ae

—s
Ji wePR&
s ON

 Receyyen
one: 92 aH 25 0
"TH

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Tine: 2

ry

Nney oo

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

6081

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. GIORGIDI B. AGGABAO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish the Philippine Institute on Small Ruminant Research
and Development ( PhilSR for brevity) to promote, develop and strengthen ruminant
production in the Philippines. The establishment of this institute is aimed to improve goat and
sheep production in the rural areas through research and development activities, empower
producers to develop goat and sheep raising as an enterprise through the application of
modern technologies and building capacity of different stakeholders.

Small ruminant production has been a popular activity in the rural areas of Region 2.
This is because of the wide fertile land available for pasture and grazing activities. For this
reason, goat and sheep became a secondary source of income among small farmers,
Although a popular activity, no impressive growth in the development of the local small
ruminant industry was noted up until the early part of the new millennium. This was largely
attributed to inferior quality of stocks coupled with poor production management of the:
raisers,

The PhilSR hopes to address this problem. In the long term, the PhilSR will address
three (3) important programs of government, as follows: food security, poverty alleviation
and support to allied industries.

Approval of this bill is earnestly sought



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House sino 6081

Introduced by HON.GIORGIDI B. AGGABAO

AN ACT

ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE ON SMALL RUMINANT
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Title. ~ This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Institute on Small Ruminant
Research and Development”

Sec. 2. Philippine Institute on Small Ruminant Research and Development, ~ The
Philippine Institute on Small Ruminant Research and Development, hereafter referred to as
PhilSR, is hereby established as an attached agency of the academe, the Isabela State
University (ISU) and of the national agency, the Department of Agriculture (DA) to improve
goat and sheep production in the rural areas by conducting research and development
activities, empower producers to develop goat and sheep raising as an enterprise through
application of modern technologies and building capacity of different stakeholders.

Sec.3. Objectives. — The objectives of this Act are as follows:

a)

Establish an institute that will provide research and development direction for
the small ruminant industry and its stakeholders,

i)

Develop a robust, innovative and vital programs that are based on the needs of
the industry,

rc

Promote technologies to the producers through efficient and effective
agricultural extension approaches and ensure adoption rate improvement,

d)

Analyze socio-cultural and socio- economical dynamics of the technologies
promoted and programs implemented for better stakeholder participation; and


) Develop policy guidelines and institutional arrangements for sustainable
development of small ruminant as a livelihood and as an enterprise.

See. 4. Strategic Framework of the PhilSR. — The Institute shall, within six (6) months from
the effectivity of this Act, formulate a Strategic Framework on Research, Development and
Extension for Small Ruminant Industry. The Framework will serve as basis for developing
programs on goat and sheep production towards performance improvement, diverse market
opportunities and economic viability; action plans and monitoring activities. The Framework
shall be reviewed every three (3) years, or as deemed necessary

Sec. 5. Components of the Strategic Framework. ~ The framework shall include, but not
limited to the following components:

a

Production management,

b

Nutrition and Forage management;
©) Health:

d)

Breeding using artificial reproductive techniques;

©)

Post- production,
f) Product development;
g) Socio- economies; and

h) Gender development

Sec. 6. Programs and Action Plans. ~ The Institute shall formulate Programs and Action
Plans in accordance with the Framework within one (1) year after the formulation of the
latter. The PhilSR Programs and Action Plans shall include, but not limited to, the following
components;

a) Assessment of the previous government initiatives on small ruminant
production improvement,

b

Identification of gaps on the different components of the Framework that will
serve as basis for the new research and development agenda;

@

Develop basic researches with application of biotechnology to produce kits
and other tools for efficient detection of animal’s different physiological
responses,

d

Develop entrepreneurial portfolio for the commercialization of mature
technologies on small ruminant;



e) Develop databases and systems for traceability of animals and the products
produced for consumer welfare and food safety; and

{) Obtain support from local government units, national government agencies
and international research organization,

Sec. 7. Principal Office and Branches. ~ The Institute shall have a Principal Office at Isabela
State University, Echague, Isabela. It may also establish satellite stations in strategic regions
under the supervision of a state university as identified by the PhilSR Board of Trustees.

