Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.

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Introduced by Representative ED CHRISTOPHER S. GO

AN ACT ESTABLISHING
THE PHILIPPINE CORN RESEARCH INSTITUTE,
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish the Philippine Corn Research Institute
(PhilCorn) that shall unify, coordinate, fund, implement, and strengthen all corn
research and development (R&D) as well as manpower training and extension
of technologies on corn and corn-based farming systems for the production of
more food, feeds, forage, industrial materials, and bioenergy purposes,
including those subsequent (or rotation) crops that are grown after rice in
rainfed farms and in dryland and marginal upland farms in the country.

The national government affirms its goal of ensuring the country's food,
feeds, forage, and bioenergy security through the development of a modern,
highly productive, efficient, and competitively secured agriculture. The success
in this new and comprehensive venture of modernizing corn production and its
industrialization would tremendously help improve and advance people’s
employment and livelihood opportunities and thus reduce poverty and hunger,
particularly those in the rural areas. Therefore, it is important to identify our
target areas and to consider as well the vulnerable upland and dry-land agro-
ecosystems where many of the resource-poor farmers, particularly the com
farmers, grow their food and feed crops, including poultry and livestock.

Com is the second most important national food crop next to rice. It
serves as the staple food of 20 percent of the Philippine population
Furthermore, corn is the main component of up to 75% of formulated feeds for
livestock, poultry, and aquaculture fishery.

Corn is grown mainly in rainfed farms after rice is harvested, and in
upland and dryland farms, including steep hillsides, in over 2.5 million hectares,
mostly in Mindanao, Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Central
Visayas, and Palawan


The current national grain yield in various ecological regions is still low,
ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 tons per hectare in resource-poor areas. However,
yields can be as high as 6 to 10 tons for hybrid corn varieties in more favorable
farm environments, suggesting that there is a bright prospect in further
increasing corn yields in specific farm sites. Consequently, the country needs
to improve the overall productivity among farmers, not only to achieve self-
sufficiency, but also to stabilize food security and nutrition among our rural
population. We can also target the export markets over the medium and long-
term view.

The demand for both white corn as human food, and yellow corn as
animal feeds and for industrial uses has been increasing rapidly because of the
high demand of our growing human population, the expanding livestock and
poultry industries, and the rapid growth of the emerging industrial and bioenergy
Program under Republic Act No. 9367, the Biofuels Act of 2006.

Low crop yields and the meager household income of the majority of
com farmers in the rainfed, upland, and dryland farms are stil far below those
obtained in experiment stations because of the following factors and situations:

1. Limited access of farmers to and adoption of genetically
improved seeds;

2. Inadequate information and use of integrated nutrient and
pest management systems;

3. Slow adoption of crop rotation technologies;

4. Ineffective drought mitigation approaches;

5. Inadequate mechanization of field operations from land
preparation to harvesting and drying;

6. Large portion of the corn-growing areas are hilly land with
highly variable soil fertility, and

7. Many farms are prone to drought due to erratic rainfall
pattern and therefore irrigation facilities should be installed.

Of the major crops other than rice that support the national economy,
corn and corn-based farming systems (including crops planted after com 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 0.30 percent, and sugarcane at 0.5 percent.

The Philippines has more than three million hectares of upland and dry-
land areas inhabited by about five million households, most of which are
very poor - especially those in Southern Mindanao, Central and Eastern
Visayas, parts of Western Luzon, Palawan, and the Bicol Region.

Recurrent droughts and typhoons, environmental degradation due to
short-duration and erratic rainfall, recurring El Nino and climate change
phenomena, soil infertility, and inaccessibility of high-quality crop seeds
aggravate the low productivity and untold sufferings of poor corn farming
communities.


The spacious degraded lands and infertile soils in the upland and dry-
land areas without irrigation facilities, however, comprise an untapped potential
resource for the growing of drought-tolerant corn and corn-based cropping
systems such as, for example, sorghum and grain legumes for food and feeds.
When properly nurtured, these crops will help ensure household food security
and sustainable farm productivity.

In the Philippines, there are well established research institutes devoted
to major crops and disciplines such as: rice, coconut, sugarcane, fiber and
abaca, cotton, silkworm, tobacco, root crops, biotechnology, plant breeding,
crop protection, farming systems, irrigation, carabao, dairy, fishery, hogs, farm
mechanization and post-harvest, and other strategic commodities and
disciplines.

However, there is no such similar institute that is devoted to corn and
com-based farming systems that include crops such as sorghum and grain
legumes that are important as food, feed, forage, and fuel.

Therefore, it is time to establish the Philippine Corn Research Institute
(PhilCom)

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 farmers to become prosperous by increasing
the productivity and quality of their produce through modern farm planting
practices, harvesting, 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 - The
Philippine Corn Research Institute (PhilCorn) -- that is designed and
committed:

1. To unify, coordinate, fund, implement, and strengthen all
national and farm-level efforts on RDE for corn and corn-based farming
systems for food, feeds, forage, and fuel;

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 corn
products for domestic and foreign markets, and

4. To improve the economic condition and income of farmers
in the upland and dry-land regions of the country.


In view of the foregoing information and in order to dramatically reduce
Poverty and improve people's employment and livelihood, particularly those in
the rural areas, and to ensure the country's food sufficiency and energy
security, approval of this landmark legislation is earnestly sought.



