,~ 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
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{~jhtl' u£ tQt~ ~~nft'-bru 
First Regular Session 
'13 
NOV -4 P9 :21 
, 
SENATE 
S. No. 1895 
RECEIVI<H nl:r -
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The coconut industry is a dominant stakeholder in Philippine agriculture, coconut 
being among the country's top ten export produce. 
According to the Food and 
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Philippines is the world's largest 
producer of coconuts. Three million, five hundred sixty thousand (3,560,000) hectares 
of arable land is devoted to coconut production benefiting roughly 25,000,000 Filipinos. 
It is considered to be among the top 5 net foreign exchange earners, averaging an • 
income of roughly US$1.5B per year. 
One of the recent products that can be manufactured from the coconut tree is 
"coco sugar". Coconut sugar is a by-product of coconut sap (tuba) and is obtained by 
boiling freshly harvested sap until it evaporates and thickens. It is then allowed to cool 
to become granular. Chemical analysis shows that coco sugar contains higher amounts 
of nutrients compared to brown and refined cane sugar. Coco sugar has higher levels of 
nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, chlorine, magnesium, sulfur, and micronutrients. 
Health experts indicate that coco sugar can help in the proper management and 
control of diabetes mellitus because it helps in lowering the total cholesterol level. 
Coconut sugar is good for people with diabetes since it has.a low glycemic index (GI)-
coco sugar only has a GI of 35 compared to cane sugar's GI of 50. 
This proposed measure seeks to further boost the coconut industry in the country 
by providing the mechanisms to fund the research and development (R&D) of coco 
sugar to ensure this product's conformity with internationally accepted standards for 
food and safety. It is hoped that this measure will help improve the lives of Filipino 
families who are directly and indirectly dependent on the coconut industry. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
. . 
(' ) 
~A~S~TCi"M. LAPIP 
Senator tI1ur t 
• 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SEN·ATE 
S. No. 1895 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by S.enator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid, 
AN ACT 
'13 
NOV -4 P 9 :21 
PROVIDING THE ENABLING MECHANISMS FOR RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT (R&D) OF COCONUT SUGAR IN THE COUNTRY, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES. 
Be It enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Coconut Sugar 
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Research and Development (R&D) Act of 2013". 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
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promote domestic materials and locally produced goods, and to adopt measures to 
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make such locally produced goods competitive in both the local and international 
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market. 
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Towards this end, the State shall provide the enabling mechanisms to promote 
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the production of coconut sugar in order to help and boost the coconut industry in the 
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country. 
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SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the terms "coconut 
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sugar" and "coco sugar" shall refer to the product derived from coconut sap and 
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obtained by boiling the same until it evaporates, thickens, and thereafter solidifies 
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turning into honey syrup or granular sugar. 
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SEC. 4. Promoting Research and Development (R&D) on Coconut Sugar. -
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The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in coordination with the Philippine 
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Coconut Authority (PCA), Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Food and Nutrition 
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Research Institute (FNRI), shall conduct an extensive research and development (R&D) 
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study on the health benefits and nutritional value of coconut sugar in order to develop 
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the same and ensure its compliance with internationally accepted standards on food 
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and safety. 
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The DOST shall facilitate and support interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and 
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international research activities to advance knowledge on and understanding of the 
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. 
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health and nutritional benefits of using coconut sugar, and to disseminate this 
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information to stakeholders involved in the production and promotion of coconut sugar. 
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The DOST, in coordination with the PCA, DA, and the FNRI, shall conduct a 
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year-round information, education and communication (IEC) campaign to inform and! 
educate the general public on the various health benefits of utilizing coco sugar. It shall 
also publish the latest research findings, studies and materials on the nutritional value of 
coco sugar; 
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SEC. 5. Coconut Sugar Credit Facility and Loan Package. - The Land Bank 
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of the Philippines (LBP) is hereby mandated to formulate a Coconut Sugar Credit 
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Facility and Loan Package Window which shall extend low interest loans to small and 
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medium enterprises (SMEs) seeking to venture into the business of promoting the 
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consumption and utilization of coconut sugar. 
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Within six (6) months from the date of effectivity of this Act, the LBP is mandated 
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to formulate the necessary guidelines, procedures, and requirements for the various 
, 
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stakeholders to avail of the Coconut Sugar Credit Facility and Loan Package, as 
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provided under this Section. 
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SEC. 6. 
Annual Appropriation. -
The Department of Science and 
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Technology (DOST) shall include in its annual programming and annual appropriation 
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the amount necessary to fully implement the objectives of this Act. 
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SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and .Regulations (IRR). - Within six (6) months 
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from the date of effectivity of this Act, the DOST, in coordination with the PCA. DA. and 
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the FNRI. shall promulgate such implementing rules and regulations necessary to 
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implement the provisions of this Act. 
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SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws. decrees. executive orders, rules and 
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regulations, or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
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repealed or modifief;! accordingly. 
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SEC. 9. 
Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act shall be 
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held unconstitutional or invalid, the other prOVisions of this Act not otherwise affected • 
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thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from 
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the date of its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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