Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRES| IVES
H.B. No.

Introduced by Representative H. Harry L. Roque Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Executive Order No. 18, Series of 1986, creating the Sugar Regulatory Administration
(SRA) was promulgated to promote the growth and development of the sugar industry
through greater participation of the private sector. One of its objectives is “to establish and
maintain such balanced relations between production and requirement of sugar and such
marketing conditions as will ensure stabilized prices at a level reasonably profitable to the
producers and fair to the consumers.” The higher cost of sugar in the local market compared
to world market prices shows that the SRA has failed to realize this objective

The iniquitous composition of the Sugar Board, the governing body of the SRA, is
blamed for the problem. Under the law, the Board is composed of a Chair to be appointed by
the President of the Philippines and two members - one representing the millers and the other
representing the planters. Being composed of representatives of sugar producers, the Board is

prone to formulating self-serving policies. The interest of consumers is not protected.


To rectify this situation, the Board's composition must be expanded to provide

additional members representing sugar consumers.”

H. HARRY L. ROQUE JR.

"This bill was originally filed by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago during the Sixteenth Congress, First
Regular Session


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENQD ES

Introduced by Representative H. Harry L. Roque Jr.

AMENDING EXSCHIVA ER DEE NO. 18, SERIES OF 1986,
TO EXPAND THE COMPOSITION OF THE SUGAR REGULATORY
ADMINISTRATION (SRA) SUGAR BOARD
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Section 4 of Executive Order No. 18, Series of 1986, is hereby amended
to read as follows:
“Section 4. Governing Body: Sugar Board. ~ All corporate powers of
the Sugar Regulatory Administration shall be vested in, and exercised by, the
‘Sugar Board. The Board shall be composed of an Administrator, who shall act
as its Chairman, to be appointed by the President of the Philippines, and
FOUR (4) MEMBERS [two (2) members]. The FOUR (4) [two (2)]
members of the Board shall likewise be appointed by the President of the
Philippines upon the recommendation of the sugar industry, with one member

representing THE MILLERS, THE PLANTERS, THE TRADERS, AND


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THE CONSUMERS, RESPECTIVELY [the millers and the other
representing the planters}

‘The Sugar Board shall meet in regular session once a month. The
Board may be called by the Chairman OR ANY MEMBER [of both private
sector representatives] to a special session as the need arises.

The Administrator shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Sugar

Regulatory Administration.”

SECTION 2. Section 5 of the same law is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Section 5. Tenure. ~ The Administrator shall hold office at the
pleasure of the President of the Philippines. The FOUR (4) [two (2)] members
from the private sector shall hold office for a period of three (3) years unless
sooner removed for cause, No reappointment of the members shall be made
immediately upon termination of their respective terms of office. Any member
appointed to a vacancy shall serve only for the unexpired term of the member

whom he succeeds.”

SECTION 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain

valid and subsisting.

SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent

with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.


1 SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) days

2 after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,