Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EPRE
(iE x Dy

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 3543

Introduced by REP. FAUSTINO ‘BOJIE’ G. DY III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Com is the second major crop in the Philippines. About twenty percent of
Filipinos prefer white com as their main food staple equating to an annual per capita
consumption of 14.7 kilograms!, while yellow com is used for livestock and poultry
mixed feeds?. In 2021, the country’s corn production hit record levels at 8.83 MMT.
But for more than 1.16 million Filipino farmers, com is their primary source of
livelihood’.

Notwithstanding the apparent importance of corn to the Philippines, a
specialized corn research institute dedicated to researching and developing corn
farming has yet to be established. Consistent with Article XIII, Section 5 of the
Constitution, which mandates the State to provide support to agriculture through
appropriate technology and research, this bill secks to establish the long-overdue
Philippine Com Research Institute. This institution aims to modernize the corn
industry, thereby improving the quality of corn products as well as the livelihood and
capacities of our com farmers.

Bills creating the Philippine Com Research Institute have been filed in
previous Congresses. It is hoped that the 20th Congress will finally pass this measure

" NPC on Corn recommends improvements to support 1.16M Filipino com farmers.

bttps:/pcaf.da.gov phvindex php/2023/02/201nt 155-improvernents-to-support-1-16m-flipino-com-farmers!
? https /mimaropa.da.gov phaboul/programs-and-projects/com.

* ttps:/www.pna. gov phvarticles/ 1166542

 NBPC on Com recommends improvements to support 1.16M Filipino com farmers,

hitps:/pcaf.da.gow phvindex php/2023/02/20ibpe-on-com-recommends-improvements-to-support-1-16n-flipino-com-farmers!



into law for the benefit of our farmers and the local corn industry.

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

FAUST, ;OJIE’ G. DY IIL


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 3543

Introduced by REP. FAUSTINO ‘BOJIE’ G, DY III

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE CORN RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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
Research Institute Act of 2025.’

SEC. 2. Philippine Corn Research Institute. The Philippine Com Research
Institute, hereinafter referred to as PhilCorn, is hereby established as a body corporate
attached to the Department of Agriculture (DA) to modernize the corn industry and
consequently improve the livelihood and household income of resource-poor com
farmers in the rain-fed, upland, and dry-land farming communities and to empower
farmers with the tools of science and technologies so that they can cope up with
problems of low yields, droughts, floods, land degradation, global warming, and other
tisks arising from environmental and climate changes.

SEC. 3. Objectives. The objectives and goals of this Act are as follows:
a) To develop and implement a strong, dynamic, and innovative

farmer-centered and need-based national corn research and development,
technology sharing, training, and extension programs;


b) To strengthen the national capacity for corn research and extension,
modernize production and utilization as well as industrial processing of
corn and corn-based crops, diversify harvests through sequential crops to
sustain soil health and fertility and thus enhance long-term higher
productivity and household income;

©

To work closely with regulatory agencies such as the Bureau of Plant
Industry (BPD; the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards
(BAFS); and private stakeholders and Non-Government Organization
(NGOs) in the collection, conservation, and utilization of endemic or
traditional corn varieties as well as in the experimentation, planting, and
monitoring of com hybrid and genetically engineered varieties;

4) To improve the livelihood and economic conditions of small-scale and
resource-poor farmers who are growing corn after rice as well as in
upland and dry-land farming ecosystems;

@

To develop and implement sustainable and environment-friendly cor and
corn-based farming systems in the vulnerable and marginal areas like
sloping terrains and evaluate those areas where crops other than corn may
be more appropriate to grow;

f) To gather and provide reliable, up-to-date data to guide policy makers
with regard to corm improvement and development, import and export
volumes, and develop strong linkages among stakeholders in promoting
the national com industry;

g) To expand employment opportunities through com and com-based
farming systems in the rural areas, and ultimately promote the general
welfare of the people through higher efficiency and profitability in
production, industrial products development, processing, and marketing;

h)

To initiate and undertake such other related programs in consultation and
partnership with the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), the
DA regional research centers (DA-RIARCs), the DOST-Philippine
Council for Agriculture, Aquatic Resources and Natural Resources
Research and Development (PCAARRD), State Universities and Colleges
(SUCs), and the private sector.

SEC. 4. Principal and Regional Offices. The PhilCorn shall have its principal
office at the Isabela State University or at any other suitable site as the Board of
Trustees may decide. It may also establish other offices, branches, satellite offices, or


subsidiaries in any geographically suitable region in the Philippines that are major
producers of com, as may be necessary for the accomplishment of its purposes and
objectives.

