Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bil No. 1379

Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE MIKAELA ANGELA B. SUAN!

AN ACT
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE ONION RESEARCH INSTITUTE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A study of the farming industries in the globe will reveal that establishing an onion
industry can substantially benefit a country’s economy. Australia, for instance, is an established
onion producer that caters to both its domestic and export markets. Other countries with
farming industries have relatively delved into onion production as well.

The Philippines, with all its farming background and setting can easily turn into a
respectable onion producing country. However, a comprehensive study from the initial to the
final stages of onion production has yet to be put forth, if any, or altered to attune to modern
conditions in case an underperforming onion industry in the country beckons.

The bill proposing to create the Philippine Onion Research Institute is the vehicle which
will catapult the country’s onion industry into a more progressive entity. An industry capable
of serving the domestic and international markets, bringing with it much-needed revenue, thus
considerably uplifting the lives of Filipinos in the process.

The bill also aspires to establish and operate one central experiment station which will
undertake extensive research in onion culture and production such as, but not limited to,
feasibility studies on merchandising onion farms, for example. The institute shall be placed
under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture (DA) for the purpose of employing the
expertise of said agency and to assure the successful implementation of the same. The DA as
an administrative agency of the government is composed of experts in a specific field of
specialization under its jurisdiction. Hence, the decision to place the aforesaid establishment
under the supervision of the said agency certainly augurs well for the proposed bill.

The bill, in detail, intends to conduct all kinds of research work for the onion industry,
aiming to discover and introduce processes that will improve productivity with such efficiency
in all aspects of production. Moreover, the bill aims to establish and maintain a sustainable and
balanced relation between production and consumption of onions in the domestic and foreign
markets in the process. All to be done at a projected reduction of cost completing the
metamorphosis of the country’s onion industry.



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

+ This bill was originally filed by Rep. Estrellita 8. Suansing during the 16%, 17 and 18" Congress.


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

NINI ‘-ENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.__1379

Introduced by

REPRI ‘ATIVE MIKAELA ANGELA B. SUAN!

AN ACT
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE ONION RESEARCH INSTITUTE

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

CHAPTER I
ESTABLISHMENT AND OBJECTIVES

SECTION 1. Name, Duration and Domicile. ~ There is hereby created the “Philippine Onion
Research Institute”, hereinafter called “PHIL ONIONS INSTITUTE”, which shall be
organized within sixty (60) days after the approval of this Act and shall have its main office in
an appropriate and suitable place in the Province of Nueva Ecija. This Corporation shall be
under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture.

SEC. 2. Purposes and Objectives. ~ The PHIL ONIONS INSTITUTE shall have the following
purposes and objectives:

a. To conduct research work for the onion industry in all its phases, for the purpose of
introducing such practices or processes that will reduce the cost of production,
increase and improve productivity and achieve greater efficiency in the industry;

b. To improve existing methods of raining onions and onion production;

¢. To ensure a permanent, sufficient and balanced production of onions for local
consumption and exportation;

d. Toestablish and maintain a suitable and balanced relation between production and
consumption of onions, and such marketing conditions therefore, as will ensure
stabilized prices at a level sufficient to cover the cost of production plus a
reasonable profit; and


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e. To promote the effective merchandizing of onions in the domestic and foreign
markets so that those engaged in the onion industry will be placed on a more
economic stability and security.

CHAPTER I
POWERS

SEC. 3. Specific and General Powers. —To carry out the purposes mentioned in the preceding
Section, the PHIL ONIONS INSTITUTE shall have the following powers:

a. Toestablish, keep, maintain and operate one central experiment station to undertake
fe research in onion culture and production, including studies as to the
feasibility of merchandizing onion farms, the control and eradication of pests, and
the selection of high yielding varieties of onions suited to the country’s climatic
conditions;

b. To acquire, obtain and purchase such machinery, materials, equipment and supplies
as may be necessary to execute such researches and experiments work successfully;

c. To buy, sell, assign, operate, rent or lease any other equipment and materials for the
production, manufacture, handling, transportation and warehousing of onions;

d. To grant loans, on reasonable terms to planters when it deems such loans advisable;
and

e. Generally, to exercise all powers necessary to carry out the purposes for which it is
created, in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations.

