Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. ______ 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: HON. CARL NICOLAS C. CARI 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
 The Philippine government views the coconut industry as one of the key players in the 
agricultural sector. Coconut has recently become important for food, feed, medicine, cosmetics, 
renewable energy, and a trading commodity. 
With 615,926 hectares planted, the Eastern Visayas region is considered as the top coconut-
producing region in the Visayas (Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas) with a total of 1.08 
million metric tons of coconut a year. The production represents a 73% share of the Visayas 
Coconut Industry. Four hundred fifty-seven thousand twenty-six farmers (457,026) in the Eastern 
Visayas depend on the industry. Coconuts have a significant impact on the well-being of rural 
population. Therefore, coconut research and development in this region is critical. 
The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is an agency of the Philippine government under 
the Department of Agriculture responsible for developing the coconut and other palm oil industries 
for it to be globally competitive and efficient. It is now mandated to promote the coconut and other 
palm oil industries' rapid integrated development to ensure that the coconut farmers become direct 
participants and beneficiaries of such development. To implement this, it has established two (2) 
coconut research centers in Luzon and two (2) coconut research centers in Mindanao, but NONE 
in the Visayas. 
The Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City, Leyte has filled this R&D vacuum 
through a research center established in 1975 and later renamed as the National Coconut Research 
Center-Visayas (NCRC-V) in CY 2000 approved by its BOR with funding from the university's 
income and annual appropriation from the national government. 
NCRC-V conducted R&D to improve productivity, efficiency, and profitability of the 
coconut industry of the Visayas and the country. Its significant accomplishments include but are 
not limited to the following: 
a.
Developed five (5) self-pollinated Makapuno hybrids that bear fruits, under optimum
care, in 3 to 4 years from planting and ensuring a yield of 90% to 100% Makapuno nuts
even without isolation from typical coconut palms.
b. NCRC-V also has selected and developed 11 high-yielding dwarf coconut hybrids, five
(5) Makapuno hybrids and four (4) outstanding cultivars. These hybrids and outstanding
coconut cultivars are now widely promoted and disseminated to farmer adopters of
Regions VII, VIII, and in regions of Mindanao and Southern Luzon;
c.
Distributed thousands of seedlings of the high-yielding "Baybay Tall" cultivar and high-
yielding dwarf coconut cultivars in the DA-PCA replanting program to replace senile
palms and coconut palms damaged from the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda.
Baybay Tall is the only local cultivar of the coconut palm that can rival the yields of the
outstanding DA-PCA coconut hybrids;
d. Capacitated more than 30,000 coconut farmers on recommended practices of growing
coconut and on processing various products from coconut;
April 9, 2021
10:36 AM
9184


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
e.
Developed small types of machinery and equipment to support processing and utilization
of products and by-products from coconut by small coconut farmers that reduce the
production cost, maximize the production capacity and increase farmer's income;
f.
Actively spearheaded in developing and implementing sustainable management
strategies for major existing pests of coconuts. A mass production center for pupal
parasitoid (Tetrastichus brontispae) against Brontispa longissima was established in
2011, which successfully mass-produced the parasitoid and hindered the spread of
Brontispa in Region VIII;
g. Established a zero-waste processing technology for normal and Makapuno coconuts,
allowing the coconut farmers and processors to earn more from the crop;
h. Established more than 23 hectares of community-based coconut-corn-banana
intercropping techno-demo sites as livelihood options for typhoon-affected communities
in Tacloban City, and the Municipalities of Inopacan, Macrohon, Ormoc and, Carigara
in Region 8, as well as in Bohol and Catmon, Cebu.
i.
Established a coconut gene bank of 46 local and introduced accessions, several
demonstration farms, and spearheaded selection of typhoon-tolerant coconut genetic
resources from Yolanda-affected areas in Eastern Visayas;
With these accomplishments, the NCRC-Visayas envisages to significantly further its 
contributions to the coconut industry.  
Strengthening NCRC-V an existing and proven research center on coconut is appropriate, 
cost-effective and efficient for the government. It will immensely benefit the coconut industry of 
the Visayas and the country. Furthermore, this bill will strengthen the collaboration between the 
line agency (DA-PCA) and the academe (VSU), which is a proven effective practice of developed 
countries in supporting agricultural development. 
This bill, therefore, proposes that NCRC-V of Visayas State University be recognized as 
zonal coconut research and development center for the Visayas by DA-PCA and renamed as the 
Visayas Coconut Research and Development Center (VCRDC) mandated to conduct joint R&D 
with the DA-PCA, and shall annually and jointly be funded by the PCA and the VSU.  
For the preceding reasons, the immediate consideration and approval of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
Respectfully submitted. 
CARL NICOLAS C.  CARI  
Representative 
5th District, Leyte 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. ______ 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: HON. CARL NICOLAS C. CARI 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT PROPOSING THE ESTABLISHMENT, RECOGNITION AND 
STRENGTHENING OF THE COCONUT RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE VISAYAS 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Renaming of NCRC-V. The National Coconut Research Center – Visayas, 
established by the Visayas State University (VSU), will be renamed as Visayas Coconut Research 
and Development Center (VCRDC). 
SECTION 2. The Visayas Coconut Research and Development Center (VCRDC) shall be 
recognized by the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Coconut Authority (DA-PCA) as the 
Zonal Research and Development Center of coconut in the Visayas with the following Vision, 
Mission, and Research and Development Thrusts: 
A.
Vision: Center of relevant coconut technologies and development in the Visayas;
B.
Mission: Generate & disseminate relevant coconut technologies towards profitable,
sustainable coconut industry in the Visayas and;
C.
Research and Development Thrusts: Varietal Improvement, Coconut Production &
Cultural Management. Pest Management, Climate-smart Coconut Farming System,
Product Development & Commercialization, and Socio-economic Research and
Extension.
SECTION 3. The VCRDC shall have the following objectives: 
a. To develop innovative agricultural, industrial, and socio-economic research and
development programs of the coconut industry for the benefits of the Filipino coconut
farmers;
•
Improved  and high yielding coconut varieties
•
Novel products from coconut
•
Advanced techniques on coconut propagation
•
Production and processing machinery systems
•
Climate-smart Farming systems
b. To develop and disseminate improved coconut planting materials;
c. To serve as repository of coconut researches done by institutions in the Visayas;
d. To engage collaboration and coordination with institutions of higher learning on local and
foreign scholarships and fellowship programs that will enhance coconut development;
9184


 
 
 
 
 
 
Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
 
 
e.  To organize and hold local, regional or international conferences/fora, on the current trends 
and developments of the coconut industry; 
f.  To develop modern and effective farm extension programs for coconut farmers and other 
beneficiaries; 
g. To publish and disseminate research findings and make appropriate recommendations to 
various stakeholders. 
 
SECTION 4. Strengthening of VCRDC through additional funding from the DA-PCA. Through 
the DA-PCA, the Department of Agriculture shall provide annual financial support and allocation 
for VCRDC’s Research & Development programs. 
 
SECTION 5. Strengthening the Research & Development Collaboration between the DA-PCA 
and VCRDC. Through the DA-PCA, the Department of Agriculture shall detail at least one DA-
PCA Research and Development personnel to jointly implement relevant research and 
development programs with researchers and staff of VCRDC. 
 
SECTION 6. The amount necessary to carry out this Act's provisions shall be included in the 
General Appropriation Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter. 
 
SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette 
or a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 APPROVED,