Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to establish the Philippine Corn and other Cereals 
Research Institute (PhiICorn) that will unify, coordinate, fund, and 
strengthen all research and development (R&D) as well as training and 
technology sharing activities on corn and related crops for food, feeds, 
industrial and biofuel purposes.  
Corn is the second most important national food crop next to rice 
and it also serves as the staple food of 20 percent of the Philippine 
population. Furthermore, it is the main component of up to 75% of 
formulated feeds for livestock, poultry, and aquaculture fishery. Corn is 
grown mainly in rain fed farms after rice is harvested, and in upland and 
dryland farms of over 2.5 million hectares, mostly in Mindanao, Cagayan 
Valley, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, and Western Visayas. The current 
national grain yield in various ecological regions is still low, ranging from 
0.5 to 2.5 tons in resource-poor areas although yield can be as high as 10 
tons per hectare in few favorable farm environments. Consequently, the 
country needs to improve overall productivity among farmers to achieve 
self-sufficiency, secure food security, and target the export market over 
the medium-and long-term view.   
Of the major crops other than rice that support the national 
economy, corn (and related cereals) as well as rotation crops such as grain 
legumes are the most neglected in research support with an allocation of 
less than 0.05 percent of the gross value added (GVA) compared to rice at 
0.25 percent, coconut at 0.3 percent, and sugar at 0.5 percent.  
July 1, 2022 
11:14 am
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In the Philippines, there are well established research institutes 
devoted to rice, coconut, sugarcane, fiber and abaca, silkworm, cotton, 
tobacco, root crops, biotechnology, plant breeding, crop protection, 
farming systems, carabao, dairy, fishery, hogs, and other strategic 
commodities and disciplines but unfortunately there is none devoted to 
crops such as corn and other related cereals such as sorghum, grain 
legumes.  
Globalization and climate change require that the country must 
enhance its capability to continuously develop cutting-edge technology 
and agricultural innovations that will enable corn and dryland farmers to 
become prosperous by increasing their productivity and quality of their 
produce through modern processing and packaging techniques for the 
domestic and global markets,  
From these observations, it is clear that there is an urgent need to 
establish a proactive, modern agricultural research and extension institute 
that is designed and committed: (1) to unify, coordinate, fund, and 
strengthen all national and farm-level efforts on corn and other cereals, 
suitable rotational crops such as grain legumes, biofuel crops that are also 
used for food and feeds; (2) to hasten technology sharing activities that will 
improve the livelihood of resource-poor farming communities and 
empower them to cope up with low yields owing to frequent occurrences of 
drought, warming temperatures, land degradation, and other risks arising 
from environmental calamities and climate changes; (3) to insure adequate 
and stable supply of quality products, and (4) to improve the economic 
condition and income of farmers in the upland and dryland regions of the 
country,  
Approval of this bill is highly and earnestly recommended. 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO Ph.D.    


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE CORN AND OTHER 
CEREALS RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:  
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act shall be known as the "Philippine 
Corn and other Cereals Research Institute Act"  
SECTION 2. PHILIPPINE CORN AND OTHER CEREALS RESEARCH 
INSTITUTE. The Philippine Corn and other Cereals Research Institute, 
hereinafter referred to as PhilCorn, is hereby established as a body 
corporate attached to the Department of Agriculture.  
SECTION 3. OBJECTIVES. The objectives of this Act are as follows: 
a) To develop and implement a strong, dynamic, and innovative
farmer-centered, needs-based national corn and other cereals 
research and development, technology sharing, training and 
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extension programs;  
 
