Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

H.No,_ 1556

Introduced by Representative Estrellita “Ging” B. Suansing

EXPLANATORY NOTE

There is nothing to behold when you look at onions. It is a simple vegetable
crop that is easy to overlook and disregard. But realistically, it can be a source of
development and productivity for our country. Better yet, it can even be a source of
pride for the nation.

A study of the farming industries in the globe will reveal that establishing an
onion industry can substantially benefit a country’s economy. Australia, for instance,
is an established onion producer that caters to both its domestic and export markets.
Other countries with farming industries have relatively delved into onion production
as well,

The Philippines, with all its farming background and setting can easily turn
into a respectable onion producing country. However, a comprehensive study from
the initial to the final stages of onion production has to be put forth, if any, or altered
to attune to modem conditions in case an underperforming onion industry in the
country beckons.

The bill proposing to create the “Philippine Onions Research Institute” is the
vehicle which will catapult the country's onion industry into a more progressive entity.
An industry capable of serving the domestic and international markets, bringing with
it much-needed revenue; and considerably affecting the lives of Filipinos in the
process

The bill also aspires to establish and operate one central experiment station
which will undertake extensive research in onion culture and production, such as but
not limited to feasibility studies on merchandising onion farms, for example. The
institute shall be placed under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture (DA)
for the purpose of employing the expertise of said agency and to assure the


successful implementation of the same. The DA as an administrative agency of the
government is comprised by experts in a specific field of specialization under its
jurisdiction, Hence, the decision to place the aforesaid establishment under the
supervision of the said agency certainly augurs well for the proposed bill.

The bill, in detail, intends to conduct all kinds of research work for the onion
industry; aiming to discover and introduce processes that will improve productivity
with such efficiency in all aspects of production. Moreover, the bill aims to establish
and maintain a sustainable and balanced relation between production and
consumption of onions at market conditions; promoting the effective merchandising
of onions in the dgmestic and foreign markets in the process. All to be done at a
projected reduction of cost, completing the metamorphosis of the country’s onion
industry; capable of soaring like a butterfly thereafter.

Rep. ESTRELLITA “GING” B.|BUANSING
1™ District, Nueva Ecij


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

H.No.__1556

Introduced by Representative Estrellita “Ging” B. Suansing

AN ACT
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE ONION RESEARCH INSTITUTE, PRESCRIBING ITS
POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES AND PROVIDING FOR THE NECESSARY
FUNDS FOR ITS OPERATION

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

CHAPTER |
ESTABLISHMENT AND OBJECTIVES.

SECTION 1! Name, Duration and Domicile. -There is hereby the "Philippine
Onion Research Institute” hereinafter called "PHIL ONIONS INSTITUTE" which shall
be organized within sixty (60) days after the approval of this Act and shall have its
main office in an appropriate and suitable place in the Province of Nueva Ecija. This
Corporation shall be under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture.

SECTION 2. Purposes and Objectives. -The PHIL ONIONS INSTITUTE
shall have the following purposes and objectives.

(a) To conduct research work for the onion industry in alll its phases, for the
purposes of introducing such practices or processes that will reduce the cost of
production, increase and improve productivity and achieve greater efficiency in the
industry;

b) To improve existing methods of raising onionsand onion production;

c) To ensure a permanent, sufficient and balanced production of onions for
local consumption and exportation;

d) To estabjish and maintain a sustainable and balanced relation between
production and consumption of onions, and such marketing conditions therefore, as
will ensure stabilized prices at a level sufficient to cover the cost of production plus a
reasonable profit; and


) To promote the effective merchandizing of onions in the domestic and
foreign markets so that those engaged in the onion industry will be placed ona more
economic stability and security.

CHAPTER II
POWERS,

SECTION 3. Specific and General Powers. To carry out the purposes
mentioned in the preceding Section, the PHIL ONIONS INSTITUTE shall have the
following powers:

(a) To establish, keep, maintain and operate one central experiment station to
undertake extensive research in onion culture and production, including studies as
the feasibility of merchandizing onion farms. The control and eradication of pests, the
selection of high yielding varieties of-onions suited to the country's climatic
conditions;

(b) To acquire, obtain and purchase such machinery, materials, equipment
and supplies as may be necessary to execute such researches and experiment work
successfully;

(c) To buy, sell, assign, operate, rent or lease any other equipment and
materials for the production, manufacture, handling, transportation and warehousing
of onions;

(d) To grant loans, on reasonable terms to planters when it deems such loans
advisable; and

(e) Generally, to exercise all powers necessary to carry out the purposes for
which it is created, in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations.