ES ca ud auaw

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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1388

Introduced by Representative ED CHRISTOPHER S. GO

AN ACT ESTABLISHING
THE PHILIPPINE CORN 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 Research Institute Act.

SEC. 2. Philippine Corn Research Institute. - The Philippine Corn
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 corn farmers in the rainfed, upland, and
dryland 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 risks 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 framework for 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;

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


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d) To work closely with regulatory agencies such as BPI (i.e. National Seed
Quality Control Laboratory, NSQCL; Quarantine Division, and National Seed
Industry Council, NSIC), Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards
(BAFS), and private stakeholders (ie. PhilMaize) and NGOs in the collection,
conservation, and utilization of endemic or traditional corn varieties as well as
in the experimentation, planting, and monitoring of corn hybrid and genetically
engineered varieties;

e) To develop and implement sustainable and environment-friendly corn and
com-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 policymakers with
regard to corn 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 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, 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 Philippine Council for Agriculture,
Aquatic Resources, Forestry, 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 corn and as may be necessary or proper
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 corn research,
development, and technology promotion in different scientific and technological
fields and programs, including but not limited to the following thrusts: (1) germ
plasm 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)

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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 corn and corn-
based farming systems research and extension agencies, centers, and stations
located in the different agro-ecological regions of the country where corn is a
major crop;

c) Develop technologies suitable for the rainfed, upland, and dryland 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;

d) Enhance income of corm farmers by developing suitable corn-based crops
and livestock farming systems as well as crop rotations where applicable:
value-adding corn 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;

) Develop databases needed in the identification and preparation of
necessary policy recommendations towards efficient, highly productive and
competitive corn industry and corn-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 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 modern extension systems such as information, education,
and communication (IEC) technology and participatory social mobilization
procedures;

9) 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) 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;


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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, or support to farmer entrepreneurial
activities;

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 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.

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 that are
relevant to the goals and functions of the Institute.

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: Executive Director of the Philippine Council for
Agriculture, Aquaculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources Research and
Development (PCAARRD) of the Department of Science and Technology
(DOST) who will act as Co-Chairperson; Director of the Bureau of Agricultural
Research (BAR) who will act as Vice-Chairperson; Regional
Executive Director (RED) representing the DA Regional Field Offices (DA-
RFOs);Undersecretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM);
Director of the Agriculture Division of the National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA);Director of the DA-Philippine Council for Agriculture and
Fisheries (DA-PCAF); two (2) University Presidents from the State Universities
and Colleges (SUCs) representing major corn producing and corn-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

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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 corn 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.

c) 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.

d) 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, 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 operation and management of the PhilCor in accordance with its
purposes and objectives and in line with research planning and monitoring
policies and procedures of PCAARRD and BAR;

¢) To approve the PhilCom's organizational structure and staffing pattern,
operation 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 support to staff,
and other terms and conditions of service, including promotion systems similar
to those in the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and the Department of
Science and Technology (DOST) as well as life and medical insurances and


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retirement schemes or benefits for all officers and employees of the PhilCorn,
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 committees and appoint the members thereof, as may be
necessary and proper for the management of the PhilComn 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 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 of the Trustees (BOT),
based on the findings and recommendations of a search committee duly
organized and commissioned by the Board for such purpose.

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 turn-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.

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 operations
of PhilCorn with transparency, accountability, and integrity;


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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 performs 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 interagency activities and participation of the
national RD&E 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 corn 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 PhilCor is
hereby authorized to own, acquire, borrow, lease, plan, and construct or repair
buildings, laboratories, experimental farms, and other facilities as may be

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necessary or proper to attain its purposes and objectives. It may also utilize
facilities of any unit of any cooperating SUC, 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 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
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.

©) Likewise, all lands, farms, plantations, whether directly or indirectly
owned, used, utilized or administered by the PhilCom 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 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 laboratories and other
physical infrastructures, purchase and development of experimental farms,
and acquisition and purchase of equipment for laboratories, farm development,
and offices. This initial amount shall be drawn from the DA National Corn
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 (KBI) in the Annual General Appropriations Act. Furthermore, the
PhilCorn Board of Trustees shall seek financial support from foreign donors
such as JICA, KOICA, AusAid, USAID, and similar institutions for the
establishment and improvement of PhilCor infrastructures, laboratory
facilities, field experiment station development, and training and 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 PhilComn shall constitute a revolving
fund, to be managed as 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

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officials and employees, preferably those with postgraduate degrees, to be
determined in accordance with such policies and guidelines as may be
approved by the Board.

SEC. 16. Auditor, The Chairperson of the Commission on Audit (COA)
shall be the Ex-Officio Auditor of the PhilCorn. For this purpose, he may appoint
a representative who shall be the auditor of the PhilCorn, together with the
necessary personnel to assist the COA representative in the performance of
his duties.

SEC. 17. 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. 18. 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. 19. Separability Clause. The provisions of this Act 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 20. Effectivity Clause — This act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days following its publication in two (2) newspaper of general circulation

Approved,