REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 963

Introduced by MAGDALO Party List Representatives Gary C. Alejano
andFranciscoAshley L. Acedillo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Banana and platains are grown in every humid tropical region. Being the fourth (4°) largest food
crop, this fruit constitutes a vital role for the household food security and is the mainstay in the
crop production of one hundred thirty (130) developing economies particularly for small and
marginalized farmers worldwide.

In the country, banana, is an important dollar-carning export crop. The Philippines has the
biggest hectarage of banana plantations (about 339,196 hectares) in the Asian region, 80% of
which are owned by small farmers. In terms of trade, the country is the fifth largest exporter of
banana with 1.1 million metric tons total export yearly. It is the only Asian country among the
world’s top 10 banana suppliers and dominates the Japanese market." The Philippines contributed
with almost 10% of the world supply in years 1996-2005. Two-thirds of the bananas exported are
grown in Mindanao Island. The country is also the main world exporter of banana chips and the
demand is increasing. Chips are exported to 30 countries with US and EU being the major
importe

GARY C. ALEJANO. CISCO ASHLEY L. ACEDILLO

| BAR, UNDP link up to preserve Philippine endemic crops Information retrieved from hitp://swww-bat gov-ph/chronicle-home/arch
it /383-march-2005-iseue/2741-har undp link-up-tospesteye: ine-endemic-craps on 6/25/2013.
® Banana: PostharvestSituationer. Information retrieved from http://www philmech gov.h/ohindustry/banana htm on 6/25/2013.

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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

963

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party List Representatives Gary C. Alejano
and Francisco Ashley L. Acedillo

AN ACT
TO ESTABLISH THE NATIONAL RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION
CENTER FOR BANANA, AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. The National Research Center for Banana (hereinafter referred to as
NRDECB) which shall be based in the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) in Davao

City, is hereby established.

SEC. 2, The Center shall have the following general powers and functions in line with
the research , development and extension programs of the Department of Agriculture ~ Bureau of
Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), Department of Science and technology (DOST), Department
‘of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and
USEP:

a. Educate and train all stakeholders of the banana industry;

b. To undertake basic and strategic research for developing technologies to enhance
productivity and utilization of banana;

c. To develop improved cultivars through traditional and biotechnological methods and

conserve the diversity;


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d. To serve as national repository of germplasm and information related to banana and
plantain and also disseminate the knowledge for production and productivity;

e. To provide leadership and coordinate the network research for generating location
specific varieties, technology and for solving specific constraints of banana and plantain
production; and

f. To collaborate with relevant national and international agencies in achieving the above

objectives.

SEC. 3. The Center shall have the specific powers and functions:

a. Develop productive, high yielding, good quality varieties of banana;

b. Develop efficient, economic and productive banana production technologies;

c. Develop effective and sound banana processing technologies for outstanding varieties
of banana;

d. Develop effective production systems for all banana varieties;

¢. Establish and maintain germplasm collection and gene bank for banana;

f. Develop effective and efficient marketing systems for banana;

g. Evolve productive banana-based farming systems;

h. Develop and implement appropriate and suitable technology packages and effective
technology transfer schemes, especially the conduct of training programs;

i, Upgrade the skills of development facilitators, estensionists and farmers through
trainings, seminars and workshop on banana production and postharvest handling and

processing:

j. Establish national and international linkages for banana research, development,
extension and production activities; and
k. Coordinate with other government/non-government agencies involved in the

development of banana industry.


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SEC. 4. The Center shall be headed by an Executive Director who shall be responsible
for the planning, implementation, and supervision of the Center’s program of activities. The
Executive Director:

a. Must have completed substantial and relevant education and experience on banana
research and development; and

b. Must be of good moral character and has not been involved in a legal case involving
moral turpitude.

All other officers and employees of the Center shall be appointed by the Executive

Director consistent with the provisions of the Civil Service laws, rules and regulations.

SEC. 5. The plans and programs of the Center shall be reviewed annually by the
Advisory Board which shall be composed of:

‘a. The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture as Chairman;

b. The University President of the University of Southeastern Philippines as Vice
Chairman;

©. The Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry as member;

d. One (1) representative from a non governmental organization (NGO) working on
banana production, research and development and processing;

fe. One (1) representative from the group of banana traders;

f. One (1) representative from the group of banana processors; and

g. One (1) representative from the group of banana growers.

SEC. 6. The presence of at least five (5) members at the time of the meeting shall
constitute the quorum: Provided, however, That the Chairman, in his absence, the Vice

Chairman shall preside.


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SEC. 7. The Center is hereby authorized to plan, construct, develop, improve, acquire, or
lease buildings, farms, fields and other facilities, to purchase machineries, equipment, materials
and supplies locally or abroad as may be necessary to carry out its functions and objectives.
Moreover, the Center shall enjoy exemption from taxes and other duties in the importation of
such machineries, development and extension programs, subject to the provisions of Section
105(s) of the Tariff and Customs Code, Section 103(f) of the National Internal Revenue Code

and to the provisions on Automatic Appropriations under the General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 8. The main offices, experimental area and nursery of the Center shall be located at
the-University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City. The Center may hereafter establish
similar facilities in its other service areas in order to promote the development of the banana

industry in the country,

SEC 9. To carry out the provisions of this Act, the amount of two million pesos
(P2,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated from the funds of the National Treasury. Thereafter, such
sums as may be necessary to maintain the operations of the Board shall be included in the

General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 10. Any and all savings and income of the Center shall constitute a revolving fund
which shall not be reverted to the General Fund and which shall be used by the Center in the

furtherance of its goals and objectives.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Advisory Board shall jointly

promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.


SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations inconsistent

with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby amended or repealed accordingly.

SEC. 13. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its

complete publication in the National Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general

tion, whichever comes earlier.

Approved,