b) To strengthen the national capacity for research and extension 
in upland and dryland agriculture and modernize production, 
utilization, and industrial processing of corn and related cereals 
such as sorghum and pearl millets, and promoting rotational 
cropping with legumes and other commodities for higher productivity 
and income as well as to sustain soil health and fertility;  
c) To improve the livelihood and economic conditions of small-
scale and resource-poor farmers;  
d) To expand employment opportunities through corn and corn-
based farming systems in the rural areas, and ultimately promote 
the general welfare of the people through higher efficiency and 
profitability in production and industrial products processing, 
development, and marketing;  
e) To develop such other related programs in partnership and in 
consultation with the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), 
the DA regional research centers (DA-RIARCs), the Philippine 
Council for Agriculture, Aquatic Resources, Forestry, and Natural 
Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), State Colleges and 
Universities (SCUs), and the private sector.  
SECTION 4. PRINCIPAL AND REGIONAL OFFICES. The PhilCorn 
shall have its principal office at any suitable site as the Board of Trustees 
may decide. It may also establish other offices, branches, satellite stations, 
or subsidiaries in any geographically suitable region in the Philippines that 
are major producers of corn and/or as may be necessary or proper for the 
accomplishment of its purposes and objectives.  
 
SECTION 5. DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS. The PhilCorn shall exercise 
the following duties and functions:  
a) Lead and coordinate a national network of corn and related 


upland and dry-land based farming systems research and 
extension agencies, centers, and stations located in the different 
agro-ecological regions of the country where corn is one of the 
major crops;  
b) Plan, fund, conduct, monitor, and evaluate research, 
development, and technology promotion in different scientific and 
technological fields and programs, including but not limited to the 
following: (1) germplasm collection, conservation, breeding, and 
biotechnology; (2) natural resources management, watershed 
conservation, 
drought 
adaptation 
and 
mitigation; 
(3) 
pest 
surveillance, 
early 
warning 
system, 
and 
integrated 
pest 
management; (4) socio-economics, impact assessment, and policy 
advocacy; (5) technology demonstration, promotion and deployment, 
training and communication, and products development, processing 
and packaging: and (6) experiment station and farm management 
improvement;  
 
c) Develop technologies suitable for the upland and dryland agro-
ecosystems which will maximize the productivity and quality of 
locally grown corn and related cereals as well as grain legumes and 
suitable bioenergy crops while also reducing production costs and 
ensuring a long-term and sustainable corn and dryland-based 
production 
systems 
through 
genetic 
improvement 
and 
environmental resources and conservation measures;  
 
d) Enhance corn farmers' income by developing suitable dryland-
based crops and livestock farming systems, and crop rotation where 
applicable and value-adding corn technologies, including on-farm 
verification, processing, packaging, marketing, and promotion of 
economically viable technologies, giving emphasis on those aspects 
necessary for group endeavor of small-scale farmers, cooperatives, 
and seed growers;  
e) Develop databases needed in the identification and preparation 
of necessary policy recommendations towards an efficient, highly 
productive, and competitive corn and other cereal industry and 
dryland-based farming systems through appropriate socio-economic 
measures and public-private sector mobilization and participation;  
f) Organize and develop strong training and communication 
programs for corn and dryland-based farming systems scientists, 
research managers, and extension specialists to enable them to 
undertake effective and timely technology promotion of packaged 
technologies among clusters of farmers and corporate growers by 
utilizing modern extension systems such as information, education, 


and communication (IEC) technology and participatory social 
mobilization procedures;  
g) Publish and disseminate research and extension findings and 
recommendations through scientific journals, books, technical and 
extension bulletins, videos, and other print and communication 
channels. 
  
SECTION 6. CORPORATE POWERS. The Phil Corn shall exercise the 
following corporate powers:  
a) Exercise all the powers of a corporation under the general 
corporation law, in so far as such powers are not inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act;  
 
b) Enter into, make and execute contracts and agreements of any 
kind or nature, and to sue and be sued in its corporate name;  
c) Borrow funds and obtain loans from all sources, whether local 
or foreign and whether government or private, to help finance its 
research programs and its capital and operating expenditures;  
 
d) Invest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, own, lease, mortgage, 
pledge, sell, assign, convey, exchange, encumber, borrow, or 
otherwise deal in real and/or personal properties of whatever kind 
and nature, or any interest therein, including shares of stock, 
bonds, notes, securities, and other evidences of indebtedness of 
natural or juridical persons, whether domestic or foreign and 
whether government or private;  
 
