Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article XIII, Section 5 of the Constitution assures us that the “State shall provide 
support to agriculture through appropriate technology and research, and adequate 
financial, production, marketing, and other support services”. 
This measure seeks to actualize the said Constitutional guarantee by establishing the 
Philippine Corn Research Institute. It recognizes the fact that corn is the most 
important food next to rice. It is a staple food of 20% of the population. It is a 
component of up to 75% of formulated feeds for livestock, poultry, and aquaculture 
fishery.  
In 2022, the Philippines produced around 8.26 million metric tons of corn, a slight 
decrease from 8.3 million metric tons in 2021.1 Around 600,000 households depend 
on it as a primary source of income. We should be able to increase the productivity 
and quality of our corn produce by establishing the Philippine Corn Research Institute. 
It intends to equip our farmers to combat climate change by enhancing their capability 
to continuously develop cutting-edge technology and agricultural innovations. 
The bill seeks to increase the productivity and quality of our corn produce through 
modern farm planting practices, harvesting, processing, and packaging techniques for 
the domestic and global markets. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is most earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
1 https://www.philstar.com/business/2023/01/26/2240193/agricultural-output-shrinks-01-2022- 
May 15, 2023
9:00 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE CORN RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
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 body corporate 
attached to the Department of Agriculture (DA) to modernize the corn industry and 
consequently improve the livelihood and household income of resource-poor corn 
farmers in the rainfed, upland, and dryland 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: 
a)
To develop and implement a strong, dynamic, and innovative farmer-centered
and need-based framework for national corn 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
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crops, diversify harvests through sequential crops to sustain soil health and 
fertility and thus enhance long-term higher productivity and household income; 
 
c) 
To improve the livelihood and economic conditions of small-scale and resource-
poor farmers who are growing corn after rainfed rice as well as in upland and 
dryland farming ecosystems; 
 
d) 
To work closely with regulatory agencies such as the Bureau of Plant Industry 
(BPI); the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS): and private 
stakeholders and Non-Government Organization (NGOs) in the collection, 
conservation, and utilization of endemic or traditional corn varieties as well as in 
the experimentation, planting, and monitoring of corn hybrid and genetically 
engineered varieties; 
 
e) 
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; 
 
f) 
  To gather and provide reliable, up-to-date data to guide policy makers with 
regard to corn improvement and development, import and export volumes, and 
develop strong linkages among stakeholders in promoting the national corn 
industry; 
 
g) 
To expand employment opportunities through corn and corn-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; 
 
h) 
To initiate and undertake such other related programs in consultation and 
partnership with the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), the DA 
regional research centers (DA-RIARCs), the DOST-Philippine Council for 
Agriculture, Aquatic Resources and Natural Resources Research and 


Development (PCAARRD), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and the 
private sector. 
 
SEC. 4. Principal and Regional Offices. – The PhilCorn shall have its principal office 
at the Isabela State University or at any other suitable site as the Board of Trustees 
may decide. It may also establish other offices, branches, satellite offices, or 
subsidiaries in any geographically suitable region in the Philippines that are major 
producers of corn, as may be necessary for the accomplishment of its purposes and 
objectives. 
 
SEC. 5. Duties and Functions. – The PhilCorn shall exercise the following duties and 
functions: 
a) 
Unify, plan, fund, conduct, monitor, and evaluate corn 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; (2) natural resources 
management, watershed conservation, drought adaptation and mitigation; (3) 
corn engineering, farm mechanization, and post-harvest management; (4) pest 
surveillance, early warning 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. 
 
