"

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSEBILLNO.4509

Introduced by Honorable Carlos M. Padilla

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish the Philippine Citrus Resources Development
Center in the Nueva Vizcaya State University in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.

Citrus is one of the most important commercially grown fruits worldwide with
a global production of over 102 million metric tons. The Philippines contributes
163,090 metric tons or 16% to the total world production. Citrus ranks fourth among,
the fruit crops with the greatest contribution to the country’s economy, next to
banana, mango and pineapple. Citrus plantations in the Philippines cover an area of
more than 35,000 hectares. Production-wise, citrus is not far behind especially with
calamondin, mandarin and pomelo which the Philippines widely grows and from
which many by-products are made due to their promising potentials for development
and global competitiveness.

Nueva Vizcaya is considered the citrus capital of our country. Its soil and climate
are conducive for propagating citrus varieties. The area is well-known for its
“Vizcaya oranges” which are harvested from July to January every year and are
brought to different urban markets in Luzon through local traders. Although the
country produces enough citrus not only for Philippine consumption but also for
export, still a lot of the fruits go to waste. One of the major constraints identified is
the inefficient postharvest handling system and the key to good postharvest
handling is careful harvesting. It is ideal that farmers should maintain postharvest
conditions so that deterioration is minimized and quality at its best is preserved.
But that is easier said than done since most of the citrus farmers lack the training,


knowledge, equipment and necessary facilities to properly handle their produce.
Farmers also lack promotional strategies to expand their markets.

‘There is therefore a great need to establish a Philippine Citrus Resources and
Development Center to conduct research and training on generating cost effective
and efficient technologies, postharvest handling, processing and related studies that
will be beneficial to the citrus industry specially for small scale producers. The
approval of this bill will harness the potentials of the citrus industry as a dollar
earner that will augment the revenues of the government that can be used to deliver
more basic services to the people.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is highly and earnestly
recommended.

Le a

LOS M. PADILLA


eyvaurene

10

1

12

13

14

15

16

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO, 4509

Introduced by Honorable Carlos M. Padilla

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE CITRUS RESOURCES
DEVELOPMENT CENTER AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION. 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to
develop and modernize agriculture and to recognize the potential of citrus fruits to
food production by giving priority to research and development, invention,
innovation and utilization through science and technology education, training and
services,

Towards this end, the establishment of a citrus center is necessary to harness
the potential of the citrus industry as. a means of addressing poverty, ensuring food
security, enhancing nutrition, generating employment opportunities and promoting,

sustainable use of unutilized and underutilized lands in the country.


1

10

an

12

13

14

15

16

a7

18

19

20

SEC. 2. Philippine Citrus Resources Development Center. — The
Philippine Citrus Resource Development Center, hereinafter referred to as the
Citrus Center, is hereby established to pursue programs and projects that will
develop and promote production, processing and utilization of citrus and its
various products to improve the quality of life of communities where citrus is
currently or will be grown.

The Citrus Center shall be the central administrative body responsible for the
development, implementation and evaluation of plans, programs, institutional,
research and development of the citrus industry in the Philippines. It shall integrate
and conduct researches, development, education and training on citrus all over the
country.

The Citrus Center shall have its main office at the Nueva Vizcaya State
University in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.

SEC. 3. Objectives. — The Citrus Center shall have the following
objectives:

a) To institutionalize a national system of strategic policies and
directions for citrus resources and development program to increase quality
production and meet the growing demand of the highly competitive market;

b) To encourage and sustain the levels of investment in the development

and production of the citrus industry and related industries;


7

18

19

20

c) To enhance the productivity of small and large scale citrus farmers by
equipping them with the latest and appropriate technologies to meet the standards
of the globally competitive market;

d) To promote science and technology research and development in the
field of citrus industry;

e) To develop technologies that will improve the over-all productivity
and growth of the citrus industry; and

h To train farmers, students and workers on production, postharvest
handling, primary processing and marketing of citrus.