Sec. 8. Duties and Functions. — PhilSR shall exercise the duties and functions, but not
limited to the following,

4) Lead and coordinate a national network for the implementation of research
and development programs in all parts of the country;

b) Plan, monitor, evaluate, and conduct programs for the improvement of small
ruminant production; and extension activities for the producers,

5

Create information database, collect and analyze data from the producers and
package and share new technologies and knowledge through modern
information and communication approaches,

)

Identify and develop roadmap toward efficient production management
through application of appropriate socio- economic measures and encourage
public-private partnership;

°)

Develop and guide public policy formulation and pursue policy advocacy that
will stimulate and sustain small ruminant production, processing and
marketing systems,

f) Organize producers and encourage them to become entrepreneurs through
technology adoption and commercialization

Sec. 9. Board of Trustees. — The corporate functions and powers of PhilSR shall be
exercised, and all its businesses, activities and properties shall be controlled by a Board of
Trustees, hereafter referred to as Board.

The members of the Board shall be composed of the following:

a

b.

President of the Isabela State University

Directors from Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and Bureau of Agricultural
Research (BAR)

Executive Director of Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural
Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD)



d. Executive Director, Philippine Institute on Small Ruminant Research and
Development

The President of ISU shall act as the Chairman of the Board of Trustee. On the other
hand, the PhilSR Executive Director shall act as the Secretary of the Board. All government
officials in the Board shall serve as ex-officio members and shall not receive any additional
salary or compensation. The members of the Board shall serve for a term of two (2) years.

Sec. 10. Meetings of the Board. — The Board shall meet once every three (3) months, or as
often may be deemed necessary by the Chairperson. The Chairperson may likewise call
meetings upon other government agencies for the proper implementation of this Act.

Sec. 11. Powers and Functions of the Board. ~ The Board shall exercise the following
powers and functions:

a) Guide the formulation of the vision, mission and priorities for research and
development programs of PhilSR;

b

Approved policies, programs, plans and operation procedures of PhilSR;

&

Approve the organization structure, staffing pattern, operating and capital
‘expenditures, and the budget prepared in accordance with PhilSR’s programs;

d

Approved salary ranges, benefits, privileges, bonuses, and other terms and
conditions of the service for all officers and employees of PhilSR upon the
recommendation of the Executive Director;

@)

Exercise other powers and functions and perform such other acts as may be
necessary for the attainment of the goals and objectives of PhilSR.

Sec. 12. Executive Director. PhilSR shall be headed by an Executive director who shall be
appointed by the President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the Board, and
based on the evaluation of a Search Committee through the office of the Secretary of
Agriculture

a) The Executive Director shall serve until his retirement as a government.
employee.

b) The Executive shall be assisted by the Deputy Executive Directors, division
heads, and program directors as the Board may determine to carry out the
objectives of PhilSR.

Sec. 13. Duties of the Executive Director ~ The Executive Director shall be directly
responsible to the Board, and shall have the following duties:

a) Exercise dynamic leadership, create a vision, provide strategies and directions
and supervise the implementation of all research and development as well as
extension activities, and in general to supervise the operations of PhilSR;



b) Execute contracts, incur obligations, acquire and dispose assets, and deliver
documents on behalf of PhilSR within the framework of the authority
delegated by the Board;

©) Implement policies, decisions, orders, rules and regulations that are
promulgated by the Board; and

4) Exercise other powers and functions and perform such other duties as may be
authority delegated by the Board

See. 14. Facilities and manpower. — PhilSR shall undertake its initial operations in the
existing offices, laboratories and experiment stations and other similar government
institutions within the DA. Furthermore, PhilSR shall accept personnel from collaborating
State universities and international research organizations.

Sec. 15. Buildings and Equipment. — PhilSR is hereby authorized to own, acquire, borrow,
lease, hold, plan and construct buildings, laboratories, experimental stations, and other
facilities may be necessary to attain its goal

PhilSR is likewise authorized to purchase equipment, materials and articles, either
locally or abroad, as may be necessary to carry out powers and functions and attain its
objectives

Sec. 16. Appropriations.- The amount of FIFTY MILLION PESOS ( PS0,000,000.00) shall
be appropriated by the Department of Budget and Management from the unexpended balance
of the National Treasury as the initial budget of PhilSR for its start-up and operating
expenses, and shall be included in General Appropriations Act. The appropriations herein
provided shall be subject to the fiscal control and management procedures provided for in
Executive Order No. 714, Series of 1981

Sec. 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations -Within six (6) months from the effectivity
of this Act, the Department of Agriculture and the Isabela State University , in coordination
with other concerned agencies, organizations and stakeholders, whether private or public,
shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this
Act.

Sec.18. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders and proclamations, rules and
regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

See. 19. Separability Clause.- In the event that any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting,

Sec. 20. .Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.