CHAPTER II
GOVERNING BODY

SEC. 4. Composition and Appointment. — All corporate powers of the PHIL ONIONS
INSTITUTE shall be vested in, and exercised by, a Board of Directors consisting of five (5)
members to be appointed by the President of the Philippines: Provided, That at least one of the
members shall come from the Province of Nueva Ecija and the other one shall come from
another onion-growing province: Provided, further, That three (3) members of said Board shall
be appointed upon recommendation of the National Federation of Onion Planters: Provided,
‘finally, That the Chairperson of the Board shall be elected by the members among themselves.

SEC. 5. Tenure and Compensation, ‘The members of the Board shall serve as designated by
the President of the Philippines in their respective appointments for terms of two, four, and six
years, respectively from the date they qualify and assume office. Compensation of the members
shall be determined in accordance with existing laws.

SEC. 6. Powers and Duties of the Board of Directors. — The Board shall have the following
powers and duties:


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a. To prescribe rules and regulations governing the manners in which the general
business of the corporation may be exercised;

b. To appoint and fix compensation of the General Manager, other officers of the
corporation, with the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture. The Board, by a vote
of majority of all members, may, for just cause, suspend and remove the General
Manager and other officers of the corporation;

c. To approve the annual and/or supplemental budgets of the corporation which may
be submitted to it by the General Manager from time to time; and

d. To perform such other duties as may be assigned to it by the President of the
Philippines or by the Secretary of Agriculture.

SEC. 7. Suspension and Removal of Directors. - Any member of the Board of Directors may,
for cause, be suspended or removed by the President of the Philippines solely upon the
recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture.

SEC. 8. Prohibition for Board Members. — No chairperson or member of the Board of
Directors of this corporation shall at the same time serve in other corporation or agency in any
capacity whatsoever, unless authorized by existing laws.

CHAPTER IV
MANAGEMENT

SEC. 9. The General Manager — The management of the corporation shall be vested in the
General Manager.

SEC. 10. Powers and Duties of the General Manager. ~ The General Manager shall have the
following powers and duties:

a. To direct and manage the affairs of and business of the corporation in behalf of the
Board of Directors and subject to its control and supervision;

b. To sit in all meetings of the Board and participate in the deliberations thereon, but
without the right to vote;

c. To submit within six (6) days after the close of each fiscal year an annual report,
through the Board of Directors, to the Secretary of Agriculture; and

d. To perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors
from time to time.


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CHAPTER V
CIVIL SERVICE LAW APPLICATION

SEC. 11. Application of Civil Service Law and Regulation. — All officers and employees of
the corporation shall be subject to the Civil Service Law, rules and regulations, except those
whose position may, upon recommendation of the Board, be declared by the President of the
Philippines as policy-determining, primarily confidential or highly technical in nature.

SEC. 12. The financial transactions of the PHIL ONIONS INSTITUTE shall be audited in
accordance with existing laws and administrative regulations. A report of audit for each fiscal
year by the Auditor, through the Commission on Audit, to the Board of Directors, and copies
thereof, shall be furnished to the Secretary of Agriculture.

CHAPTER VI
FUNDING

SEC. 13. Appropriations. - To raise the necessary funds to carry out the provisions of this Act,
an initial fund of Fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated, to be charged
against the appropriations intended for the Department of Agriculture under the current General
‘Appropriations Act. Revolving funds shall be derived from the contributions of the Philippine
Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and from
sources of foreign origin.

CHAPTER VII
LIQUIDATION

SEC. 14, Liquidation, ~ When its term or period of existence has expired in accordance with
the provisions of this Act, it shall be liquidated in accordance with existing laws, rules and
regulations thereof.

SEC. 15. Reversion to General Funds. — all hinds resulting from dissolution and liquidation
of the corporation as herein provided shall ipso jure revert to the General Fund of the National
Government.

CHAPTER VIII
FINAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 16. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional,
the other provisions not so declared shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 17. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,