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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _327

Introduced by Hon. ALAN 1B. ECLEO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks the establishment of a Provincial Office of the Philippine
Coconut Authority (PCA) in the Province of Dinagat Islands.

Apropos Presidential Decree no. 1468 s. 1978, it is the policy of the State to
promote the rapid integrated development and growth of the coconut and other palm
oil industry in all its aspects and to ensure that the coconut farmers become direct
participants in, and beneficiaries of, such development and growth. In living up to
this mandate, the PCA developed and implemented various strategies such as
regionalizing responsive and sustainable programs. However, laudable as it is, the
lack of an independent PCA provincial office stays to be a pressing matter to some
provinces such as the Province of Dinagat Islands where coconut industry is
presently progressing, dating back from 2012' with merely 2,751 scattered coconut
trees to the year 2019° now hailing with 1,084,302 coconut trees planted in a
15,490.03 hectare area in the province.

In the 1970s, the economic well-being of a major part of the population
depended to a large extent on the viability of the coconut industry and its
improvement in the areas of production, processing and marketing.? It still proves to
be true even in this time and age. In Caraga Region, coconut is recognized as the
region's top permanent crop which has more than one year cycle.' Particularly in
Dinagat Islands, as of 2019°, the province has a coconut production of 15,180.2
metric tons. Consequently, utilizing the available potential area of 4,647.01 hectares
in the province will undeniably increase such production. To this, extensive
assistance from PCA is deemed indispensable.

Further, it must be noted that nationally, besides low yield per tree and aging
trees*, the supply chain of coconuts is largely unorganized and made up of
dispersed small holdings that affect economies of scale in input supply, primary
processing, and marketing. With the proper aid from PCA, the Province of Dinagat
Islands is more than willing to help increase the yield of coconuts in the country. Not
only will it support our 9,345 Dinagatnon coconut farmers and the very industry, but

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will also abet in advancing our economy. Accordingly, the establishment of Dinagat's
own PCA provincial office, in realizing this assistance, is hereby but proper.

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

A B, ECLEO
Representative, Lo¢ District of Dinagat Islands


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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 327

Introduced by Hon. ALAN 1 B. ECLEO

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PROVINCIAL OFFICE OF THE PHILIPPINE
COCONUT AUTHORITY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BASILISA, PROVINCE OF
DINAGAT ISLANDS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. There shall be established and maintained under the direct
supervision of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), a PCA provincial office in the
Municipality of Basilisa, Dinagat Islands to be known as the Philippine Coconut
Authority Dinagat Islands Provincial Office for the purpose of ensuring the
development and growth of coconut industry in the province, to the benefit therewith
of the Dinagat coconut farmers.

SEC. 2. The Secretary of Department of Agriculture shall immediately include
in the agency's programs the operationalization of the PCA Dinagat Islands
Provincial Office, the initial funding of which shall be charged against the current
year’s appropriation of PCA. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued
operation of said PCA provincial office shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within six (6) months following
the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall promulgate the necessary
rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 4. Separability Clause. Should any part or provision of this Act be held
unconstitutional or invalid, the provisions which are not affected thereby shall
continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. Any other law, issuance or part thereof
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,