association, or other entity, such
characters, franchises, rights, privileges, assistance, financial or
otherwise and concessions as may be conducive to and necessary or
proper for the attainment of the purposes and objectives of PhilCorn.

SECTION 7. Board of Trustees. - The Board of Trustees, hereinafter
referred to as the Board, shall exercise all the corporate functions and powers
of PhilCorn and shall control through policy enactment all its businesses,
activities, and properties relevant to the goals and functions of the Institute.

(a) The Board shall be composed of the Secretary of Agriculture or his
designate as ex-officio Chairperson and fourteen (14) members from
the following agencies and sectors: Executive Director of the Philippine
Council for Agriculture, Aquaculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources
Research and Development (PCAARRD) of the Department of Science
and Technology (DOST) who will act as Co-Chairperson; Director of the
DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) who will act as
Vice-Chairperson; Regional Executive Director (RED) representing the
DA Regional Field Offices (DA-RFOs); Undersecretary of the
Department of Budget and Management (DBM); Director of the Policy
Formulation and Planning Division of the Department of Economy,
Planning, and Development (DEPDev); Director of the DA-Philippine
Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (DA-PCAF); two (2) University
Presidents from the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs)
representing major corn producing and corn-based agriculture regions;
four (4) private sector representatives, namely: one (1) each from
among the national outstanding corn farmers, farmers’ organizations
or federations, private companies engaged in corn research and seed
production, and President of the livestock/poultry industry, and two


(2) distinguished scientists, one each from the public and private
sectors. The credentials of nominees to represent the private sectors
shall be evaluated and scrutinized by competent ex-officio members of
the Board and selection shall be strictly in accordance with the
guidelines prepared and approved by the Board.

(b) The terms of office of the members of the Board who are heads or
officials from their respective agencies or institutions shall be
co-terminus with their respective appointments: Provided, however,
That the terms of the office of the Regional Executive Director who
represents the DA-RFOs where corn is a major crop and the four (4)
private sector representatives shall be for five (5) years without
prejudice to reappointment for another 5 years based on merits and
excellent performance in the Board. All government officials on the
Board shall serve as ex-officio members and their terms shall terminate
immediately upon completion of their terms as officials of the agencies
they represent. The Executive Director of PhilCorn shall serve as
Secretary of the Board.

(©) The Chairperson and members of the Board shall not receive any salary
or compensation but shall receive per diem, as the Board may
determine, for each Board meeting actually attended: Provided,
however, That such members shall also be entitled to reimbursable
transportation and representation allowances in going to and coming
from Board meetings and in transacting official businesses for the
Institute: Provided, further, That per diem and representation
allowances shall be the amount allowed by the DBM.

(a) The Board shall meet regularly at least once (1) every quarter or as
often as the exigencies of the service demands. The presence of the
Chairperson or the Co-Chairperson and at least seven (7) members of
the Board shall constitute a quorum and the majority vote of the
members present, there being a quorum, shall be necessary for the
adoption of any resolution, policy, rule, regulation, decision, or any
other act of the Board.

(e) Any vacancy on the membership of the Board shall be filled up within
two (2) months of the date a post is vacated. No person with a conflict
of interest shall be appointed as a member of the Board.

SECTION 8. Powers and Functions of the Board. - The PhilCorn
shall exercise the following powers and functions:


(a)To adopt by-laws and promulgate policies, rules, regulations, and
procedures for the efficient and effective operations of the Institute;

(b) To define and guide in the formulation of the vision, mission, strategy,
and research extension priorities, general plans and programs, and
guidelines or manuals for the proper operation and management of
PhilCorn in accordance with its purposes and objectives and in line
with research planning and monitoring policies and procedures of
DOST-PCAARRD and DA-BAR;

(c) To approve the PhilCorn’s organizational structure and staffing pattern,
operation and capital expenditures, and financial budget prepared in
accordance with its corporate plans;

(a)To approve the plantilla and salary ranges, benefits, privileges,
bonuses, scholarship and human resource development, housing
facilities and support to staff, and other terms and conditions of
service, including promotion systems similar to those in the DOST and
SUCs, as well as life and medical insurances, and retirement schemes
or benefits for all officers and employees of the PhilCorn, upon
recommendation of the Executive Director;

(e) To appoint, promote, transfer, suspend, remove, or otherwise discipline
any subordinate officer or employee of PhilCorn, upon
recommendation of the Executive Director;

(f) To create such committee or committees and appoint the members
thereof, as may be necessary and proper for the management of the
PhilCorn for the attainment of its purposes and objectives; and

(g) To exercise such other powers and functions and perform such other
acts as may be necessary or proper for the attainment of the purposes
and objectives of the PhilCorn.

