EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

~ introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
4108

House Bill No.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The com industry is a major component of the food security, socio-economic and political
structure of the country. There are approximately 600,000 farm family households in the com
value chain. Most of them are in the countryside with average farm size of 1.14 hectares.
They provide the crucial supply of the country’s secondary staple food and raw material
(yellow com) for the livestock industry (mainly for hogs and poultry). Yellow com farmers’
average yield and income are 4tons/ha and P16,000/ha, respectively. The picture of rural
poverty, and unrest, in white corn sector which is mainly @ secondary staple of many
Filipinos is markedly noticeable in its average yield and income at 1.8 tons/ha and
P3,000/ha, respectively. Yellow com is grown in 1.4M has.while white com is grown in 1.2M
hectares spread though out the country.

The present laws restricting free enterprise and economic justice within the com industry
have not only stifled the industry's growth, stability of supply, price and farmers income, but
more importantly, have placed it in the vicious sphere of monopolyand trade manipulation
that necessitates a more concentrated effort towards achieving its full potential and
development. It is of our national interest that the economic well-being of the population that
depends to a large extent on the viability of the industry and its improvement in the areas of
production, farm mechanization, processing, value adding and marketing be given the
necessary support.The glass is “proverbially half-full” in com, especially in the neglected
White com sector, in terms of development ineconomic potential in the rural areas and in its
supplementary and complementary role of the country's overall food security.

The importance of corn in the life of our nation cannot be overestimated in terms of our basic
need for food- direct as staple or indirect as feeds. White flint corn is the type directly
‘consumed as food. It is planted mainly in the upland mountainous areas consumed as staple
in the form of com grits to at least 12% of our population. Being less water requiring than
rice, more agronomically productive as a C4 plant, and has the better nutritional advantage
as a low glycemic index food, it has the potential to bring down our need for rice and
address increasing incidence of diabetes should more Filipinos prefer and consume it for
health and wellness. The Philippines is a diabetic hot spot in the western Pacific region’ *
after China, Indonesia, Japan and Thailand. Our diabetics are not only increasing in number
but are getting younger. These are a glaring economic burden to our nation, now and
henceforth, and are tremendous if the trend is not checked and its remedial measures put in
place.

Indirect as feeds crop, yellow corn is crucial to the livestock industry which is growing in
volume and value. The volume of available grains in the world's market, including rice,
cannot anymore be relied upon. This is because the source countries themselves feel the
pinch for their own need and the negative effect of climate change in their own food
production. It is all the more important that we have to secure our own food supply locally.
To be pessimistically prepared is better than optimistically empty-handed when the crunch
comes


This bill seeks to establish the Philippine Com Industry Development Authority (CORNDEV)
that will formulate, coordinate and unify all policies and programs that will strengthen the
Philippine com industry and assure that the economic gains resulting from it will benefit all
the stakeholders in the industry value chain especially the primary producers in the rural
areas. This will sustain the growth of the industry, as corn is grown in the countryside far and
near, this will help in the development of the rural areas. Further, this will address the
attendant social and environmental problem in highly congested urban areas and ultimately
contribute to more balanced overall national economy

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested

dag


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

entative Rufus B. Rodriguez =

4108

House Bill No.

AN ACT
PROMOTING AND SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CORN INDUSTRY,
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE CORN INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT: AUTHORITY
(CORNDEV), APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Section 1. Short Title — This Act shall be known as the Philippine Com Industry Development
Authority (CornDev) Act.

Section 2. Declaration of Policy ~ It is hereby the policy of the State to promote the growth
nd development of the com industry as crucial to food security through greater production
supply chain, logistical and marketing efficiency from the farm to the consumers so that We
Sconemie benefts will be spread out to all in the com value chain and to provide the
Jeadership and support in the integrated development approach of the corn industry as
government instrumentality with corporate powers.

