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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3947

HOUSE BILL NO,

Introduced by Rep. Anna Katrina M. Ewwerga

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., 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 from 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, eg,

technology, high-yielding varieties, extension services, information etc.

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 “most suitable" 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.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

ANNA INA/M. ENVERGA


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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3947

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.


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 implementa farm extension program to effectively transfer
modern farm technology to coconut farmers; and

(8)To publish and. di

minate 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,