b) 
Unify, lead, fund, and coordinate a national network of corn and corn-based 
farming systems research and extension agencies, centers, and stations located 
in the different agro-ecological regions of the country where corn is a major crop; 
 
c) 
Develop technologies suitable for the rainfed, upland, and dryland agro-
ecosystems that will maximize the productivity and quality of locally grown corn 
and corn-based crops while also reducing production costs and ensuring long-
term and sustainable corn and corn-based production systems through genetic 
improvement and environmental resources and conservation measures; 


 
d) 
Enhance income of corn farmers by developing suitable corn-based crops and 
livestock farming systems as well as crop rotations where applicable; value-
adding corn technologies including on-farm verification, processing, packaging, 
marketing, and promotion of economically viable technologies as well as 
entrepreneurial skills, giving emphasis on those aspects necessary for group 
endeavors of small-scale farmers, cooperatives, and seed growers; 
 
e) 
Develop databases needed in the identification and preparation of necessary 
policy recommendations towards efficient, highly productive and competitive 
corn industry and corn-based farming systems through appropriate socio-
economic measures and public-private sector mobilization and participation; 
 
f) 
  Organize and develop strong training and communication programs for corn 
and corn-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 technology and participatory social mobilization procedures; and 
 
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. 6. Corporate Powers. – The PhilCorn 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;  
 
c)  
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; 
 
e)  
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 consistent with 
its purposes and objectives; and  
 
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 PhilCorn.  
 
Sec. 7. Board of Trustees. – The Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the 
Board, shall exercise all the corporate functions and powers of the PhilCorn and shall 
control all its businesses, activities, and properties that are relevant to the goals and 
functions of the Institute.  
 
The Board shall be composed of the Secretary of Agriculture or his designate as ex- 
officio Chairperson and fourteen (14) members from the following agencies and 
sectors:  


a)  
Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquaculture, 
Forestry, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) of the 
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) who will act as Co-Chairperson;  
b)  
Director of the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) who will act as Vice-
Chairperson;  
c)  
Regional Executive Director (RED) representing the DA Regional Field Offices 
(DA-RFOs);  
d)  
Undersecretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM);  
e)  
Director of the Agriculture Division of the National Economic and Development 
Authority (NEDA);  
f)  
Director of the DA-Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (DA-PCAF);  
g)  
Two (2) University Presidents from the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) 
representing major corn producing and corn based agriculture regions;  
h)  
Four (4) private sector representatives, namely: one each from among the 
national outstanding corn farmers, farmers' organizations or federations 
(Philippine Maize Federations, Inc.), private companies engaged in corn 
research and seed production, and the livestock/poultry industry; and  
i)  
Two (2) distinguished scientists from the public and private sectors.  
 
The credentials of private sector representatives shall be evaluated and scrutinized by 
competent members of the Board.  
 
b) The term of office of the members of the Board who are heads or officials from their 
respective agencies or institutions shall be co-terminus with their respective 
appointments; Provided, however, That the term of office of the Regional Executive 
Director who represents the DA-RFOs where corn is a major crop and the four (4) 
private sector representatives shall be for five years without prejudice to a 
reappointment for another five years based on merits and excellent performance in 
the Board. The PhilCorn Executive Director shall serve as Secretary of the Board. All 
government officials in the Board shall serve as ex-officio members and shall not 
receive any salary or compensation.  
 
c) The Chairperson, Co-Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and members of the Board 
shall receive per diem, as the Board may determine, for each Board meeting actually 


attended; Provided, however. That such members shall also be entitled to 
reimbursable transportation and representation allowances in going to and coming 
from board meetings and in transacting official business for the Institute.  
 
d) The Board shall meet regularly at least once every quarter or as often as the 
exigencies of the service demands. The presence of the Chairperson, Co-Chairperson 
or Vice-Chairperson and at least seven members of the Board shall constitute a 
quorum and the majority vote of the members present, there being a quorum, shall be 
necessary for the adoption of any resolution, rule, regulation, decision or any other act 
of the Board.  
 