Section 3. Establishment of the Philippine Com Industry Development Authority ~ The
Philippine Com industry Development Authority (ComDev) is hereby established under the
Office of the Secretary of Agriculture which shall have the following objectives:

1. To improve the quality of life of all Filipino com farmers, uplifting their livelihood
‘economic conditions in the countryside;

2. To formulate, coordinate and unify all policies and programs that will transform
the com industry’smarketing format to a more efficient grains commodity
‘exchange system comparable to other agricultural advanced countries;

3, To institutionalize the intervention programs and projects of Department of
Agriculture and the Com Development Fund created by virtue of Presidential
Memorandum No. 468 dated March 17, 1998 held in trust by the National Food
Authority;

4. To make available the supply of com as staple and raw material for food security
together with other com based products supply, establish com post-harvest
facilities, mechanization centers, and grains terminal warehouses in strategic
areas accessible for farmers and end users,

5, To provide marketing scheme, commodity exchange systems, warehouse
receipts and sequestration programs and services to the farmers that will duly
Secutitize their delivered produce through the establishment of standard for com
‘equitable post-harvest recovery system:

6. To provide support to production, technology enhancement programs, including
R&D on varietal seeds, production technology, marketing and its enabling
policies; and

7. To provide focus support and development for white corn as staple food to ease
pressure on rice imports.

Section 4. Duties and Functions - The Philippine Com Development Authority shall exercise
the following.

+. To formulate, adopt and institute general development programs in com

production for stable, sufficient com supply and prices for the local consumption,


exports and strategic reserves.

2. To evaluate the existing policies, programs and projects of all agencies and
instrumentalities having to do with the industry's development and to integrate
and coordinate the various facets of such activities into the approved general
development program.

3. To formulate and recommend for adoption policies affecting production, credit,
marketing and processing of corn and its value adding by products.

4. To undertake, lead and coordinate a national network of com and corn-based
farming systems research and extension agencies, center, and stations located in
the different agro-ecological regions of the country where com is a major crop.

5. To source and/or borrow the necessary funds from local and international funding
institutions and or issue bonds and other instrumentalities of indebtedness,
subject to the rules and regulations of the Central Bank, for the purpose of
financing programs and projects deemed vital and necessary for the attainment
of its goals and objectives. Corn Dev shall be eligible to access from Tax Subsidy
Provision and/or 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.

6. 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 postharvest 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) com-based farming systems, farm management improvement, and
experiment station development.

7. 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.

8. Enhance corn farmers’ income by developing suitable comn-based crops and
livestock farming systems as well as crop rotation 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
endeavours of small-scale farmers, cooperatives, and seed growers;

9. To regulate the necessary biosafety, import, export and marketing of corn and
com based and it’s by products, including the establishment of commodity
exchange systems.

40. To enter into, make and execute contracts of any kind as may be necessary or
incidental to the attainment of its purpose and objectives and generally, to
exercise all the powers necessary to achieve the purpose and objectives for
which it is organized.

41. Develop GIS databases of all com farmers, plantations, corn grains terminal and
center needed in the identification and preparation of necessary policy
recommendations towards an efficient, highly productive and competitive corn
industry and com-based farming systems through appropriate socio-economic
measures and public -private sector mobilization and participation;

42. Organize and develop strong training and communication programs for com and


corn-based farming systems scientists, research managers , and extension
specialists to enable them to 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 (IEC) technology and participatory social mobilization procedures;

43. Publish and disseminate information related to com markets, opportunities,
research and extension findings and recommendations through scientific
journals, books, technical and extension bulletins, videos, and other print and
communication channels.

Section 5. The ComDev Board — in order to harmonize policies and programs on corn with
other government and private institutions, there is hereby created a ComDev Board of
Trustees which shall be composed of the following

4. Secretary of Agriculture — Chairman

2. Secretary of Finance

3, __ Director General of the National Economic Development Authority

4. Secretary of Trade and Industry

5. __ Secretary of Budget and Management

6. _ Secretary of Science and Technology

7. Administrator of the National Food Authority

8 Secretary of Interior and Local Government

9. Representative from the Philippine Maize Federation, Inc.

10. _ Representative from the National Corn Competitiveness Board

11. _ Representative from the Office of the President

12. _ Representative from the Federation of Free Farmers, Inc.

