HOUSE "F REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED

DATES 9 yy 2048

Republic of the Philippines |

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES} ™"_3
Quezon City, Metro Manila ov pada

17™ CONGRESS REGIS
First Regular Session Bills een eens
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: REP. EVELINA G. ESCUDERO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines primarily being an Agricultural country is expected on the need to
establish Agricultural Research Institution geared towards adaptation on the effect of
globalization and climate change and enhance to have a strong food security and
sustainability.

This bill aims to establish the Philippine Rainfed Agriculture Institute (PhiIRAD as an
attached agency of the Department of Agriculture. Through, PhilRAI, the Philippines
agricultural land which is predominantly rainfed has to be developed using modem
agricultural research programs so as not to compromise our primary resource of agricultural
land brought about by the challenges arising from environment and climate change.

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

‘VELINA G. ESCUDERO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

17™ CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 278

Introduced by: REP. EVELINA G. ESCUDERO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE RAINFED AGRICULTURE INSTITUTE,
(PhilRAT) AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Rainfed Agriculture
Institute Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to afford full protection
and the advancement of the right of the people to a healthful ecology in accordance with the
rhythm and harmony of nature. In this light, the State has adopted the Philippine Agenda 21
framework which espouses sustainable development, to fulfill human needs while
maintaining the quality of the natural environment for current and future generations.

‘The State adopts the principle of protecting natural resources to ensure food security,
reducing poverty, protecting the environment and addressing issues such as climate change,
community empowerment and improved livelihoods. The results of Comprehensive
Assessment of Water for Food and Poverty Reduction globally showed that a vast scope
exists for doubling the productivity of rainfed agriculture in Asia with available technologies.
The required increase in food production to meet the increasing demand of the Philippines
has to come largely from rainfed cropped areas.

Agriculture in the Philippines is predominantly rainfed and covers about 7.5 million
hectares of the 10 million hectares total cultivated area. It was estimated that Philippine’s
population increases by roughly two million annually. This will mean more investments,
community participation and better social services in the long run. The looming water
scarcity and climate change are added pressures to rainfed areas and its inhabitants. Inputs of
knowledge-intensive institutions like research, extension and development organizations
become critical in enhancing the resilience of rural people to cope with the changing climatic
patterns. Farming in rainfed areas is quite risky due mainly to recurrent droughts, pest
infestation, and poor and degraded soils, lack of physical infrastructure and weak social
services. Rainfed agriculture is an important economic activity in the country, producing
about 40% of its food supply and generates 60% of the countries staple food.

Generally, rainfall in the country is seasonal and its distribution is quite erratic. The
nencess of land deoradation is seriously undermining the livelihood security of the vast


majority of rural populations, leading to poverty, starvation and migration. Natural resources
management programs in the country are constantly evolving but we need to strengthen
through a more holistic and integrated approach. The approach must ensure food security,
reducing poverty, protecting the environment and addressing issues such as climate change,
community empowerment and improved livelihoods. In view of the vulnerability of the rural
population and poorly allocated governmental funds it is imperative to further ameliorate the
current policies.

The millions of idle degraded lands and infertile soils in the rainfed areas comprise an
untapped resource for the cultivation of drought-tolerant cereals and legumes for food and
feeds that will not compromise food security and sustainability of the environment. There are
research institutes devoted to rice, coconut, sugarcane, cotton, tobacco, fiber, silkworm, root
crops, biotechnology, plant breeding, carabao, fisheries and other strategie commodities but
there is none devoted to rainfed agriculture in general and crops such as com, sorghum,
legumes and other important crops for food, feed, forage and biofuels.

Globalization and climate change requires enhanced country's capability to
continuously develop and harness cutting-edge technology and agricultural innovations that
will enable rainfed farmers to become prosperous by improving the quality of their produce
for domestic and global markets.

There is an urgent need to establish a proactive, modern agricultural research for
development organization that will unify, coordinate, and strengthen all rainfed agriculture
research, development and extension programs to improve the livelihood of resource-poor
communities and empower them to cope with a brewing "perfect storm” brought about by the
confluence of drought, increasing temperatures, land degradation, rising food prices and other
challenges arising from environment and climate changes.

SEC. 3. Philippine Rainfed Agriculture Institute. - The Philippine Rainfed
Agriculture Institute, hereinafter referred to as PhiIRAI, is hereby established as an attached
agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to improve the livelihoods of resource-poor
rainfed communities and empower them to cope with drought, global warming, rising food
prices, land degradation and other risks arising from environmental and climate changes.