SECTION 9. Executive Director and Other Officers. - The
PhilCorn shall be headed by an Executive Director who shall be appointed by
the President of the Republic of the Philippines, upon recommendation of the
Board of Trustees (BOT), based on the findings and recommendations of a
Search Committee duly organized and commissioned by the Board for such

purpose.

(a) The Executive Director shall have a PhD degree in research with at least
ten (10) years of meritorious experiences, preferably in corn research;


extensive scientific publications in referred journals; and proven
administrative and managerial abilities; corrupt-free, both in
organizing and motivating highly productive colleagues, as well as in
generating financial resources.

(b) The Executive Director shall serve for a term of five (5) years, but
subject to a one (1) term extension of 5 years for very meritorious
performance, or a maximum total of ten (10) years without further
extension for any reason whatsoever; Provided, however, That there
shall be a reserved plantilla position of the same salary rate for the
outgoing Executive Director, if he was previously a holder of a plantilla
position at PhilCorn and shall not yet be of retirement age at the end of
his term as Executive Director: Provided, further, That the Board of
Trustees, through a duly organized Search Committee, shall have
chosen a new Executive Director who shall immediately assume office
during a turn-over ceremony at the expiration date of the term of office
of the outgoing Executive Director.

(©) The Executive Director shall be assisted by three (3) Deputy Executive
Directors, namely: Deputy Executive Director for Research and
Development; Deputy Executive Director for Technology Promotion,
Information, and Partnership; and Deputy Executive Director for
Administration and Finance; and Division Heads and Branch Stations
Directors as the Board may determine to carry out the purposes and
objectives of PhilCorn.

SECTION 10. Powers, Functions, and Duties of the Executive
Director. - The Executive Director shall be directly responsible to the Board
of Trustees and shall have the following powers, duties, and functions:

(a) To exercise dynamic leadership, create a vision map on the mission,
provide strategic direction, and undertake systematic supervision over
the planning and implementation of all research, development,
technology sharing programs, training and extension, upgrading of
scientists and staff of PhilCorn and its network, and in general,
administer and direct the management and operation in a transparent
and corrupt-free administration of PhilCorn;

(b)To execute all contracts, incur obligations, acquire and dispose of
assets, and deliver documents on behalf of PhilCorn within the
framework of the authority delegated by the Board;


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(©) To implement and enforce policies, decisions, orders, rules, and
regulations that are promulgated or adopted by the Board;

(d)To arrange for the conduct of an External Program and Management
Review (EPMR) by a Panel of Experts every five (5) years or as often as
necessary to organize and understand the output, outcome, and impact
of PhilCorn programs to the farmers and stakeholders of the corn
industry and to provide guidance to management in charting the future
thrusts of PhilCorn;

(e) To exercise such other powers and functions and perform such other
duties as may be authorized, assigned, or delegated by the Board.

SECTION 11. Technical Advisory Committee. - A Technical
Advisory Committee (TAC), organized by the Executive Director and approved
by the Board, shall assist the Executive Director, the Division heads, and
Branch Station Directors in pursuing interagency activities, on technical
concerns, and participation of the national research, development, and
extension (RD&E) network. The TAC shall be composed of not more than nine
(9) members, or as the Board may determine, who are heads, representatives,
or scientists and experts of agencies, government or private, that are actively
involved in any major aspect of corn research, corn-based farming systems,
seed quality certification, production and processing, marketing and
consumption, policy advocacy, capacity building, training and extension, and
strategic communication. TAC members may be assigned to assist specific
programs, divisions, or branch stations as the services may be needed in
achieving the goals and objectives of PhilCorn.

SECTION 12. Services of Government Personnel. - The PhilCorn
may, for the purpose of its research, development, training, extension, and
information activities, obtain and secure the services of scholars and
scientists, as well as specialists in research, training, extension, products
development, and communications of any unit, experiment station, institute
or center of the DA, University of Southern Mindanao, Central Mindanao
University, Visayas State University, University of the Philippines Los Bajos,
Mariano Marcos State University, Isabela State University, Central Luzon
State University, and other agencies and universities of the national
government and foreign institutions. These personnel of national and
international reputations, from public or private institutions, shall be
designated as visiting scientists and research fellows for a term of one (1) year
to five (5) years to assist in conducting major research problems of strategic
importance and consequences in pursuing the goals and objectives of the


1

PhilCorn. The selected experts may be paid such honoraria or incentives
acceptable to all concerned and as may be fixed and authorized by the Board.