13. _ Representative from the Philippine Feed Millers Association, Inc.

14. Representative from the Poultry and Livestock Sector Group

15. _ Representative from the University of the Philippines Los Banos

Section 6. Powers and Functions of the Board — The ComDev Board shall exercise the
following powers and functions:
1. To adopt the by-laws and promulgate policies, rules, regulations, and procedures
for the efficient and effective operations of the Authority.
2. 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 operations and management of the ComDev in accordance with its

pve th eC nl tine ane) stafing nattarn anerating

inancial budget prepared in accordance with Its

ana capital expe
corporate plans

4. To approve the plantilla and salary ranges, benefits, privileges, bonuses,
scholarship and manpower development, housing facilities, and other terms and
conditions of service, including promotion systems similar to other government
agencies as well as the life and medical insurances and retirement schemes or
benefits for all officers and employees of the Authority, upon recommendation of
the Administrator.

5. To appoint, promote, transfer, suspend, remove or otherwise discipline any
subordinate officer or employee of the Corn Dev, upon recommendation of the
Administrator.

6. To create such committee or committees and appoint the members thereof, as
may be necessary for effective and proper management of the CornDev in the
attainment of its purposes and objectives; and

7. To exercise such other powers and functions, perform such other acts as may be
necessary or proper for the attainment of the purposes and objectives of the



CornDey, or as may be delegated by the Secretary of Agriculture through the
Board of Trustees

Section 7. Administrator and Other Officers - The ComDev shall be headed by an
Administrator who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines, upon
recommendation of the Board of Trustees, based on the findings and recommendations of a
Search Committee duly organized and commissioned for such purpose.

a) The Administrator shall serve for a term of five years, subject to one term
extension of another 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 Administrator if he is not yet of retirement age.

b) The Administrator shall be assisted by such Deputy Administrators, Division
Heads, and Regional Directors or Managers as the Board may determine to carry out
the purposes and objectives of the Corn Dev

Section 8. Powers, Functions, and Duties of the Administrator — The Administrator shall be
directly responsible and reports to the Board and shall have the following powers, functions,
and duties:

a) Toexercise dynamic leadership, create a vision, map out the mission, provide
strategic direction, and undertake systematic supervision over the planning and
implementation of all program support, production, marketing, research,
development, technology sharing programs, training and extension, upgrading of
scientists, management and staff of the Authority and, in general, administer and
direct the management, operation, and transparent, corrupt-free administration of
Corn Dev.

b) To execute all contracts, incur obligations, acquire and dispose of assets, and
deliver documents on behalf of the Authority within the framework of the authority
delegated by the CornDev Board;

c) To implement and enforce policies, decisions, orders, rules and regulations
that are promulgated or adopted by the Board;

4) _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 ComDev programs to the farmers and
stakeholders of the corn industry and provide guidance to management in charting
the future of the authority; and

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

Section 9. Offices — The Philippine Com Industry Development Authority shall hold office in
the new NFA Building at Visayas Avenue, Diliman Quezon City, with auxiliary office in UPLB
and in the three major com producer of region 2, 10 and 12. The staff of the Authority should
be lean and efficient

Section 10. Appropriation — There is hereby appropriated by the Department of Agriculture
the amount of Two Hundred Million Pesos (Php 200,000,000) that shall support the
establishment and programs of the CORNDEV. Thereafter, the proceeds of the Com


Development Fund held in trust under the National Food Authority shall be transferred to the
ComDev Authority. Further, the amount necessary for the operations of the CORNDEV shall
be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 11. Separability Clause — If any part, section or provision of this Act shall be held
invalid or unconstitutional, the rest of the provisions not affected remains valid

Section 12, Repealing Clause — All laws, decrees, executive orders and rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed,
modified or amended accordingly.

Section 13. Effectivity Clause — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,