e) Receive and acquire from any person, government and private 
entities, whether foreign or domestic, or from any person, 
corporation, 
partnership, 
association 
or 
other 
entity 
such 
characters, licenses, franchises, rights, privileges, concessions, 
assistance, grants, donations, loans, and contributions consisting 
of such properties, real or personal, including funds and valuable 
effects, as may be useful, necessary or proper to finance its research, 
capital and operating expenditures or otherwise carry out its 
purposes and objectives, and to administer the same in accordance 
with the terms and agreement consistent with its purposes and 


objectives; and  
 
f) Acquire from the government, whether national or local or from 
any person, corporation, partnership, association or other entity, 
such characters, franchises, rights, privileges, assistance, financial 
or otherwise and concessions as may be conducive to and necessary 
or proper for the attainment of the purposes and objectives of 
PhilCorn. 
 
SECTION 7. BOARD OF TRUSTEES, The corporate functions and 
powers of the PhilCorn shall be exercised, and all its businesses, activities, 
and properties shall be controlled, by a Board of Trustees, hereinafter 
referred to as the Board,  
a) The Board shall be composed of the Secretary of Agriculture or 
his designate as ex-officio Chairperson and fourteen (14) members 
from the following agencies and sectors: Director of the Bureau of 
Agricultural Research (BAR) who will act as Vice-Chairman; Regional 
Executive Director representing the DA Regional Field Units (DA-
RFU): Director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquaculture, 
Forestry, and Natural Resources Research and Development 
(PCAARRD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST): 
Undersecretary of the Department of Budget and Management 
(DBM); Director of the Agriculture Division of the National Economic 
and Development Authority (NEDA), three (3) University Presidents 
from the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) representing major 
corn producing and dryland-based agriculture regions: four (4) 
private sector representatives, namely: one each from among the 
national outstanding corn farmers, farmers' organizations or 
federations (Philippine Maize Federations, Inc,), private companies 
engaged in corn research and seed production, and the 
livestock/poultry industry: and two (2) distinguished scientists from 
the public and private sectors,  
b) The term of office of the members of the Board who are heads 
or officials from their respective agencies or institutions shall be co-
terminus with their respective appointments; Provided, however, 
That the term of office of the Regional Executive Director who 
represents the DA-RFU where corn is a major crop and the four (4) 
sector representatives shall be for five years without prejudice to a 
reappointment for another five years based on merits and excellent 
performance in the Board. The PhilCorn Executive Director shall 


serve as Secretary of the Board. All government officials in the Board 
shall serve as ex-officio members and shall not receive any salary or 
compensation.  
 
c) The Chairperson and members of the Board shall receive per 
diem, as the Board may determine, for each Board meeting actually 
attended; Provided, however, That such members shall also be 
entitled 
to 
reimbursable 
transportation 
and 
representation 
allowances in going to and coming from board meetings and in 
transacting official business for the Institute.  
d) The Board shall meet regularly, at least once (1) every quarter 
or as often as the exigencies of the service demand. The presence of 
the Chair or the Vice-Chair and at least seven (7) members of the 
Board shall constitute a quorum and the majority vote of the 
members present, there being a quorum, shall be necessary for the 
adoption of any resolution, rule, regulation, decision or any other act 
of the Board.  
SECTION 8. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARD. The Board 
shall exercise the following powers and functions:  
a) To adopt by-laws and promulgate policies, rules, regulations, 
and procedures for the efficient and effective operations of the 
Institute;  
b) To define and guide in the formulation of the vision, mission, 
strategy, and research-extension priorities, general plans and 
programs, and guidelines for the proper operations and management 
of the Institute in accordance with its purposes and objectives and 
in line with BAR research planning and monitoring procedures;  
 
c) To approve the PhilCorn's organizational structure and staffing 
pattern, operating and capital expenditures, and financial budget 
prepared in accordance with its corporate plans;  
 
