SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. NO. 2914 
Introduced by SENATOR FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. 
AN ACT 
'15 
AUG 25 P2:41 
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANANA RESEARCH CENTER IN PANABO 
CITY, PROVINCE OF DAVAO DEL NORTE TO BE KNOWN AS THE ANTONIO O. 
FLOIRENDO, SR. BANANA RESEARCH CENTER AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Explanatory Note 
This bill seeks to establish the Philippine National Banana Research Center in 
Panabo City, Province of Davao del Norte to be known as the Antonio O. Floirendo, 
Sr. Banana Research Center. 
Davao del Norte is the country's leading producer of bananas. In fact it is 
known as the Banana Capital of the Philippines because of its vast banana 
plantations, with a total land area of 36,153 hectares. According to the Philippine 
Statistics Authority, Davao del Norte produces 1.591.008 metric tons of bananas a 
year. 
Despite this booming economic growth, local banana growers and 
producers have voiced their concerns on the banana industry's sustainability. 
Hence, there is a pressing need to put up a banana research center that will 
undertake scientific research and analysis to further develop the industry, and will 
address the vital issues of food security and stability of the banana production. 
This bill seeks to establish the Philippine National Banana Research Center, to 
be named after the "Banana Magnate" of the Philippines, Antonio Floirendo Sr., 
who was instrumental in transforming vast track of lands in Mindanao into fruits-for-
export plantation, especially bananas. This specialized banana research center 
shall be responsible for the conduct of comprehensive studies and scientific 
approaches to attain sustainable banana farming. 
The establishment of the Antonio O. Floirendo, Sr. Banana Research Center is 
a concrete response towards addressing concerns in the banana industry such as 
prevention of diseases that infest banana farms, improved farming techniques and 
post-harvest practices as well as the exploration of potential banana varieties. 
This piece of legislation is a fitting recognition of Antonio Floirendo, Sr.'s 
contributions to the progressive banana industry in the country. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
FERDINAN 
R. MARCOS, JR. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. NO. 2914 
"15 
~UG 25 P2 :41 
HECEIVEO BY;-f~ 
Introduced by SENATOR FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANANA RESEARCH CENTER IN PAN ABO 
CITY, PROVINCE OF DAVAO DEL NORTE TO BE KNOWN AS THE ANTONIO O. 
FLOIRENDO, SR. BANANA RESEARCH CENTER AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. 
Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine National 
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Banana Research Center Act." 
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SEC. 2. Dec/aration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
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State to promote industrialization and full employment based on sound 
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agricultural development and agrarian reform through industries that make full 
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and efficient use of human and natural resources, and which are competitive in 
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both domestic and foreign markets. Toward this end, the establishment of a 
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national banana research center is necessary in order to develop a more 
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balanced and integrated program for the banana industry and to have a 
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specialized institution which shall undertake research programs and provide 
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relevant, efficient and strategic approaches to enhance banana productivity 
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in the country and improve the livelihood of banana farmers. 
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SEC. 3. 
Philippine National Banana Research Center. -
The Philippine 
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National Banana Research Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, 
is 
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hereby established in Panabo City, Province of Davao del Norte under the 
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Department of Agriculture to provide research and development techniques for 
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crop improvement, protection, production, post-harvest handling and the 
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maintenance of germ plasm collection and gene bank that are capable of 
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producing good quality varieties of banana. 
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The Center shall be known as the Antonio O. Floirendo, Sr. Banana 
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Research Center in recognition of the many contributions made by Antonio O. 
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Floirendo, Sr. to the banana industry in the country. 
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SEC. 4. 
Duties and Functions. - The Center shall exercise the following 
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duties and functions: 
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a) 
Integrate, collate and support research programs and studies on 
the banana industry; 
b) 
Conduct continuing research on developing productive, high 
yielding, disease-resistant and good varieties of banana; 
c) 
Conduct comprehensive studies and research on banana diseases 
and how to efficiently and effectively address the same; 
d) 
Undertake research and generate relevant, efficient, cost-
effective, and scientific approaches to achieve sustainable banana farming; 
e) 
Establish and maintain germplasm collection and gene bank for 
banana; 
f) 
Accelerate the transfer of improved banana fechnologies to 
farmers and other stakeholders through on-farm research; 
g) 
Upgrade the skills of development facilitators and banana farmers 
through trainings, seminars and workshops on farming techniques, banana 
production and postharvest handling and processing; 
h) 
Establish national and international linkages for banana research, 
development and production activities; 
i) 
Coordinate 
with 
local 
government 
units, 
non-government 
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organizations and the private sector involved in the development of the 
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banana industry; and 
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Receive and manage grants, aid, donations or any kind of 
assistance from donors, either foreign or domestic, to achieve the Center's 
objectives. 
SEC. 5. Executive Director. - The Center shall be headed by an Executive 
Director who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the 
recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture. The Executive Director shall be 
a recognized agriculturist with experience in banana research development or 
a specialist banana grower actively involved in banana farming and production 
technologies. 
All other officers and employees of the Center shall be appointed by the 
Secretary of Agriculture upon the recommendation of the Executive Director 
and in accordance with existing Civil Service law and rules and regulations. 
SEC. 6. Duties and Responsibilities. - The Executive Director shall exercise 
the following duties and responsibilities: 
a) 
Exercise over-all supervision and direction over the implementation 
of all research and development programs of the Center and in general to 
supervise and direct its management, operation and administration; 
b) 
Execute contracts, incur obligations, acquire and dispose of assets 
and deliver documents on behalf of the Center; 
c) 
Approve the organizational structure, staffing pattern, operating 
and capital expenditures of the Center; 
d) 
Recommend the appointment of the officers and employees of 
the 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 and perform such other 
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duties as may be authorized, delegated, or assigned by law. 
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SEC. 7. Annual Report. -
The Executive Director shall submit to the 
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President of the Philippines, through the Secretary of Agriculture, an annual 
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report generally dealing with the activities and operations of the Center, 
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together with the audit report on the relevant accounts. 
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SEC. 8. Donations and Solicitations. - The Center may solicit and receive 
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donations or endowments of money, property or services which shall be exempt 
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from income or gift taxes and all other taxes, charges or fees imposed by the 
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govemment or any political subdivision or instrumentality thereof. 
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Government corporations are hereby authorized to give grants to the 
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Center from the unimpaired surplus of funds at their discretion. 
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SEC. 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of 
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this Act shall be charged to the appropriations for the Department of 
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Agriculture. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for the operation and 
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maintenance of the Center shall be included in the annual General 
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Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from 
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the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall issue the necessary 
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rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
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SEC. 11. 
Separability Clause. -
If any provision or part of this Act is 
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declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not 
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affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 12. 
Repealing Clause. -
All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
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regulations and other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the 
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provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
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SEC. 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general 
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circulation. 
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Approved, 
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