ceGE eon sete TARY
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC _ ) oy ORES .

OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session )

sno 1880

“ ayers wy

VO WL 22 AY AG

Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Executive Order No. 18, creating the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), was
promulgated to promote the growth and development of the sugar industry through greater
participation of the private sector. One of its objectives is “to establish and maintain such
balanced relations between production and requirement of sugar and such marketing conditions
as will ensure stabilized prices at a leyel reasonably profitable to the producers and fair to the
consumers.” The higher cost of sugar in the local market compared to world market prices shows
that the SRA has failed to realize this objective.

The iniquitous composition of the Sugar Board, the governing body of the SRA, is
blamed for the problem. Under the law, the Board is composed of a Chairman to be appointed by
the President of the Philippines and two members - one representing the millers and the other

_ representing the planters. Being composed of representatives of sugar producers, the Board
would formulate self-serving policies. The interest of consumers is not protected.

To rectify this situation, the Board’s composition must be expanded to provide additional

members representing sugar consumers.”

ite hisses dai

* This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session.

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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC)
)

Av M6

OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session )
WO wae 22
SENATE,
s. No. 1880
A

Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago

AN ACT

(SRA) SUGAR BOARD, AMENDING EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 18

EXPANDING THE COMPOSITION OF THE SUGAR REGULATORY ADMINISTRATION

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

Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 4 of Executive Order No. 18 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Section 4. Governing Body: Sugar Board. — All corporate powers of the
Sugar Regulatory Administration shall be vested in, and exercised by, the Sugar
Board. The Board shall be composed of an Administrator, who shall act as its
Chairman, to be appointed by the President of the Philippines, and FOUR (4)
MEMBERS [two (2) members}. The FOUR (4) [two (2)] members of the Board
shall likewise be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the
recommendation of the sugar industry with one representing THE MILLERS,
THE PLANTERS, FOOD PROCESSORS AND CONSUMERS,
RESPECTIVELY [the millers and the other representing the planters]. The
Sugar Board shall meet in regular session once a month, the Board may be called
by the Chairman OR ANY MEMBER [both private sector representatives] to a
special session as the need arises. The Administrator shall act as the Chief

Executive Officer of the Sugar Regulatory Administration.”

SECTION 2. Section 5 of the same law is hereby amended to read as follows:
“Section 5. Tenure. - The Administrator shall hold office at the pleasure
of the President of the Philippines. The FOUR (4) [two (2)] members from the

private sector shall hold office for a period of three (3) years unless sooner


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removed for cause. No reappointment of the members shall be made immediately
upon termination of their respective terms of office. Any member appointed to a
vacancy shall serve only for the unexpired term of the member whom he

succeeds.”

SECTION 3. Separability Clause, - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain

valid and subsisting.

SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive

order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent

with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) days after its

publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,