REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE;

we
Ss
Quezon City, Metro Manila

RECEIVED
oar 1 JUL 2013

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.

Introduced by REP. CESAR

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

Abaca grows innately in Philippine soil. Known worldwide as Manila
Hemp, abaca is superior over all fibers because of its great strength and its
resistance to water. Thus, it is dubbed as the world’s strongest natural fiber.
The Philippines is the Abaca Capital of the World supplying 86% of the
world's total fiber requirement. Such market dominance has made abaca one
of the country's top dollar earners.

Even before the Spaniards came, the abaca industry already exists.
The abaca fiber was woven as fabric and this was a significant industry in the
Bicol region then. In 1920, an American Lieutenant brought samples of this
indigenous material to the United States and since then the US Navy used
abaca for cordage and said agency became the biggest abaca importer.

The abaca fiber is one of the longstanding export commodities of the
Philippines. It is the world’s premier material for cordages. It is also used for
tea bags, meat and sausage casings and cigarette papers and filters. Over
the years, it has been discovered to be useful in non-traditional uses such as.
the fiber composite of the automobile industry like Mercedes Benz and BMW.
The demand for this fiber is also high in handicraft industries such as papers,
furniture, lamps and even currency notes. Notable designers have started
using abaca for making gowns, garments and shoes. It is also being
manufactured as cosmetics and medicines.

Indeed, abaca has proven its versatility and the demand for it in the
world market has increased over the years. However, it is undeniable that the
abaca industry is in crisis. The prevalence of abaca pests and diseases has
been plaguing the abaca plants resulting in the decrease of harvest for abaca
farmers and the decline in the quality of abaca fibers produced.



The establishment of an Abaca Biotechnology Laboratory will address
the issue of disease eradication in this industry. Through its state of the art
facilities, experts can now control abaca pests and diseases through a
sustained rehabilitation and disease eradication program. They can also
increase the production of high quality fiber through the development of new
abaca cultures which are high-yielding and resistant to viral diseases. Hence,
the passage of this bill is highly sought.

eee
CESAR V. SARMIENTO


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

GEG

House Bill No.

Introduced by REP. CESAR V. SARMIENTO

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ABACA
BIOTECHNOLOGY LABORATORY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. The State recognizes the vital importance of the abaca
industry to the integrated development of the national economy, particularly to
the holistic development of the agricultural sector. It shall be the policy of the
State to develop the abaca industry to enhance to the fullest its productive
capability.

Toward this end, the State shall promote and support a strategic
research and training development program in order to make a sustainable
abaca industry.

SECTION 2. Pursuant to the above policy, there shall be established
an Abaca Biotechnology Laboratory (Laboratory) under the supervision of the

Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) to be located inside the Bureau

of Animal Industry Compound, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City.


SECTION 3. The Laboratory shall be established in compliance with
the guidelines set by the National Bio-safety Commission of the Philippines
(NBCP) for the construction of biotechnology buildings.

SECTION 4. The Department of Agriculture through FIDA in
coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) shall
issue such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the
purpose of this Act.

SECTION 5. The amount of sixty million pesos (P60,000,000.00)
needed to carry out the provision of this Act shall be charged to the
appropriations for the Department of Agriculture. Thereafter, such sum as
may be necessary for the operation and maintenance of the laboratory shall
be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,