Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1879

HOUSE BILL

Introduced by Rep. Wilfide. Mark M. Enserga

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The State recognizes the role of the coconut industry in nation building and
development due to the importance of coconut industry in the economy, it being one

of the principal industries and one of the largest income earners of the country.

One third of the country’s arable agricultural land or about 3.31million
hectares is planted to coconut sprawling in sixty four (64) out of total seventy eight
(78) provinces, and 1,195 out of the 1,554 municipalities in the country

The coconut is a major source of foreign exchange and the Philippine
coconut exports account for some 65% of the world traded coconut products, It is
the top export earner on net basis considering that its raw materials and labor
components are domestically based unlike other export products, and the Philippines

supplies 64% of global coconut oil requirements.

Yet the productivity level of coconut still remains low due mainly to the
lack of resources of farmers to buy agricultural inputs, tenurial problems, limited
access to credit, lack of irrigation facilities, inadequate farm to market roads and post
harvest and processing facilities, the indiscriminate cutting of productive trees and
the increasing trend of conversion of coconut lands for other commercial and
agricultural purposes and inadequate provisions of other support services i.e,, value-

added technology, extension services, information and others.


In 1997, the Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act or AFMA was
enacted to strengthen the Philippine agricultural research and development and
extension systems. With the primary goal of transforming the agriculture and
fisheries fom resource-based into technology-based industries, an_ Integrated
National Research and Development Program for each commodity or resource was

formulated,

Pursuant to the mandate of AFMA, an integrated development planning for
Mt. Banahaw Convergence Zone of Quezon Province (SAFDZ) was conducted in
2002 identifying coconut among 5 commodities covered by the said plan, The plan
advocated four essential development strategies to be undertaken, Among these is
the enhanced production and productivity of selected commodities through sustained
and expanded provisions of support services, e.g, technology, high-yielding

varieties, extension services, information ete

Hence the need for creating an accessible coconut research, development and
extension center becomes imperative to make the industry nationally productive and

globally competitive

‘The Center will play the significant role of pursuing and promoting research
and development in response to the development requirements of the coconut

communities not only the province of Quezon but in the country as well

Quezon being one of the biggest producers of coconut in the country is an
appropriate place for such research and development (R&D) activities. The province
has a yearly production of close to one million metric tons and horticulturists have

also identified Quezon as the area "mo

table” for raising coconuts.

Southern Luzon State University (SLSU), which is the premiere academic
institution in Quezon, would be a conducive venue for the Center, The University is
likewise an active member of the Quezon Provincial Coconut Development Council
mandated to take positive steps towards the development and rehabilitation of the

coconut industry in the province


‘Thus, the establishment of the Center based at the SLSU shall very well help
catalyze the advancement of coconut research, development and extension to make
the industry nationally productive and globally competitive

bill is earnestly sought

In view of the foregoing, approval of thi:



Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILLNO. 1879

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE COCONUT RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND
EXTENSION CENTER IN THE SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. This Act shall establish the Coconut Research, Development and

Extension Center.

SEC, 2. The Coconut Research, Development and Extension Center shall be based in
the Southern Luzon State University located at Municipality of Lucban, Province of Quezon

SEC. 3. The Coconut Research, Development and Extension Center shall coordinate
with the Department of Agriculture through the Buereau of Agricultural Research, Philippine
Coconut Authority, Department of Sceince and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry,
NEDA and the Philippine Council for Agricultural Research and Resources Development in
training stakeholders, conducting researches, extending technologies and analyzing demand and

supply of coconut in the domestic and international market


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SEC. 4. The Center shall have the following objectives:

(1) To conduct agricultural, industrial and economic research and
development of the coconut industry fort the benefits of the Filipino coconut farmers;

(2) To acquire, develop and propagate improved plant materials and technology,

(3) To train professionals, students and coconut farmers and their children on various
disciplines related to coconut production, utilization, and marketing;

(4) To design and implement, in coordination with institutions of higher learning local
and foreign scholarships and fellowship programs on academic fields that will
‘enhance coconut development,

(5) To organize and hold local, regional or international conferences, gatherings, forums

and seminars on the current trends and developments of the coconut industry;

(6) To consolidate all researches by other institutions, as well as to establish, maintain

and operate an information and library center,

(7)To design and implement a farm extension program to effectively transfer modern
farm technology to coconut farmers; and

(8) To publish and disseminate research findings and make appropriate recommendations
to interested parties.

SEC. 5. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included in

the General Appropriation Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter.

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval

APPROVED,