d) To approve the plantilla and salary ranges, benefits, privileges, 
bonuses, scholarship and manpower development, housing facilities, 
and other terms and conditions of service, including promotion 
systems similar to those in the SUCs and DOST as well as life and 


medical insurances and retirement schemes or benefits for all 
officers and employees of the Institute, upon recommendation of the 
Executive Director;  
e) To appoint, promote, transfer, suspend, remove or otherwise 
discipline any subordinate officer or employee of the Institute, upon 
recommendation of the Executive Director;  
 
f) To create such committee or committees and appoint the 
members thereof, as may be necessary and proper for the 
management of the Institute or for the attainment of its purposes 
and objectives; and  
g) To exercise such other powers and functions and perform such 
other acts as may be necessary or proper for the attainment of the 
purposes and objectives of the PhilCorn, or as may be delegated by 
the Secretary of Agriculture.  
SECTION 9. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND OTHER OFFICERS. The 
PhilCorn shall be headed by an Executive Director who shall be appointed 
by the President of the Philippines, upon recommendation of the Board, 
based on the findings of a Search Committee duly organized and 
commissioned for such purpose; 
a) The Executive Director shall serve for a term of five (5) years 
subject to one term extension of five (5) years for very meritorious 
performance, or a maximum total of ten (10) years without further 
extension for any reason whatsoever. 
  
b) The Executive Director shall be assisted by such Deputy 
Executive Directors, Division Heads, Program Directors, and Branch 
Station Managers as the Board may determine to carry out the 
purposes and objectives of the Institute.  
SECTION 10. POWERS, FUNCTIONS, AND DUTIES OF THE 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. The Executive Director shall be directly 


responsible to the Board, and shall have the following powers, functions, 
and duties:  
a) To exercise dynamic leadership, create a vision, map out the 
mission, provide strategic direction, and undertake systematic 
supervision over the planning and implementation of all research for 
development, technology sharing programs, training and extension, 
upgrading of scientists and staff of the Institute and, in general, 
administer and direct the management, operation, and transparent, 
corrupt free administration of the PhilCorn;  
b) To execute all contracts, incur obligations, acquire and dispose 
of assets, and deliver documents on behalf of the PhilCorn within the 
framework of the authority delegated by the Board;  
c) To implement and enforce policies, decisions, orders, rules, and 
regulations that are promulgated or adopted by the Board: and  
d) To exercise such other powers and functions and performs such 
other duties as may be authorized, assigned, or delegated by the 
Board,  
SECTION 11. TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. A Technical 
Advisory Committee (TAC), organized and approved by the Board, shall 
assist the Executive Director, Division heads, Program Directors, and 
Branch Station Managers in pursuing interagency activities and 
participation of the national R&DE network.  
 
The TAC shall be composed of not more than nine (9) members, or as 
the Board may designate, who are heads, representatives, or experts of 
agencies, government or private, that are actively involved in any critical 
aspect of corn research, dryland-based farming systems, seed quality 
certification, training and extension, production and processing, 
marketing and consumption, policy advocacy, and capacity building. TAC 
members may be assigned to assist specific programs, divisions, or branch 
stations as the services may require to achieve the goals and objectives of 
Phil Corn.  