CHAPTER III
GOVERNING BODY

SECTION 4. Composition and Appointment. - All corporate powers of the
PHIL ONIONS INSTITUTE shall be vested in, and exercised by, a Board of Directors
consisting of five (5) members to be appointed by the President of the Philippines:
Provided, That at least one of the members shall come from the Province of Nueva
Ecija and the other one shall come from another onion-growing province; Provided
further, that three (3) members of said board shall be appointed upon the
recommendation of the National Federation of Onion Planters; Provided finally, that
the Chairperson of the Board shall be elected by the members from among
themselves.

SECTION 5. Tenure and Compensation, -The members of the Board shall
serve as designated by the President of the Philippines in their respective
appointments for terms of two, four and six years, respectively, from the date they
qualify, and assume office. Compensation of the members shall be determined in
accordance with existing laws


SECTION 6. Powers and Duties of the Board of Directors - The Board
shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To prescribe rules and regulations governing the manners in which the
general business of the corporation may be exercised;

(b) To appoint and fix compensation of the General Manager, other officers of
the corporation, with the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture. The Board, by a
vote of majority of all members, may, for just cause, suspend and remove the
General Manager and other officers of the corporation;

(c) To approve the annual, and/or such supplemental budgets of the
corporations which may be submitted to it by the General Manager from time to time;
and

(d) To perform such other duties as may be assigned to it by the President of
the Republic of the Philippines or by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.

SECTION 7. Suspension and Removal of Directors. - Any Member of the
Board of Directors may, for cause, be suspended or removed by the President of the
Philippines solely or upon the recommendation of the Secretary of

Agriculture.

SECTION 8. Prohibition for Board Members. - No chairman or member of
the Board of Directors of this corporation shall at the same time serve in other
corporation or agency in any capacity whatsoever, unless authorized by existing
laws.

CHAPTER IV
MANAGEMENT.

SECTION 9. The General Manager. - The management of the corporation
shall be vested in the General Manager.

SECTION 10. Powers and Duties of the General Manager. - The General
Manager shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To direct and manage the affairs of and business of the corporation, on
behalf of the Board of Directors, and subject to its control and supervision;

(b) To sit in all meetings of the Board and participate in the deliberations
thereon, but without the right to vote;

(c) To submit within six (6) days after the close of each fiscal year an annual
report, through the Board of Directors, to the Secretary of Agriculture;

(d) To perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Board of
Directors from time to time.


CHAPTER V
CIVIL SERVICE LAW APPLICATION

SECTION 11. Application of Civil Service Law and Regulation. - All
officers and employees of the corporation shall be subject to the Civil Service Law,
rules and regulations, except those whose position may, upon recommendation of
the Board, be declared by the President of the Philippines as policy-determining,
primarily confidential or highly technical in nature.

SECTION 12. The financial transactions of the PHILORINS shall be audited in
accordance with existing laws and administrative regulations. A report of audit for
each fiscal year by the Auditor, through the Commission on Audit, to the Board of
Directors, and copies thereof, shall be furnished the Secretary of Agriculture.

CHAPTER VI
FUNDING

SECTION 13. Funding. -To raise the necessary funds to carry out the
provisions of this Act, an initial fund of FIFTY MILLION (P50,000,000.00)
PESOS is hereby appropriated, to be charged against the appropriations intended
for the Department of Agriculture under the current General Appropriations Act.
Revolving funds shall be derived from the contributions of the Philippine Amusement
and Gaming Corporation, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and from sources of
foreign origin

CHAPTER VII
LIQUIDATION

SECTION 14, Liquidation. - When its term or period of existence has expired
in accordance with the provisions of this Act, it shall be liquidated in accordance with
existing laws, rules and regulations thereof,

SECTION 15, Reversion to General Funds. - All hinds resulting from
dissolution and liquidation of the corporation as herein provided shall ipso jure revert
to the General Fund of the National Government.

SECTION 16. Separability Clause, - If, for any reason or reasons, any part
or provision of this Act shall be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or
provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and
effect,

SECTION 17, Effectivity.This Act shall take effect immediately upon its
approval

Approved.