Republic of the Philippines
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Quezon City
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

Hoisé Bill No__ 927

Introduced by Honorable Czarina D. Umali

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Bill attempts to promote science and technology, which are essential for
national development and progress as provided in Section 10 of Article XIV in relation to
Section of Article XII of the Constitution, providing for the goals of the national
economy.

The onion industry is perhaps, one are of economic activity whose encouraging
potentials ‘remain untapped. For many years, the onion industry has been neglected
despite its remarkable contributions to the country’s wealth and income. The Philippines
presently provides for almost three-fourths (3/4) of the onion needs in Asia and yet,
ironically, the government continues to import from Thailand and other neighboring
countries onion seeds or sets of bulb that are needed for growth and production.

‘The problem mainly lies in the lack any comprehensive plan or program to
develop the onion industry. The Department of Agriculture, for instance, has yet to
show a determined effort to help improve the industry, especially in regard introducing
technology and scientific methods to ensure better yield. This lack of focus and direction
results in high cost of production, unstable prices and poor utilization of built-in
advantages.

This measure seeks to create the Philippine Onion Research Institute to be
established in the municipality of Bongabon, Province of Nueva Ecija, which shall be
tasked to promote and advance the scientific and technological expertise of the Filipinos
regarding onion production in order to realize the optimal potential of this natural
resource to, consequently, fully contribute to the country’s economic progress and
development.

The early approval ofthis bill is, therefore, earnestly sought.

KD» Wada
Hon{€ZARINA D. UMALI
Representative
3” Dist. Nueva Ecij



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

¥ g2'7
Introduced by Honorable Czarina D. Umali

AN ACT
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE ONION RESEARCH INSTITUTE,
PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES AND
PROVIDING FOR THE NECESSARY FUNDS FOR ITS OPERATION

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

CHAPTER I
ESTABLISHMENT AND OBJECTIVES,

SECTION 1. Name, Duration and Domicile. - There is hereby the “Philippine
Onion Research Institute” hereinafter called “PHILORINS” which shall be
organized within sixty (60) days after the approval of this Act and shall have its main
office in the Municipality of Bongabon, Province of Nueva Ecija. This Corporation
shall be under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture.

SECTION 2. Purposes and Objectives. - The PHILORINS shall have the
following purposes and objectives.

(a) To conduct research work for the onion industry in all its phases, for the
purposes of introducing such practices or processes that will reduce the cost
of production, increase and improve productivity and achieve greater
efficiency in the industry.

b) To improve existing methods of raising onions and onion production.

©) To ensure a permanent, sufficient and balanced production of onions for local
consumption and exportation.

d) To establish and maintain a sustainable and balanced relation between

production and consumption of onions, and such marketing conditions

therefore, as will ensure stabilized prices at a level sufficient to cover the cost

of production plus a reasonable profit; and


°)

To promote the effective merchandizing of onions in the domestic and
foreign markets so that those engaged in the onion industry will be placed on a
more economic stability and security.

CHAPTER IL
POWERS.

SECTION 3. Specific and General Powers. ~— To carry out the purposes
mentioned in the preceding section, the PHILORINS shall have the following powers:

@

(b)

©)

@)
©)

To establish, keep, maintain and operate one central experiment station to
undertake extensive research in onion culture and production, including
studies as the feasibility of merchandizing onion farms. The control and
eradication of pests, the selection of high yielding varieties of onions suited
to the country’s climatic conditions;

To acquire, obtain and purchase such machinery, materials, equipment and
supplies as may be necessary to execute such researches and experiment
work successfully;

To buy, sell, assign, operate, rent or lease any other equipment and materials
for the production, manufacture, handling, transportation and warehousing
of onions;

‘To grant loans, on reasonable terms to planters when it deems such loans
advisable; and

Generally, to exercise all powers necessary to carry out the purposes for
which it is created, in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations.
CHAPTER IL
GOVERNING BODY

SECTION 4. Composition and Appointment. ~ All corporate powers of the
PHILORINS shall be vested in, and exercised by, a Board of Directors consisting of five
(5) members to be appointed by the President of the Philippines: Provided, however, that
three (3) members of said board shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the
National Federation of Onion Planters. That the Chairman of the Board shall be elected
by the members from among themselves.