SEC. 5. Duties and Functions. The PhilCorn shall exercise the following
duties and functions:

a) Unify, plan, fund, conduct, monitor, and evaluate com research,
development, and technology promotion in different scientific and
technological fields and programs, including but not limited to the
following thrusts: (1) germplasm collection, conservation, breeding, and
biotechnology; (2) natural resources management, watershed
conservation, drought adaptation and mitigation; (3) corn engineering,
farm mechanization, and post-harvest management; (4) pest surveillance,
early warning system, integrated pest management, and biological control
methods; (5) socio-economics, impact assessment, and policy advocacy;
(6) technology packaging and demonstration, promotion and deployment,
training and communication; (7) processing and industrial-chemical
products development; and (8) corn-based farming systems, farm
management improvement, and experiment station development.

b) Unify, lead, fund, and coordinate a national network of com and
corn-based farming systems research and extension agencies, centers, and
stations located in the different agro-ecological regions of the country
where com is a major crop;

©

Develop technologies suitable for the rain-fed, upland, and dry-land
agro-ecosystems that will maximize the productivity and quality of
locally grown com and corn-based crops while also reducing production
costs and ensuring long-term and sustainable corn and corn-based
production systems through genetic improvement and environmental
resources and conservation measures;

4) Enhance income of corn farmers by developing suitable com-based crops
and livestock farming systems as well as crop rotations where applicable;
value-adding com technologies including on-farm verification,
processing, packaging, marketing, and promotion of economically viable
technologies as well as entrepreneurial skills, giving emphasis on those
aspects necessary for group endeavors of small-scale farmers,
cooperatives, and seed growers;


e) Develop databases needed in the identification and preparation of
necessary policy recommendations towards efficient, highly productive
and competitive corn industry and com-based farming systems through
appropriate socio-economic measures and public-private sector
mobilization and participation;

£) Organize and develop strong training and communication programs for
com and corn-based farming systems scientists, research managers, and
extension specialists to enable them undertake effective and timely
technology promotion of packaged technologies among clusters of
farmers and corporate growers by utilizing modem extension systems
such as information, education, and communication technology and
participatory social mobilization procedures; and

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.

SEC. 6. Corporate Powers. The PhilCorn shall exercise the following
corporate powers:

a) To adopt and use a corporate seal;
b) To sue and be sued in its corporate name;
¢) To have perpetual existence unless a law provides otherwise;

4) To adopt its by-laws and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be
necessary or proper to implement this Act, and to amend or repeal the
same from time to time;

e) To enter into, make and execute contracts and agreements of any kind or
nature;

f) To 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, or support to farmer
entrepreneurial activities;

g) To 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 forcign and whether government or private, as may be useful,
necessary or proper to serve the objectives of this Act;

h) To receive and acquire from any person, government and private entities,
whether foreign or domestic, or from any 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 PhilCom’s 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

i) To 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 the PhilCorn.

SEC. 7. Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as
the Board, shall exercise all the corporate functions and powers of the PhilCom and
shall control all its businesses, activities, and properties, composed of the following:

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:

1. Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
who will act as Co-Chairperson:

2. Director of the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) who will
act as Vice-Chairperson;

3. Undersecretary for Operations of the Department of Agriculture
(A);

4. Undersecretary of the Department of Budget and Management
(DBM);


5. Undersecretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR);

6. Director of the Agriculture Division of the Department of
Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDeV).

7. Director of the DA-Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries
(DA-PCAF);

8. Director-General of the Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA);

9. Three (3) University Presidents from the State Universities and
Colleges representing major com producing and com-based
agriculture regions, one each from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao;

10. Four (4) private sector representatives, one each from:
a. com farmers;
b. farmers’ organizations, associations or federations;
vate companies engaged in corm research and seed production; and
d. livestock/poultry industry

11. Two (2) distinguished scientists from the public and private sectors.

The credentials of private sector representatives shall be evaluated and
scrutinized by competent members of the Board.

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-RFOs where
com is a major crop and the four (4) private 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.

©

The Chairperson, Co-Chairperson, Vice-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.

qd

The Board shall meet regularly at least once (1) every quarter or as often
as the exigencies of the service demands. The presence of the
Chairperson, Co-Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson 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.

SEC. 8. Powers and Functions of the Board. The PhilCorn Board shall
exercise the following powers and functions:

a) To adopt by-laws and promulgate policies, rules and regulations, and
procedures for the efficient and effective operation of the Institute;

b) To define and guide the formulation of the vision, mission, strategy, and
rescarch-extension priorities, general plans and programs, policies,
procedures, and guidelines for the proper operation and management of
the PhilCorn in accordance with its purposes and objectives;

©) To approve the PhilCorn’s organizational structure and staffing pattern,
operation and capital expenditures, and financial budget prepared in
accordance with its corporate plans;

