Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 6324

Introduced by HON. JOSE ANTONIO “KUYA JONATHAN” R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT ESTABLISHING
THE PHILIPPINE CORN RESEARCH INSTITUTE
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish a Corn Research Institute in the Philippines known as the
Philippine Corn Research Institute that will unify, coordinate, fund, and strengthen all
research and development (R&D) as well as training and technology sharing activities on corn
and related crops for food, feeds, industrial and biofuel purposes.

Com is the second most important crop in the Philippines. About 14 million Filipinos
prefer white corn as their main staple and yellow corn accounts for about 50% of livestock mixed
feeds. Some 600,000 farm households depend on com as a major source of livelihood. This does
not include transport services, traders, processors and agricultural input suppliers who directly
benefit from com production, processing, marketing and distribution. Corn is also processed into
high value products, such as corn starch, corn syrups, corm oil, gluten and snack foods.

However, according to the National Com Program of the Department of Agriculture
(DA), on a national average, the com production in the Philippines is inefficient compared to
‘Thailand, Argentina, United States, and other major com-producing countries. The Philippines
Jags behind with its average corn productivity of 3.21 metric tons/hectare (mvha) as recorded by
DA. Despite the increasing demand for com, (white com consumed as staple by around 12
million Filipinos and yellow com wherein approximately 70 percent is used as feeds for
livestock), overall production is low and inefficient.

Most com farmers tend to have small farms of up to 2.0 ha only, They also
characteristically earn most of their income from com production and other agricultural
enterprises (usually as hired labor in other farms) rather than non-agricultural or non-farm
activities, Thus, their lives and their families depend heavily on the conditions of the com
industry.

To increase productivity and incomes of com farmers, this bill aims to establish
productivity improvement programs, provide the needed infrastructure support, enhance research
and development on product diversification, provide human resource development and extension
services, and provide financial assistance to small corn farmers and farm workers.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate consideration and approval ofthe bill is earnestly

JOSE ANTONIO “KUYSSONATHAN” R. SY-ALVARADO
fepresentative
pifat District of Bulacan


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House BILLNO. 6324

Introduced by HON, JOSE ANTONIO “KUYA JONATHAN” R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT ESTABLISHING
‘THE PHILIPPINE CORN RESEARCH INSTITUTE
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF

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

SECTION 1, Short Title. This Act shall be known as the Philippine Corn Research Institute
Act.

SEC, 2, Philippine Corn Research Institute, The Philippine Corn Research Institute, hereinafter
referred to as PhilCorn, is hereby established as a hody corporate attached to the Department of
Agriculture (DA) to modernize the corn industry and consequently improve the livelihood and
household income of resource-poor com farmers in the rain-fed, upland, and dry-land farming
communities and to empower farmers with the tools of science and technologies so that they can
cope up with problems of low yields, droughts, floods, land degradation, global warming, and
other risks arising from environmental and climate changes.

SEC, 3, Objectives, The objectives and goals of this Act are as follows

‘To develop and implement a strong, dynamic, and innovate farmer-centered and need-
based national com research and development, technology sharing, training, and
extension programs,

b)

To strengthen the national capacity for corn research and extension, modernize
production and utilization as well as industrial processing of corn and corn-based crops,
diversify harvests through sequential crops to sustain soil health and fertility and thus
enhance long-term higher productivity and household income;

°)

‘To improve the livelihood and economic conditions of small-scale and resource-poor
farmers who are growing com after rain-fed rice as well as in upland and dry-land
farming ecosystems,

4) To develop and implement sustainable and environment-friendly corn and corn-based
farming systems in the vulnerable and marginal areas like sloping terrains and evaluate
those areas where crops other than corn may be more appropriate to grow,

°)

To gather and provide reliable, up-to-date data to guide policy makers with regard to com
improvement and development, import and export volumes, and develop strong linkages
among stakeholders in promoting the national corn industry;


)

‘To expand employment opportunities through com and com-based farming systems in
the rural areas, and ultimately promote the general welfare of the people through higher
efficiency and profitability in production, industrial products development, processing,
and marketing;

‘SEC. 4, Duties and Functions. The PhilCom shall exercise the following duties and functions:

a)

b)

°)

d)

e)

Unify, plan, fund, conduct, monitor, and evaluate com research, development, and
technology promotion in different scientific and technological fields and programs,
including but not limited to the following thrusts: (1) germ plasm collection,
conservation, breeding, and biotechnology; adaptation and mitigation; (3) corn.
engineering, farm mechanization, and postharvest management: (4) pest surveillance,
early warming system, integrated pest management, and biological control methods; (5)
socio-economics, impact assessment, and policy advocacy; (6) technology packaging and
demonstration, promotion and deployment, training and communication; (7) processing
and industrial-chemical products development; and (8) corn-based farming systems, farm
management improvement, and experiment station development.