Sec. 8. Powers and Functions of the Board. – The PhilCorn Board shall exercise 
the following powers and functions: 
a)  
Adopt its by-laws and promulgate policies, rules, regulations, and procedures for 
the efficient and effective operations of the Institute;  
 
b)  
To define and guide in the formulation of the vision, mission, strategy, and 
research- extension priorities, general plans and programs, and guidelines for 
the proper operation and management of the PhilCorn in accordance with its 
purposes and objectives and in line with research planning and monitoring 
policies and procedures of PCAARRD and BAR;  
 
c)  
To approve the PhilCorn's organizational structure and staffing pattern, operation 
and capital expenditures, and financial budget prepared in accordance with its 
corporate plans; 
  
d)  
To approve the plantilla and salary ranges, benefits, privileges, bonuses, 
scholarship and manpower development, housing facilities and support to staff, 
and other terms and conditions of service, including promotion systems similar 
to those in the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and the Department of 
Science and Technology (DOST) as well as life and medical insurances and 
retirement schemes or benefits for all officers and employees of the PhilCorn, 
upon recommendation of the Executive Director;  
 


e)  
To appoint, promote, transfer, suspend, remove or otherwise discipline any 
subordinate officer or employee of the Institute, upon recommendation of the 
Executive Director;  
 
f)  
To create such committee or committees and appoint the members thereof, as 
may be necessary and proper for the management of the PhilCorn or for the 
attainment of its purposes and objectives; and  
 
g)  
To exercise such other powers and functions and perform such other acts as 
may be necessary or proper for the attainment of the purposes and objectives of 
the PhilCorn, or as may be delegated by the Secretary of Agriculture or any 
competent authority through the Board of Trustees.  
 
Sec. 9. Executive Director and Other Officers. – The PhilCorn shall be headed by 
an Executive Director who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines, upon 
recommendation of the Board of the Trustees (BOT), based on the findings and 
recommendations of a Search Committee duly organized and commissioned by the 
Board for such purpose.  
a)  
The Executive Director shall serve for a term of five (5) years, subject to a one 
term extension of five (5) years for very meritorious performance, or a maximum 
total of ten (10) years without further extension for any reason whatsoever; 
Provided, however, That there shall be a reserved plantilla position of the same 
salary rate for the outgoing Executive Director, if he is previously a holder of a 
plantilla position at PhilCorn and shall not yet be of retirement age at the end of 
his term as Executive Director; Provided, further, That the Board of Trustees, 
through a Search Committee duly organized at least four (4) months earlier, shall 
have chosen a new Executive Director who shall immediately assume office 
during a turn-over ceremony on the expiration date of the term of office of the 
outgoing Executive Director; and Provided, finally, that no Officer-in-Charge shall 
be designated as head of the Institute.   
 
b)  
The Executive Director shall be assisted by two (2) Deputy Executive Directors, 
Division Heads, and Branch Station Directors or Managers as the Board may 
determine, to carry out the purposes and objectives of the PhilCorn.  


 
Sec. 10. Powers, Functions, and Duties of the Executive Director. – The Executive 
Director shall be directly responsible to the Board and shall have the following powers, 
functions, and duties;  
a)  
To exercise dynamic leadership, create a vision, map out the mission, provide 
strategic direction, and undertake systematic supervision over the planning and 
implementation of all research, development, technology sharing programs, 
training and extension, upgrading of scientists and staff of the Institute and, in 
general, administer and direct the management and operation in a transparent 
and corrupt-free administration of the PhilCorn;  
 
b)  
To execute all contracts, incur obligations, acquire and dispose of assets, and 
deliver documents on behalf of the PhilCorn within the framework of the authority 
delegated by the Board;  
 
c)  
To implement and enforce policies, decisions, orders, rules, and regulations that 
are promulgated or adopted by the Board;  
 
d)  
To arrange for the conduct of an External Program and Management Review 
(EPMR) by a Panel of Experts every 5 years or as often as necessary in order to 
understand the output and impact of PhilCorn programs to the farmers and 
stakeholders of the corn industry and to provide guidance to management in 
charting the future of the institute; and  
 
e)  
To exercise such other powers and functions and performs such other duties as 
may be authorized, assigned, or delegated by the Board.  
 
Sec. 11. Technical Advisory Committee. – A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), 
organized and approved by the Board, shall assist the Executive Director, Division 
heads. Program Directors, and Branch Station Directors or Managers in pursuing inter-
agency activities and participation of the national RD&E network.  
 