 
SECTION 12. SERVICES OF GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL. The 
PhilCorn may, for the purpose of its research, development, training, and 
extension activities, obtain and secure the services of scholars, scientists, 
technical, extension, and communication personnel of any unit, 
experiment stations, institutes, and centers of the Department of 
Agriculture, University of Southern Mindanao, University of the 
Philippines Los Banos, Central Mindanao University, Mariano Marcos 
State University, Isabela State University, and other agencies and 
universities of the national government.  
Those personnel of national and international reputations, from public 
or private institutions, shall be designated as visiting scientists and 
research fellows for a term of one year to five years to assist in conducting 
major research problems of strategic importance and consequences in 
pursuing the goals and objectives of the Institute. The selected personnel 
may be paid such honoraria or incentives acceptable to all concerned and 
as may be fixed and authorized by the Board,  
SECTION 13. BUILDINGS, FACILITIES, AND EQUIPMENT. The 
PhilCorn is hereby authorized to own, acquire, borrow, lease, plan, and 
construct buildings, laboratories, experimental farms, and other facilities 
as may be necessary or proper to attain its purposes and objectives.  
It may also utilize facilities of any unit of any cooperating SUCs, the 
Department of Agriculture, and of the national government engaged, 
directly or indirectly, in activities that relate to agriculture, rain fed based 
farming system, com production or development of the corn industry.  
a) The PhilCorn is further authorized to purchase equipment, 
materials and articles, either locally or abroad, as may be necessary 


or proper to carry out its powers and functions and attain its 
purposes and objectives. It shall be exempt from the payment of any 
and all forms of taxes, duties, fees and charges on any and all such 
importation of equipment, materials, articles, and services; 
Provided, however, That the same are not available locally on 
favorable terms.  
b) The PhilCorn shall be authorized to expropriate lands for corn 
and dryland-based farming systems research and development 
purposes provided just compensation is paid to the owners of the 
land. If the land belongs to the government or is inalienable, the 
Institute is granted automatic title to the land.  
 
c) Likewise, all lands, farms, plantations, whether directly or 
indirectly owned, used, utilized or administered by the PhilCorn and 
those that it may hereinafter acquire or utilize for research and 
development purposes shall be exempted from the coverage of the 
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law.  
SECTION 14. APPROPRIATION. The Secretary of Agriculture and the 
Secretary of Budget and Management are hereby authorized and directed 
to set aside out of the existing funds of the Department of Agriculture the 
amount of Four Hundred Million Pesos (P400M) as the initial fund to be 
used for its initial operations, including provisions for salary of personnel, 
conduct of research and technology promotion, construction of physical 
infrastructures, and purchase of equipment.  
This initial amount shall be drawn from the DA National Con Program, 
BAR appropriations for research, RP-Japan Fertilizer Grant (KR-2), Public 
Law PL 480 (PL480), and/or any other existing bilateral funding sources 
in the Department of Agriculture. Thereafter, the government contribution 
to the Institute's operations shall be provided for under its own Key 
Budgetary Inclusion (K81) in the Annual General Appropriations Act.  
Furthermore, the Board shall seek financial support from foreign 


donors such as JICA, KOICA, AusAid, USAID, and similar institutions for 
the establishment and improvement of PhilCorn infrastructures, 
laboratory 
facilities, 
field 
experiment 
station 
development, 
and 
training/scholarship of qualified personnel.  
The annual appropriations herein provided shall be subject to the fiscal 
control and management procedures provided for in Executive Order 714 
of 1981. All funds, savings, grants, and income of the PhilCorn shall 
constitute a revolving fund, to be managed as trust fund, and shall be 
considered part of the funds automatically released to the PhilCorn.  
SECTION 15. APPLICABILITY OF CIVIL SERVICE LAWS. The 
PhilCorn and its officers and employees shall be subject to the Civil Service 
Law, rules and regulations;  
 
Provided, however, That all technical personnel shall be selected on the 
basis of the highest possible standards of merit and fitness for public 
officials and employees, to be determined in accordance with such policies 
and guidelines as may be approved by the Board.  
  
SECTION 16. ANNUAL REPORT. The Board shall submit to the 
President of the Philippines through the Secretary of Agriculture an annual 
report, together with the audit report on the relevant accounts, generally 
dealing with the activities and operations of the PhilCorn.  
SECTION 17. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. The provisions of this 
Executive Order are hereby declared separable. If any portion hereof shall 
be held invalid or unconstitutional, such invalidity or unconstitutionality 
shall not affect the other provisions, which shall remain in full force and 


effect in their entirety.  
    SECTION  18.   EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. This Act shall take effect 
fifteen (15) days from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette or 
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,