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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T E  
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Of recent, coffee production has become a boom industry in the country. With the 
introduction in the market of Starbucks, Seattle’s Best and other high-end coffee shops, 
the demand for the excellent varieties of coffee has reached unparalleled height. Even 
the country’s pride, Figaro, has set standards of global competitiveness by opening 
satellite stores in Hongkong and in Southeast Asia. 
True enough, the demand for coffee has outpaced harvests and production. The 
Makati Business Club (MBC) cited that local demand had already perked up to 55,000 
tons while production stood at only 35,000 tons. Areas planted to coffee declined from 
about 100,000 hectares in 1986 to only 78,000 hectares at present. 
In the province of Cavite, a new festivity called “Tahimis” is being touted as a 
coffee feast celebration in Amadeo. It is a tribute for the greatness of coffee, the town’s 
bountiful and chief harvests. It is for this reason that the Province of Cavite and its 
municipalities and cities and the Cavite State University spearheaded the campaign for 
the creation of a Coffee Research, Development and Extension Center (CoRDEC). 
The legislation envisions the creation of a center that will have the 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 the Cavite State University (CvSU). 
The Center will be in the forefront of educating and training all stakeholders of the 
coffee industry; conducting relevant researches, scientific study and feasible marketing 
strategies; extending technologies; and creating linkages with international 
organizations and other coffee development centers in other countries. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
2, 
,:9i 
( 8  . 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
CREATING A COFFEE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION 
CENTER, AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS THEREFOR, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Establishment of a Coffee Research and Development 
Extension Center. - The Coffee Research and Development and Extension Center 
(hereinafter referred to as CoRDEC) based at the Cavite State University (CvSU), in the 
Municipality of Indang, Province of Cavite is hereby established. 
SEC. 2. 
Powers end Functions. - 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 POST), Department of Trade and Industry 
(DTI), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Cavite State 
University (CvSU). 
a. 
Educate and train all stakeholders of the coffee industry; 
b. 
Conduct relevant researches, scientific study and feasible marketing 
strategies; 
c. 
Extend technologies; and 
d. 
Linkage with international organizations and other coffee development 
centers in other countries. 
SEC. 3. 
a. 
The Center shall have the specific powers and functions: 
Develop productive, high yielding, good quality varietieshrains of coffee; 
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b. 
C. 
d. 
e. 
f 
g. 
h. 
i. 
i. 
k. 
Develop 
efficient, 
economic 
and 
productive coffee 
production 
technologies; 
Develop effective and sound coffee processing technologies for varieties 
“Exelsa”, “Liberica” and other outstanding varieties of coffee; 
Develop effective production systems for all coffee varieties; 
Establish and maintain germplasm collection and gene bank for coffee; 
Develop effective and efficient marketing systems for coffee; 
Evolve productive coffee-based farming systems; 
Develop and implement appropriate and suitable technology packages 
and effective technology transfer schemes, especially the conduct of 
training programs; 
Upgrade the skills of development facilitators, extensionists and farmers 
through trainings, seminars and workshop on coffee production and 
postharvest handling and processing; 
Establish national and international linkages for coffee research, 
development, extension and production activities; and 
Coordinate with other govemmenffnongovemment agencies involved in 
the development of the coffee industry. 
SEC. 4. 
Qualifications of the Executive Director. - 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 shall possess the following qualifications: 
a. 
b. 
Must not be more than fifty (50) years of age; 
Must have completed substantial and relevant education and experience 
on coffee research and development; and 
c. 
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. 
Advisory Board. - The plans and programs of the Center shall be 
reviewed annually by the Advisory Board composed of: 
a. 
b. 
c. 
The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture as Chairman; 
The University President of the Cavite State University, as Vice Chairman; 
The Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry, as Member; 
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d. 
One (1) representative from a non-governmental organization (NGO) 
working on coffee production, research and development and processing; 
One (1) representative from the group of coffee traders; 
One (1) representative from the group of coffee processors; and 
One (1) representative from the group of coffee growers. 
e, 
f. 
g. 
SEC. 6. 
Quorum. - The presence of at least five (5) members at the time of 
the meeting shall constitute the quorum: Provided, howeve6 That the Chairman, in 
hidher absence, the Vice Chairman, shall preside. 
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 the Tariff and Customs Code, the 
National Internal Revenue Code and the provisions on Automatic Appropriations under 
the General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 8. 
Main Office of the Center. - The main offices, experimental area 
and nursery of the Center shall be located at the Cavite State University campus in 
Indang, Cavite. The Center may hereafter establish similar facilities in its other service 
areas in order to promote the development of the coffee industry in the country. 
SEC. 9. 
Appropriation. - The 
amount 
of 
Fifty 
Million 
Pesos 
(Php50,000,000.00) is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the Special Activities 
Fund of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, or from any other sources that 
may be identified for the purpose. Thereafter, such sum required for its operation, 
maintenance, research, development and extension activities shall be included in the 
annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 10. 
Revolving Fund. - 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. 
Repealing Clause. -All existing laws, rules and regulations or part 
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, superseded or 
modified accordingly: Provided, however, That nothing in this Act shall amend, modify 
3 


or repeal the provisions of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local 
Government Code. 
SEC. 12. 
Effectivity C/ause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) 
days of its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers 
of national circulation. 
Approved, 
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