The TAC shall be composed of not more than nine (9) members, or as the Board may 
designate, who are heads, representatives, or scientists and experts of agencies, 


government or private, that are actively involved in any critical aspect of corn research, 
corn-based farming systems, seed quality certification, training and extension, 
production and processing, marketing and consumption, policy advocacy, and 
capacity building. TAC members may be assigned to assist specific programs, 
divisions, or branch stations as the services may require in achieving the goals of 
PhilCorn.  
 
Sec 12. Services of Government Personnel. – The PhilCorn 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, University of the Philippines Los Banos, Mariano 
Marcos 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 research problems of strategic 
importance and consequences in pursuing the goals and objectives of the Institute. 
The selected personnel may be paid such honoraria or incentives acceptable to all 
concerned and as may be fixed and authorized by the Board.  
 
Sec. 13. Buildings, Facilities, and Equipment – The PhilCorn 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, corn 
production or products development of the corn industry.  
 
The PhilCorn 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.  
 
The PhilCorn 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.   
 
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. 14. Appropriation. – The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Budget 
and Management are hereby authorized and directed to set aside out of the existing 
funds of the Department of Agriculture the amount of Four Hundred Million Pesos 
(P400M) as the initial fund to be used for its initial operations, including provisions for 
salary of personnel, conduct of research and technology promotion, construction of 
laboratories and other physical infrastructures, purchase and development of 
experimental farms, and acquisition and purchase of equipment for laboratories, farm 
development, and offices. This initial amount shall be drawn from the DA National Corn 
Program, BAR appropriations for research, RP-Japan Fertilizer Grant (KR-2), Public 
Law PL 480 (PL480), and/or any other existing bilateral funding sources in the 
Department of Agriculture. Thereafter, the government contribution to the Institute's 
operations shall be provided for under its own Key Budgetary Inclusion (KBI) in the 
Annual General Appropriations Act.  
 
Furthermore, the PhilCorn Board of Trustees shall seek financial support from foreign 
donors such as Japan International Japan Agency (JICA), Korean International 
Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Australian Agency for International Development 


(AusAID), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and similar 
institutions for the establishment and improvement of PhilCorn infrastructures, 
laboratory facilities, field experiment station development, and training and scholarship 
of qualified personnel. The annual appropriations herein provided shall be subject to 
the fiscal control and management procedures provided for in Executive Order 714 of 
1981. All funds, savings, grants, and income of the PhilCorn shall constitute a 
revolving fund, to be managed as Trust Fund, and shall be considered part of the funds 
automatically released to the PhilCorn.  
 
Sec. 15. Applicability of Civil Service Laws. – The PhilCorn and its officers and 
employees shall be subject to the Civil Service Law, rules and regulations; Provided, 
however, That all technical personnel shall be selected on the basis of the highest 
standards of merit and fitness for public officials and employees, preferably those with 
postgraduate degrees, to be determined in accordance with such policies and 
guidelines as may be approved by the Board.   
 
Sec. 16. Auditor. – The Chairperson of the Commission on Audit (COA) shall be the 
Ex- Officio Auditor of the PhilCorn. For this purpose, he may appoint a representative 
who shall be the auditor of the PhilCorn, together with the necessary personnel to 
assist the COA representative in the performance of his duties.  
 
Sec. 17. Legal Counsel. – The Government Corporate Counsel shall be the Legal 
Counsel of the PhilCorn; Provided, however, That the PhilCorn may establish its own 
legal unit, subject to the supervision and control of the Government Corporate 
Counsel, to handle the day-to-day legal matters affecting the affairs of the PhilCorn.  
 
Sec. 18. Annual Report. – The Board shall submit to the President of the Philippines 
through the Secretary of Agriculture an annual report, together with the audit report on 
the relevant accounts, generally dealing with the activities and operations of the 
PhilCorn.  
 
Sec. 19. Separability Clause. – The provisions of this Act are hereby declared 
separable. If any portion hereof shall be held invalid or unconstitutional, such invalidity 


or unconstitutionality shall not affect the other provisions, which shall remain in full 
force and effect in their entirety.  
 
Sec. 20. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect within fifteen (15) days from its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any national newspaper of general circulation.  
 
Approved,