SEC 4. Objectives. - The objectives of this Act are as follows:
a) Build climate resilient agriculture in rainfed areas through sustainable and
integrated approach by enhancing the impact of natural resources and adapting

various coping strategies on climate change and building capacity of different
stakeholders;

b) Develop a robust and innovative farmer-centered, needs-based national rainfed
agriculture research for development and extension corporate programs;

) Strengthen and modernize Philippine rainfed agriculture;

d) Improve the livelihoods of resource-poor rainfed farmers and promote the
general welfare of rainfed farming communities; and

e) Develop or strengthen related programs in partnership and consultation with
the DA-Bureau of Agriculture Research (DA-BAR), DA regional research


centers, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, Forestry, and Natural
Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), State Universities and
Colleges (SUCs), the private sectors, civil society organizations and
international research organizations,

SEC. 5. Strategie Framework of PhilRAI. - The Institute shall, within six (6) months
from the effectivity of this Act, formulate a Strategic Framework on Philippine rainfed
agriculture, The Framework shall serve as the basis for developing programs on rainfed
agriculture, and action plans for research, development, extension and monitoring activities.
The Framework shall be reviewed every three (3) years, or as may be deemed necessary.

SEC. 6. Components of the Strategic Framework of PhilRAL. - The Framework
shall include, but not limited to the following components:

a)
b)
°)
4)
e)
f)
8)
h)
i)
jd

Building climate resilient communities;
Resilient farming systems innovation;

Integrated natural resources management;

Enabling policy guidelines and institutional arrangements;
Database development and management;

Capacity building;

Productivity enhancement;

Advocacy and information dissemination;

Monitoring and evaluation; and

Gender mainstreaming and development.

SEC. 7. Programs and Action Plans. - The Institute shall formulate Programs and
Action Plans in accordance with the Framework within one (1) year after the formulation of
the latter. The PhilRAI Programs and Action Plans shall include, but not limited to, the
following components:

a)
b)

4)

Assessment of benchmark information on Philippine rainfed agriculture;

‘Assess the climate variability/change in selected communities and identify
natural resources management strategies with high probability of success in
the context of climate variability and change;

Designing the biophysical landscape of the agro-ecosystem that will
incorporate water harvesting and management, soil erosion prevention, and
social preparation for community-based shared water use arrangements;

Developing appropriate farming systems where crops and livestock are
identified, together with farmers that are adapted to such environment
situations as well as responding to market opportunities;


8)

h)

Understanding socio-culture and socio-economic dynamics towards better
farmer participation and commitment on its programs;

Developing community and institution capabilities for shared management of
resources and products;

Common understanding and capability among program proponents
(researchers, extension personnel, development managers and local political
leaders) of the program approaches, goals, and expected outputs and impacts;

Obtaining support from local government, private institutions and
international research organizations; and

Develop enabling policy guidelines and institutional arrangements for
integrated agro-ecosystem development and management, and increasing
resilience of rural communities to climate variability/change for sustainable
intensification and livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

SEC. 8. Principal Office and Branches. - The Institute shall have principal office in
Metro Manila, or elsewhere as the PhilRAI Board of Trustees may decide. It may also
establish other offices, branches, satellite stations, or networks in geographically suitable
regions in the Philippines as may be necessary or proper for the accomplishment of its goal
and objectives.

SEC. 9. Duties and Functions, - PhilRAI shall exercise the duties and functions, but

not limited to the followin;

a)

)

4)

Lead and coordinate @ national network for rainfed agriculture research for
development and extension programs in different agro-ecological regions of
the country;

Plan, monitor, evaluate, conduct, and fund research for development and
extension activities on rainfed agriculture;

Create an information database, collect, package and share new knowledge
and innovations through modem information and communication technology

and other innovative approaches;

Enhance income of farmers through sustainable and market-linked rainfed
production systems, genetic improvement by conventional and biotechnology
approaches, and natural resource management;

Develop and implement a robust social mobilization, communication and
capacity building program among farmers, rural women, researchers,
extension workers, development managers, local administrators and
entrepreneurs towards the conduct of on-farm demonstration, technology
utilization and technology commercialization activities,

Identify and map out development pathways towards efficient and productive
rainfed agro-industries through appropriate socio-economic measures and
nublic-private partnerships; and


8)

Develop databases, guide public policy formulation and pursue policy
advocacy that will stimulate, modernize and sustain rainfed agriculture, food
crops production, processing and marketing systems and put these in the hands
of farmers through their organizations.