Unify, lead, fund, and coordinate a national network of com and corn-based farming
systems research and extension agencies, centers, and stations located in the different
agro-ecological regions of the country where com is a major crop;

Develop technologies suitable for the rain-fed, upland, and dry-land agro-ecosystems that
will maximize the productivity and quality of locally grown corm and com-based crops
while reducing production costs and ensuring long term and sustainable com and com-
based production systems through genetic improvement and environmental resources and
conservation measures;

Enhance income of corn farmers by developing suitable corn-based crops and livestock
farming systems as well as crop rotations where applicable, value-adding com
technologies including on-farm verification, processing, packaging, marketing, and
promotion of economically viable technologies as well as entreprencurial skills, giving
‘emphasis on those aspects necessary for group endeavors of small-scale farmers,
‘cooperatives, and seed growers,

Develop databases needed in the identification and preparation of necessary policy
recommendations towards efficient, highly productive and competitive com industry and
com-based farming systems through appropriate socio-economic measures and public-
private sector mobilization and participation;

Organize and develop strong training and communication programs for com and com-
based farming systems scientists, research managers, and extension specialists to enable
them undertake effective and timely technology promotion of packaged technologies
among clusters of farmers and corporate growers by utilizing modern extension systems
such as information, education, and communication (IEC) technology and participatory
social mobilization procedures;


g) Publish and disseminate research and extension findings and recommendations through
scientific journals, books, technical and extension bulletins, videos, and other print and
communication channels.

SEC. 5. Corporate Powers, The PhilCom shall exercise the following corporate powers

a) Exercise all the powers of a corporation under the general corporation law, in so far as
such powers are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act;

b)

Enter into, make and execute contracts and agreements of any kind or nature, and to sue
and be sued in its corporate name;

©)

Borrow funds and obtain loans from all sources, whether local or foreign and whether
government or private, to help finance its research programs and its capital and operating
expenditures, or support to farmer entrepreneurial activities:

d) Invest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, own, lease, mortgage, pledge, sell, assign,
convey, exchange, encumber, borrow, or otherwise deal in real and/or personal properties
of whatever kind and nature, or any interest therein, including shares of stock, bonds,
notes, securities, and other evidences of indebtedness of natural or juridical persons,
whether domestic or foreign and whether government or private;

¢)

Receive and acquire from any person, government and private entities, whether foreign or
domestic, or from any corporation, partnership, association or other entity such
characters, licenses, franchises, rights, privileges, concessions, assistance, grants,
donations, loans, and contributions consisting of such properties, real or personal,
including funds and valuable effects, as may be useful, necessary or proper to finance its
research, capital and operating expenditures or otherwise carry out its purposes and
objectives, and to administer the same in accordance with the terms and agreement,

f) Acquire from the government, whether national or local or from any person, corporation,
partnership, association or other entity, such characters, franchises, rights, privileges,
assistance, financial or otherwise and concessions as may be conducive to and necessary
or proper for the attainment of the purposes and objectives of PhilCom.

SEC. 6. Services of Government Personnel. The PhilCom may, for the purpose of its research,
development, training, and extension activities, obtain and secure the services of scholars and
scientists as well as specialists in research, training, extension, and communication of any unit,
experiment station, institute or center of the Department of Agriculture, University of Southern
Mindanao, Central Mindanao University, Visayan State University, Isabela State University,
Central Luzon State University, and other agencies and universities of the national government
and foreign institutions. Those personnel of national and international reputations, from public or
private institutions, shall be designated as visiting scientists and research fellows for a term of
‘one year to five years to assist in conducting major honoraria or incentives acceptable to all
concemed and as may be fixed and authorized by the Board.

SEC. 7. Buildings, Facilities, and Equipment. The PhilCom is hereby authorized to own,
acquire, borrow, lease, plan, and construct or repair buildings, laboratories, experimental farms,
and other facilities as may be necessary or proper to attain its purposes and objectives. It may


also utilize facilities of any unit of any cooperating SUC, the Department of Agriculture, and of
the national government that is engaged, directly or indirectly, in activities that relate to
agriculture, farming systems, com production or products development of the corn industry.

a) The Philcom is further authorized to purchase equipment, materials and articles, either
locally or abroad, as may be necessary or proper to carry out its powers and functions and
attain its purposes and objectives. It shall be exempted from the payment of any and all
forms of taxes, duties, fees, and charges on any and all such importation of equipment,
materials, articles, and services, Provided, however, That the same are not available
locally on favorable terms.

'b) The PhilCorm shall be authorized to expropriate lands for corn and corn-based farming

systems research and development purposes provided that just compensation is paid to
the owners of the land. If the land belongs to the government or is inalienable, the
institute is granted automatic title to the land.

c}

Likewise, all lands, farms, plantations, whether directly or indirectly owned, used,
utilized or administered by the PhilCorn and those that it may hereinafter acquire or
utilize for research, training, extension and technology demonstration, and seed
production purposes shall be exempted from the coverage of the Comprehensive
‘Agrarian Reform Law.

SEC. 8. Appropriations. The amount necessary to implement the provisions of this Act shall be
included in the budget of the Department of Agriculture in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The DA, in consultation with concemed
government agencies and com industry stakeholders, shall issue the implementing rules and
regulations of this Act within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. The provisions of this Act are hereby declared separable. If any
portion hereof shall be held invalid or unconstit |, such invalidity or unconstitutionality
shall not affect the other provisions. Whict remain in full force and effect in their entirely.

SEC, 11. Effectivity Clause — shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication
in two (2) newspaper of general girculation.

Approved.