Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill NO4'79

Introduced by HON. DANILO E. SUAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The coconut industry plays a major role in Philippine economic development through local
trade and exports. In 2015, a total 14,735,188.98 metric tons of coconut were produced,
1,379,297,80 metric tons of which were from the Calabarzon Region.Total export sales receipts
from coconut products reached $2 billion in 2016. However, a decrease in the growth rate in the
coconut industry was noted in the past year due to the destruction brought by typhoons to the major
coconut-producing provinces such as Quezon province. The country lost 33 million coconut trees to
Typhoons Pablo and Yolanda.

With 391,196 hectares, representing 78 percent of its agricultural land, planted with 78
million coconut trees, the Quezon province seeks further development of its coconut industry. The
1987 Constitution mandates the State to provide support to agriculture through appropriate
technology and research, and adequate financial, production, marketing, and other support services.
This bill, hence, aims to establish a coconut research and development facility in Quezon,
particularly in the Municipality of Catanauan, that will serve as the primary research institute for
coconut production in the province. The Center shall dwell on the production of high yield and
resilient species of coconuts and innovation in coconut farming and harvest. It is hoped that through
this bill, the Quezon province will be able to fully realize its potential as a major coconut-producing
province and contribute to greater exports and better economic performance.

CIA
DANILO E. SUAREZ

Representative
3rd District, Quezon Province


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No®479

Introduced by HON. DANILO E. SUAREZ

AN ACT ESTABLISHING QUEZON COCONUT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
CENTER IN CATANAUAN, QUEZON

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

SECTION 1. Title - This act shall be known as the “Quezon Coconut Research and
Development Act of 2017”.

SEC.2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote
research and development of coconut production, particularly in the province of Quezon, to bring
forth higher yield and quality coconut products while providing technological, modernization, and
collaborative assistance to coconut farmers. There shall be an established Quezon Coconut
Research and Development Center in the municipality of Catanauan, Quezon that will serve as the

province's primary institute in conducting research on resilient coconut species, innovation of

farming techniques, and development of coconut products to meet inte

SEC. 3. Multi-partite Cooperation Agreement. - The Department of Science and
Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTD,
Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and the local government of the Province of Quezon and

Municipality of Catanauan

issue the mandate and functions of the Quezon Coconut Research and Development Center and
integrate knowledge and capability for the innovation of the coconut industry.
SEC. 4.Separability Clause, - If any part or section of this Act is declared unconstitutional,

shall enter into a muti-partite cooperation agreement to establish and

such declaration shall not affect the other parts of sections of this Act.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause, - All laws, decrees, rules and regulations and other issuances or
part thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby amended, repealed, or

modified accordingly.


Uwekwne

SEC. 5. Effectivity ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in any two newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines, whichever

comes earlier.

Approved.