SEC. 10. Corporate Powers. - PhilRAI shall exercise the corporate powers, but not
limited to the following:

a)

b)

°)

ad

Exercise all the powers of a corporation under the general corporation law in
so for as such powers are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act;

Enter into, make and execute contracts and agreements of any kind or nature,
and to sue and be sued in its corporate name;

Borrow funds and obtain Joans from all sources, whether local or foreign and
whether government or private, to help finance its research for development
and extension programs and its capital and operating expenditures;

Invest in, purchase or otherwise acquire own, hold, use, lease, mortgage,
pledge, encumber, sell, assign, convey, exchange, ot otherwise deal in real 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;

‘Acquire from the government, whether national or local or from any person,
corporation, partnership, association or other entity, such characters,
franchises, licenses, rights, privileges, assistance, financial or otherwise and
concessions as may be conducive to and necessary or proper for the attainment
of the goal and objectives of PhilRAI; and

Receive and acquire from any person, government and private entities,
whether foreign or domestic, grants, donations and contributions consisting of
such properties, real or personal, including funds and valuable effects, as may
be usefull, necessary or proper to carry out its purposes and objectives and
administer the same in accordance with the terms of such grants, donations,
and contributions and consistent with its purposes and objectives.

SEC. 11. Board of Trustees. - The corporate functions and powers of PhilRAI shall
be exercised, and all its businesses, activities and properties shall be controlled by a Board of
‘Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board.

The Board shall be composed of the Secretary of Agriculture as ex-officio Chair and
fourteen (14) members. The appointive members of the Board shall be appointed by the
President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture.

The members of the Board shall be composed of the following:

a) Director of the DA Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR);

b) Director of the DA Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-
6


BSWM);
¢) Director of the DA Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI);

4) Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic,
Forestry, and Natural Resourees Research and Development

(PCAARRD);

©) Executive Director of the National Disaster Coordinating Couneil
(NDCC);

{) Deputy Director-General of the National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA);

g) Undersecretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM);
h) Commissioner of the Climate Change Commission (CCC);

i) President of the League of Provinces;

j) Representative from the academe;

k) Representative of farmers’ organization operating in rainfed areas;

1) Representative of womens’ self-help group operating in rainfed areas;
m) __ Representative from private sector engaged in agribusiness; and

n) Representative from Philippine scientist association working on natural
resources management.

The PhilRAI Executive Director shall act as the Secretary of the Board. All
government officials in the Board shall serve as ex-officio members and shall not receive any
additional salary or compensation,

‘The representatives shall be appointed by the President from a list of nominees
submitted by their respective groups/associations. They shall serve for a term of two (2) years
without reappointment unless their representation is withdrawn by the sector they represent,
‘Appointment to any vacancy shall be only for the unexpired term of the predecessor.

SEC. 12. Per Diem. - The Chair and members of the Board shall receive per diem, as
the Board may determine, for each meeting actually attended. 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 PhilRAI.

SEC. 13. Meetings of the Board. - The Board shall meet once every three (3) months,
or as often as may be deemed necessary by the Chairperson, The Chairperson may likewise
call meetings upon other government agencies for the proper implementation of this Act.

SEC. 14. Powers and Functions of the Board. - The Board shall exercise the
following powers and functions


a)

b)

°)

ad)

°)

8)

Guide the formulation of the vision, mission, strategy, and research for
development and extension priorities of PhilRAI;

Approve policies, programs, plans and operational procedures of PhilRAI;

Approve PhilRAI's organizational structure, staffing pattem, operating and
capital expenditures, and budget prepared in accordance with its corporate
plan;

Approve salary ranges, benefits, privileges, bonuses, and other terms and
conditions of service for all officers and employees of PhilRAI upon
recommendation of the Executive Director;

Appoint, transfer, promote, suspend, remove or discipline any officer or
employee of PhilRAL, upon recommendation of the Executive Director;

Create relevant committees and appoint members thereof as may be necessary
and proper for the management of PhilRAI; and

Exercise such other powers and functions and perform such other acts as may
be necessary for the attainment of the goals and objectives of PhilRAI, or as
may be delegated by the Secretary of Agriculture.

SEC. 15, Executive Director. - PhilRAI shall be headed by an Executive Director
who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines, upon recommendation of the
Board, and based on the evaluation of a Search Committee through the office of the Secretary

of Agriculture.

a)

)

The Executive Director shall serve for a term of six (6) years, subject to only
one term extension of six (6) years or less for very meritorious performance,
or a maximum term of twelve (12) years; and

The Executive Director shall be assisted by Deputy Executive Directors,
division heads, and program directors as the Board may determine to carry out
the objectives of PhilRAL.

