FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
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BY :-., 
S. NO. 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Souny” F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines is among the top producers of pineapple fruit in the world. Data from the Bureau 
of Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE) confirms that the 1999 total world production 
was 13,146,989 metric tons, of which the Philippines was the third largest contributor (1 1%). For 
the ASEAN group, the Philippines accounted for 34 % (1,495,120 Mt) of total production, 
second only to Thailand. 
From 1995 to 1999, the total average production was 1,522,660 Mt from an average total area of 
41,890 hectares. Bukidnon and South Cotabato account for at least 90% of the country’s total 
pineapple production due to the existence of Dole and Del Monte plantations. Cavite and 
Camarines Sur are noteworthy producers in areas where no contract-growing is present. 
Camarines Sur contributes at least 34% while Cavite contributes 30% to aggregate production. 
”Formosa” variety is mostly grown in Camarines Sur, while “Hawaiian” variety is planted in 
Cavite. 
Pineapple market is worldwide and highly competitive. Pineapple is the third most important 
tropical fruit next to banana and mango. However, in many countries, resources for pineapple 
research have notably declined in these most recent years possibly due to poorer earnings. 
Moreover, there is a gap between public research and private needs for pineapple development. 
The legislation envisions the creation of a National Research, Development and Extension 
Center for Pineapple to bridge this gap, inasfar as the Philippine pineapple indushy is concerned, 
This center is tasked to undertake comprehensive research on the advancement of pineapple 
cultivation and postharvest handling. Its powers and fimctions shall be in line with the research, 
development and extension programs of concerned government agencies which include 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 Central Mindanao University. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
~A.f.ohno 
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ZTRILLANES 
IV 
Senator 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
n 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
TO ESTABLISH THE NATIONAL RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION 
CENTER FOR PINEAPPLE, AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. National Research, Development and Extension Center for Pineapple. - 
The National Research, Development and Extension Center for Pineapple (hereinafter referred to 
as NRDECP), which shall be based in the Central Mindanao University in Musuan, Bukidnon, is 
hereby established. 
SEC. 2. General Powers and Functions of the Center. - 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 (DOST), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), 
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and Central Mindanao University: 
a. to educate and train all stakeholders of the pineapple industry; 
b. to undertake basic and strategic research for developing technologies to enhance 
productivity and utilization of pineapple; 
e. to explore various approaches such as, but not limited to hybridization, utilization of 
clonal variability and induced mutation in suckers, in vitro culture and hybrid seeds, in 
developing new varieties in pineapple; 
d. to provide leadership and coordinate the network research for generating location 
specific varieties, technology and for solving specific constraints of pineapple production; 


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e. to standardize the management practices and to provide farm advisory services in all 
aspects of pineapple production; and 
f. to collaborate with relevant national and international agencies in achieving the above 
objectives. 
SEC. 3. Specific Powers and Functions of the Center. - The Center shall have the 
specific powers and functions: 
a. to develop productive, high yielding, good quality varieties of pineapple; 
b. to develop efficient, economic and productive pineapple production technologies; 
c. to develop effective and sound pineapple processing technologies for outstanding 
varieties of pineapple; 
d. to develop effective production systems for all pineapple varieties; 
e. to establish and maintain germplasm collection and gene bank for pineappple; 
f. to develop effective and efficient marketing systems for pineapple; 
g. to evolve productive pineapple-based farming systems; 
h. to develop and implement appropriate and suitable technology packages and effective 
technology transfer schemes, especially the conduct of training programs; 
i. to upgrade the skills of development facilitators, estensionists and farmers through 
trainings, seminars and workshop on pineapple production and postharvest handling and 
processing; 
j. to establish national and international linkages for pineapple research, development, 
extension and production activities; and 
k. to coordinate with other governrnentlnon-government agencies involved in the 
development of pineapple indushy. 
SEC. 4. Executive Director of the Center. -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: 
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a. must have completed substantial and relevant education and experience on pineapple 
research and development; and 
b. 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 which shall'be composed of: 
a. the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture as Chairman; 
b. the University President of the Central Mindanao University as Vice Chairman; 
c. the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry as member; 
d. one (1) representative from a non governmental organization (NGO) working on 
pineapple production, research and development and processing; 
e. one (1) representative from the group of pineapple traders; 
f. one (1) representative from the group of pineapple processors; and 
g. one (1) representative from the group of pineapple growers. 
SEC. 6. Quorum. - The presence of at least five (5) members at the time of the meeting 
shall constitute the quorum: Provided, however, That the Chairman, in his absence, the Vice 
Chairman shall preside. 
SEC. 7. Airthrization and Exemption. - 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 Section 105(s) of the Tariff and Customs Code, Section 103(f) of the 
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National Internal Revenue Code and to the provisions on Automatic Appropriations under the 
General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 8. Location of the Center. - The main offices, experimental area and nursery of 
the Center shall be located at the Central Mindanao University in Musuan, Bukidnon. The Center 
may hereafter establish similar facilities in its other service areas in order to promote the 
development of the pineapple industry in the country. 
SEC 9. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, the amount of two 
million pesos (Php 2,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated from the funds of the National Treasury. 
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary to maintain the operations of the Board shall be 
included in the 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. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Advisory Board shall jointly 
promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations inconsistent 
with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby amended or repealed accordingly. 
SEC. 13. Effeivi@ Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
complete publication in the National Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation, whichever comes earlier. 
Approved, 
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