SECTION 13. Buildings, Facilities, and Equipment. - The
PhilCorn is hereby authorized to own, acquire, borrow, lease, plan, and
construct or repair buildings, laboratories, experimental farms, and other
facilities as may be necessary or proper to attain its purposes and objectives.
The Institute may also utilize facilities and experimental land of any unit of
any cooperating SUC, the DA, and of the national government that is engaged,
directly or indirectly, in activities that relate to agriculture, farming systems,
corn production, or product development of the corn industry.

(a) The PhilCorn is further authorized to purchase equipment, materials,
and articles, either locally or abroad, as may be necessary or proper to
carry out its powers and functions and attain its purposes and
objectives. The Institute shall be exempted from the payment of all
forms of taxes, duties, fees, and charges on any and all such
importation of equipment, materials, articles, and services: Provided,
however, That the same are not available locally on favorable terms.

(b) PhilCorn shall be authorized to expropriate lands for corn and
corn-based farming systems research and development purposes
provided that just compensation shall be paid to the owners of the land.
Tf the land belongs to the government or is inalienable, the Institute
shall be granted automatic title to the land.

(©) Likewise, all lands, farms, plantations, whether directly or indirectly
owned, used, utilized, or administered by the PhilCorn, and those that
it may hereinafter acquire or utilize for research, training, extension,
and technology demonstration, and seed production purposes shall be
exempted from the coverage of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Law (CARL).

SECTION 14. Appropriations. - The Secretary of Agriculture and the
Secretary of Budget and Management are hereby authorized and directed to
set aside out of the existing funds of the DA the amount of Six hundred million
pesos (P600,000,000.00) as the initial fund of the PhilCorn for CY 2026, to
be used for its initial operations, including provisions for salary of personnel,
conduct of research and technology promotion, construction of office
buildings and laboratories, and other physical infrastructure, purchase and
development of experimental farms, and acquisition and purchase of
equipment for laboratories, farm development, and offices. This initial
amount shall be drawn from the DA National Corn Program, BAR



2

appropriations, for research, RP-Japan Fertilizer Grant (KR-2), Public Law
480 and from any other existing bilateral funding sources in the DA.
Thereafter, the government contribution to the Institute’s budget shall be
provided for under its own Key Budgetary Inclusion (KBI) in the annual
General Appropriations Act and from the import duties of at least ten percent
(10%) from wheat and soybean for food and feeds which shall be transferred
annually to PhilCorn. Furthermore, the PhilCorn Board of Trustees shall seek
financial support from foreign donors, such as JICA, KOICA, AusAid, USAID,
and other similar institutions for the establishment and improvement of
PhilCorn infrastructure, laboratory facilities, field experiment stations
development, training and extension programs, scholarship and training, and
dormitory and housing for its qualified personnel.

The annual appropriations provided herein shall be subject to the fiscal
control and management procedures provided for in Executive Order No. 714
(E.O. No. 714) of 1981. All funds, savings, grants, and income of PhilCorn shall
constitute a revolving fund, to be managed as Trust Fund, and shall be
considered part of the funds automatically released to PhilCorn.

SECTION 15. Applicability of Civil Service Laws. - The PhilCorn
and its officers and employees shall be subject to the Civil Service Law, rules
and regulations: Provided, however, That all technical personnel shall be
selected on the basis of the highest possible standards of merit and fitness for
public officials and employees, preferably those with postgraduate degrees, to
be determined in accordance with such policies and guidelines as may be
recommended by the Executive Director and approved by the Board.

SECTION 16. Auditor. - The Chairperson of the Commission on Audit
(COA) shall be the ex-officio auditor of PhilCorn. For this purpose, he may
appoint a representative who shall be the auditor of PhilCorn, together with
the necessary personnel to assist the COA representative in the performance
of his duties: Provided, however, That the Branch stations shall also be served
by an auditor.

SECTION 17. Legal Counsel. - The Government Corporate Counsel
shall be the Legal Counsel of PhilCorn: Provided, however, That PhilCorn
may establish its own legal unit, subject to the supervision and control of the
Government Corporate Counsel, to handle the day-to-day legal matters
affecting the affairs of PhilCorn.

SECTION 18. Annual Report. - ‘The Executive Director, through the
Board, shall submit to the President of the Philippines an annual report,


B

together with the audit report, on the relevant accounts, generally dealing with
the activities and operations of PhilCorn.

SECTION 19. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby
shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 20. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, rules,
and regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 21. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen
(a5) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the
Philippines.

Approved,