SECTION 5. Tenure and Compensation. ~ The members of the Board shall serve
as designated by the President of the Philippines in their respective appointments for
terms of two, four and six years, respectively, from the date they qualify, and assume
office. Compensation of the members shall be determined in accordance with existing

laws.


SECTION 6. Powers and Duties of the Board of Directors. - The Board shall
have the following powers and duties:

(@) To prescribe rules and regulations governing the manners in which the
general business of the corporation may be exercised;

(b) To appoint and fix compensation of the General Manager, other officers of
the corporation, with the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture. The
Board, by a vote of majority of all members, may, for just cause, suspend
and remove the General Manager and other officers of the corporation;

(©) To approve the annual, and/or such supplemental budgets of the corporations
which may be submitted to it by the General Manager from time to time; and

(4) To perform such other duties as may be assigned to it by the President of the
Republic of the Philippines or by the Secretary of the Department of
Agriculture.

SECTION 7. Suspension and Removal of Directors. — Any Member of the Board
of Directors may, for cause, be suspended or removed by the President of the Philippines
solely or upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture.

SECTION 8. Prohibition for Board Members. — No chairman or member of the
Board of Directors of this corporation shall at the same time serve in other corporation or
agency in any capacity whatsoever, unless authorized by existing laws.

CHAPTER IV
MANAGEMENT

SECTION 9. The General Manager. ~The management of the corporation shall
be vested in the General Manager.

SECTION 10. Powers and Duties of the General Manager. ~The General
Manager shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To direct and manage the affairs of and business of the corporation, on behalf
of the Board of Directors, and subject to its control and supervision;

(b) To sit in all meetings of the Board and participate in the deliberations thereon,
but without the right to vote:

(©) To submit within six (6) days after the close of each fiscal year an annual
report, through the Board of Directors, to the Secretary of Agriculture;

(@) To perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Board of
Directors from time to time.


CHAPTER V
CIVIL SERVICE LAW APPLICATION

SECTION 11. Application of Civil Service Law and Regulation, ~ All officers
and employees of the corporation shall be subject to the Civil Service Law, rules and
regulations, except those whose position may, upon recommendation of the Board, be
declared by the President of the Philippines as policy-determining, primarily confidential
or highly-technical in nature.

SECTION 12. The financial transactions of the PHILORINS shall be audited in
accordance with existing laws and administrative regulations. A report of audit for each
fiscal year by the Auditor, through the Commission on Audit, to the Board of Directors,
and copies thereof, shall be furnished the Secretary of Agriculture.

CHAPTER VI
FUNDING

SECTION 13. Funding. ~ To raise the necessary funds to carry out the provisions
of this Act, an initial fund of FIFTY MILLION (P50,000,000.00) PESOS is hereby
appropriated, to be charged against the appropriations intended for the Department of
Agriculture under the current General Appropriations Act. Revolving funds shall be
derived from the contributions of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation,
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and from sources of foreign origin.

CHAPTER VII
LIQUIDATION

SECTION 14. Liquidation. ~ When its term or period of existence has expired in
accordance with the provisions of this Act, it shall be liquidated in accordance with
existing laws, rules and regulations thereof.

SECTION 15. Reversion to General Funds. ~ All funds resulting from
dissolution and liquidation of the corporation as herein provided shall ipso jure revert to
the General Fund of the National Government.

SECTION 16. Separability Clause. — If, for any reason or reasons, any part or
provision of this Act shall be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or
provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and
effect.

SECTION 17. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect immediately upon its
approval

‘Approved.