SEC. 16. Duties of the Executive Director. - The Executive Director shall be directly
responsible to the Board, and shall have the following duties:

a)

b)

°)

Exercise dynamic leadership, create a vision, map out the mission, provide
strategic direction, and supervise the implementation of all research for
development and extension programs and, in general, to supervise the
operations of PhiIRAI;

Execute contracts, incur obligations, acquire and dispose assets, and deliver
documents on behalf of PhiIRAI within the framework of the authority

delegated by the Board;

Implement and enforce policies, decisions, orders, rules and regulations that
are promulgated or adopted by the Board; and


d) Exercise such other powers and functions and perform such other duties as
may be authority delegated or assigned by the Board.

. SEC. 17. Technical Advisory Committee. - A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC),
organized and approved by the Board, shall assist the Executive Director, Deputy Executive
Directors, division heads and program directors in pursuing interagency activities and
Participation of the national rainfed agriculture research, development and extension
networks.

The TAC shall be composed of not more than nine (9) members, or as the Board may
designate, who are heads or representatives of agencies, government, private or international,
that are actively involved in rainfed agriculture research, production, processing, marketing.
policy formulation and advocacy, and capacity building.

SEC. 18. Facilities and Manpower. - PhilRAI shall undertake its initial operations in
the existing offices, laboratories and experimental stations and other similar government
institutions within the DA. Furthermore, DA, collaborating SUCs and international research
organizations shall deploy selected personnel and scientists to assist PhilRAI in pursuing its
research, development and extension programs.

SEC. 19. Services of Government Personnel. - The PhilRAI shall, for the purpose of
its research for development activities, obtain and secure the services of scholars, scientists,
and technical personnel SUCs, DA, and related agencies of the national government and
international research organizations. Such personnel may be paid honoraria or incentives
acceptable to all concerned and as may be fixed and authorized by the Board.

SEC. 20. Buildings and Equipment. - PbilRAI is hereby authorized to own, acquire,
borrow, lease, hold, plan and construct buildings, laboratories, experimental stations, and
other facilities as may be necessary or proper to attain its goal and objectives.

PhilRAI is also 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. Provided, however, that it shall be exempted from the
payment of any and all forms of taxes, duties, fees and charges of any and all such
importation of equipment, materials, articles and services. Provided, further, that the same are
not available locally on favorable terms.

SEC. 21. Appropriations. - The Secretary of Agriculture, and Budget and
Management are hereby authorized and directed to set aside, out of the Agricultural
Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) and of other fund sources of DA, the amount of
Five Hundred Million Pesos (Php 500,000,000) as the initial budget of PhilRAI for its start-
up and operating expenses. Thereafter, the annual budget of PhilRAI's operations shall be
provided for in the annual General Appropriations Act. The appropriations herein provided
shall be subject to the fiscal control and management procedures provided for in Executive
Order (EO) No. 714, Series of 1981.

All funds, savings and income of PhilRAI shall constitute a revolving fund that shall
be considered part of the funds automatically released to the latter, subject to the fiscal
control and management procedures provided for in EO 714. Such funds, savings and income
shall be used to achieve the goal and objectives for which PhilRAI is established.


SEC. 22. Civil Service Laws. - PhiIRAL and its off
; 2. ‘ ys icers and employees shall be
subject to the Civil Service Law, rules and regulations, Technical personnel shall be selected
on the best of the highest possible standards of merit and fitness for public service to be
determined in accordance with such policies and guidelines as may be approved by the
Board,

SEC. 23, Auditor. - The Chair of the Commission on Audit shall be the ex-officio
auditor of PhiIRAL. For this purpose, he/she may appoint a representative who shall be the
resident auditor of PhilRAI, together with the necessary personnel to assist the said
representative in the performance of his/her duties.

SEC. 24. Legal Counsel. - The Government Corporate Counsel shall be the legal
counsel of PhiIRAL. The Institute may establish its own legal department, subject to the
supervision and control of the Government Corporate Counsel, to handle the day-to-day legal
matters affecting its affairs.

SEC. 25. Annual Report. - The Board shall submit to the President of the Philippines
through the Secretary of Agriculture, together with the audit report on the relevant accounts,
an annual report generally dealing with the activities and operations of PhilRAL.

SEC. 26. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall, in coordination with PhilRAT
formulate the rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this Act,

SEC. 27. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid
or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force

and effect.

SEC. 28. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations,
rules and regulations, and issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 29, Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in
the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,