FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This Bill aims to promote science and technology, which are essential for 
national development and progress as provided in Section 10 of Article XIV in 
relation to Section of Article XI1 of the Constitution, providing for the goals of the 
national economy. 
The onion industry is perhaps, one are of economic activity whose 
encouraging potentials remain untapped. For many years, the onion industry has 
been neglected despite its remarkable contributions to the country's wealth and 
income. The Philippines presently provides for almost three-fourths (3/4) of the 
onion needs in Asia and yet, ironically, the government continues to import from 
Thailand and other neighboring countries onion seeds or sets of bulb that are 
needed for growth and production. 
The problem mainly lies in the lack any comprehensive plan or program to 
develop the onion industry. The Department of Agriculture, for instance, has yet 
to show a determined effort to help improve the industry, especially in regard 
introducing technology and scientific methods to ensure better yield. This lack of 
focus and direction results in high cost of production, unstable prices and poor 
utilization of built-in advantages. 
This measure seeks to create the Philippine Onion Research Institute to 
be established in the municipality of Bongabon, Province of Nueva Ecija, which 
shall be tasked to promote and advance the scientific and technological expertise 
of the Filipinos regarding onion production in order to realize the optimal potential 
of this natural resource to, consequently, fully contribute to the country's 
economic progress and development. 
The early approval of this bill is, therefore, earnestly sought. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
AN ACT CREATING THE PHILIPPINE ONION RESEARCH INSTITUTE, 
PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES AND PROVIDING 
FOR THE NECESSARY FUNDS FOR ITS OPERATION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in 
Congress assembled: 
CHAPTER I 
ESTABLISHMENT AND OBJECTIVES 
SECTION 1. Name, Duration and Domicile. - There is hereby the 
“Philippine Onion Research Institute” hereinafter called “PHILORINS” which shall 
be organized within sixty (60) days after the approval of this Act and shall have 
its main office in the Municipality of Bongabon, Province of Nueva Ecija. This 
Corporation shall be under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture. 
SECTION 2. Purposes and Objectives. - 
The PHILORINS shall have the 
following purposes and objectives. 
(a) To conduct research work for the onion industry in all its phases, for 
the purposes 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 raising onions and onion production 
c) To ensure a permanent, sufficient and balanced production of onions 
for local consumption and exportation. 
d) To establish and maintain a sustainable 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 I1 
POWERS 
SECTION 3. Specific and General Powers. - 
To carry out the purposes 
mentioned in the preceding Section, the PHI LORTNS shall have the following 
powers: 
(a) To establish, keep, maintain and operate one central experiment 
station to undertake extensive research in onion culture and production, including 
studies as the feasibility of merchandizing onion farms. The control and 
eradication of pests, 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 experiment 
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; 
loans advisable: and 
(d) To grant loans, on reasonable terms to planters when it deems such 
(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 111 
GOVERMNG BODY 
SECTION 4. Composition and Appointment. -All corporate powers of the 
PI-IILORINS 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, 
however, that three (3) members of said board shall be appointed upon the 
recommendation of the National Federation of Onion Planters. That the 
Chairman of the Board shall be elected by the members from among themselves. 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 6. Powers and Duties of the Board of Directors - 
The Board 
shall have the following powers and duties: 


(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 such supplemental budgets of the 
corporations 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 Republic of the Philippines or by the Secretary of the Department of 
Agriculture. 
SECTION 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 or upon the recommendation of the Secretary of 
Agriculture. 
SECTION 8. Prohibition for Board Members. - No chairman 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 
SECTION 9. The General Manager. - The management of the 
SECTION I O .  Powers and Duties of the General Manager. - The 
(a) To direct and manage the affairs of and business of the corporation, on 
corporation shall be vested in the General Manager. 
General Manager shall have the following powers and duties: 
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 
(d) To perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Board 
annual report, through the Board of Directors, to the Secretary of Agriculture; 
of Directors from time to lime. 
CHAPTER V 
CIVIL SERVICE LAW APPLICATION 
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SECTION 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, b e declared by the President of the Philippines as policy-determining, 
primarily confidential or highly-technical in nature. 
SECTION 12. The financial transactions of the PHILORINS 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 the Secretary of 
Agriculture. 
CHAPTER VI 
FUNDING 
SECTION 13. Funding. - To raise the necessary funds to carry out the 
provisions of this Act, an initial fund of FIFTY MILLION (P50,000,000.00) PESOS 
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 VI1 
LIQUIDATION 
SECTION 14. Liquidation. - 
When its tern' 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. 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 16. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason or reasons, any 
part or provision of this Act shall be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other 
parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in 
full force and effect. 
SECTION 17. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect immediately upon its 
Approved, 
approval. 
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