4) To approve the plantilla and salary ranges, benefits, privileges, bonuses,
scholarship and manpower development, housing facilities and support to
staff, and other terms and conditions of service, including promotion
systems similar to those in the State Universities and Colleges and the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as well as life and
medical insurances and retirement schemes or benefits for all officers and
employees of the PhilCorn, upon recommendation of the Executive
Director;

©)

To appoint, promote, transfer, suspend, remove or otherwise discipline
any subordinate officer or employee of the Institute, upon
recommendation of the Executive Director;

£) To seek financial support from foreign donors such as Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA), Korea International Cooperation Agency
(KOICA), Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID),


and similar institutions for the establishment and improvement of
PhilCorn infrastructures, laboratory facilities, field experiment station
development, and training/scholarship of qualified personnel.

g) To create such committee or committees and appoint the members
thereof, as may be necessary and proper for the management of the
PhilCorn or for the attainment of its purposes and objectives; and

h) 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 or any competent authority through the Board of Trustees.

SEC. 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 and recommendations of a
Search Committee duly organized and commissioned by the Board for such purpose.

a) The Executive Director shall serve for a term of five (5) years, subject to a
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; Provided, however, That there shall be a reserved
plantilla position of the same salary rate for the outgoing Executive
Director, if he is previously a holder of a plantilla position at PhilCorn
and shall not yet be of retirement age at the end of his term as Executive
Director; Provided, further, That the Board of Trustees, through a Search
Committee duly organized at least four (4) months earlier, shall have
chosen a new Executive Director who shall immediately assume office
during a tum-over ceremony on the expiration date of the term of office of
the outgoing Executive Director; Provided, finally, that no
Officer-in-Charge shall be designated as head of the Institute.

b) The Executive Director shall be assisted by two Deputy Executive
Directors, Division Heads, and Branch Station Directors or Managers as
the Board may determine, to carry out the purposes and objectives of the
PhilCorn.

SEC. 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, development, technology
sharing programs, training and extension, upgrading of scientists and staff
of the Institute and, in general, administer and direct the management and
operation in a transparent and 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;

d) To arrange for the conduct of an External Program and Management
Review (EPMR) by a Panel of Experts every 5 years or as often as
necessary in order to understand the output and impact of PhilCorn
programs to the farmers and stakeholders of the corn industry and to
provide guidance to management in charting the future of the institute;
and

e) To exercise such other powers and functions and perform such other
duties as may be authorized, assigned, or delegated by the Board.

SEC. 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 Directors or Managers in
pursuing inter-agency activities and participation of the national research,
development, and extension network. The TAC shall be composed of not more than
nine (9) members, or as the Board may designate, who are heads, representatives, or
scientists and experts of agencies, government or private, that are actively involved in
any critical aspect of cor research, corn-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 in
achieving the goals and objectives of PhilCorn.

SEC. 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 and scientists as well as specialists in research, training,
extension, and communication of any unit, experiment station, institute or center of
the Department of Agriculture, University of Southern Mindanao, Central Mindanao



University, Visayan State University, University of the Philippines Los Banos,
Mariano Marcos State University, Isabela State University, Central Luzon State
University, and other agencies and universities of the national government and foreign
institutions. 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.

SEC. 13. Buildings, Facilities, and Equipment. The PhilCorn is hereby
authorized to own, acquire, borrow, lease, plan, and construct or repair 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 State Universities and Colleges, the Department of Agriculture, and of the
national government that is engaged, directly or indirectly, in activities that relate to
agriculture, farming systems, com production or products development of the com
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 exempted 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
corn-based farming systems research and development purposes provided
that 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.

©) 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, training, extension and
technology demonstration, and seed production purposes shall be
exempted from the coverage of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law.

SEC. 14. Appropriation. The Four Hundred Million Pesos (Php 400M) initial
fund necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be set aside from any available
funds of the National Treasury, not otherwise appropriated. Thereafter, such sums



A

ag gee

cerned

ne

babe

*

=Smecessaey for the-continwed operation of the Phitippine Com Research Institute shall -.
>be included in t#e-annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

All funds, savings, grants, and income of the PhilCorn shall constitute a
revolving fund, to be managed as a Trust Fund, and shall be considered part of the
:: funds automatically released to the PhilCorn.

SEC. 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,
preferably those with postgraduate degrees, to be determined in accordance with such

2 policies and guidelines as may be approved by the Board.

SEC. 16. Legal Counsel. The Government Corporate Counsel shall be the
Legal Counsel of the PhilCorn; Provided, however, That the PhilCorn may establish
its own legal unit, subject to the supervision and control of the Government Corporate
Counsel, to handle the day-to-day legal matters affecting the affairs of the PhilCorn.

SEC. 17. 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.

SEC. 18. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared invalid
or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain
“in full force and effect.

SEC. 19. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, administrative orders,
and rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended
accordingly.

SEE, 2M-Byfectivity...This Act. shall_take- effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,