SEC. 4. Duties and Functions, — The Citrus Center shall exercise the
following duties and functions:

a) Prepare and implement the short, medium and long term Philippines
Citrus Development Plan;

b) Establish and operate satellite citrus centers in Luzon, Visayas and
Mindanao to implement the citrus development plan;

c) Acquire by negotiation or by expropriation private agricultural

properties which are deemed necessary in the furtherance of its objectives;

d) Plan and construct buildings and other facilities, and purchase, obtain
and acquire machineries, materials and equipment locally and abroad as may be

necessary to pursue its purpose and objectives;


10

1

12

13

14

15

e) Assign, contract, operate, rent, lease or sell to citrus farmers the

machineries, equipment, materials and supplies for the production, handling,

transport, warehousing and processing of citrus;

f) Enter into agreements with other institutions or organization, private
or public, local or national;

g) Receive and manage grants, aid, donations or any kind of assistance
for achieving its objectives;

h) Obtain the services of scholars, scientist and technical personnel for
the purpose of their training, research and development activities;

i)  Promulgate and enforce rules and regulations governing the
production, processing and trade of citrus; and

aD) Exercise all other duties and functions necessary to carry out the
purpose of this Act.

SEC. 5. Advisory Council. — The Citrus Center shall have an Advisory
Council which shall formulate the policies and directions for the implementation of
the citrus center programs. The Advisory Council shall be composed of the
following:

a) Secretary of Agriculture, as Chairperson;

b) President of the Nueva Vizscaya State University, as Vice

Chairperson;


10

1

12

13

14

15

16

a7

18

19

©) Secretary of Science and Technology;

d) Secretary of Trade and Industry;

e) Executive Director of the Philippine Citrus Resources Development

Center;

f) One representative from the private sector to be chosen among citrus
product manufacturers; and

g) One representative from the citrus farmers organizations, as members.

SEC. 6. Power and Functions, — The Advisory Council shall exercise
the following powers and functions:

a) Review annually the plans and programs of the Citrus Center;

b) Prepare the operational guidelines pertaining to the organizational
management structure, staffing pattern, staff development, salaries, honoraria and
disbursement powers of the Executive Director; and

c) Prepare such other regulations that will ensure the realizations of the
objectives and functions of the Citrus Center,

SEC. 7. Executive Director, ~ The Citrus Center shall be headed by the
Executive Director who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines from
the list recommended by the Advisory Council. The Executive Director shall

function as the Secretary of the Advisory Council.


10

a

12

13

14

15

18

19

20

SEC.8. Duties of the Executive Director. - The Executive Director shall
have the following duties:

a) Exercise over-all supervision and direction over the implementation of
all resources and development programs of the Citrus Center and, in general, to
supervise and direct the management, operation and administration of the Citrus
Center;

b) — Execute contracts, incur obligations, acquire and dispose of assets and
deliver documents on behalf of the Citrus Center;

c) Approve the organizational structure, staffing pattern, operating and
capital expenditures of the Citrus Center;

d) Recommend the officers and employees of the Citrus Center on the
basis of the highest possible standards of merit and fitness for public servants
subject to the civil service laws, rules and regulations;

e) Implement and enforce policies, decisions, orders, rules and
regulations issued by the Department of Agriculture; and

f) Exercise such other powers and functions as may be authorized or
delegated.

SEC. 9. Annual Report. — The Executive Director shall submit to the
President of the Philippines, through the Secretary of Agriculture, an annual report

of the activities and operations of the Citrus Center.


SEC. 10. Appropriations. — The amount of fifty million (P50,000.000.00)
pesos is hereby appropriated for the initial operating expenses of the Philippine
Citrus Resources and Development Center. Thereafier, such sums as may be
necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations, ~ Within sixty (60) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall issue the necessary
rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act.

SEC.12. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full
force and effect.

SEC.13. Repealing Clause, ~ All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
and other issuance, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC.14. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,