ORIG (NAL

Republic of the Philippines /
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 18FEB 2015 *\

Quezon City SACRA. |

Sixteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5489

Introduced by Rep. Antonio F, Lagdameo, Jr., and
Rep. Anthony G. Del Rosario

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish the Philippine National Banana Research Center in
Panabo City, Province of Davao del Norte to be known as the Antonio O. Floirendo,
Sr. Banana Research Center.

The banana industry is a very important source of income, employment and
export earnings for the Philippines. The country’s banana industry is worth
$720 million a year, provides employment to 240,000 workers and contributes P830
million in taxes to local government units,

According to the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), there are now
13 out of 26 provinces in Southern Philippines which are dedicated to banana
production. The industry employs 240,000 workers and thereby pays at least P21
Billion in wages every year. The industry pays almost P1 Billion in local taxes yearly
for business permits, real estate taxes, and other fees on top of the P900 Million in
taxes paid by contractors and suppliers. The Philippine banana industry also
supports 30,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and small landowners under
various contract-growing arrangements or lease arrangements

For over 44 years, the banana industry has been integral to the socio-
economic development of Southern Philippines and of the whole country as well
Mindanao is home to about 81 percent of the country's banana production and
generates export income largely from banana exports. Although Mindanao
continues to dominate the Philippine banana industry, local banana growers and
producers have voiced their concerns on the industry's sustainability. More
importantly, stakeholders see a pressing need to put up a banana research center
that will undertake scientific research and analysis to further develop the industry.
This will address the vital issues of food security and stability of the banana industry.

The industry has suffered from the recent setbacks of economic embargo of
the US over Iran, the El Nilo phenomenon, the devastation of Typhoon Pablo and
the recurrence of the uncontrollable spread of Panama disease. Also known as
fusarium wilt, Panama disease has been dormant for about 50 years, but a virulent


strain has now reappeared in plantations in the Philippines, having spread from
Australia to countries in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. This type of disease could also
spread to other banana varieties, threatening the livelihood of thousands of farmers
in the country,

This bill therefore seeks to establish a specialized banana research center
which shall be responsible for the conduct of comprehensive studies and scientific
approaches to attain sustainable banana farming, The establishment of the
Antonio O. Floirendo, Sr. Banana Research Center is a concrete response towards
addressing concerns in the banana industry such as prevention of diseases that
infest banana farms, improved farming techniques and post-harvest practices as
well as the exploration of potential banana varieties.

Naming the Philippine National Banana Research Center as the
Antonio O, Floirendo, Sr, Banana Research Center is in appreciation of
Antonio Floirendo, Sr.’s contributions to the banana industry in the country. He is
recognized as the “banana king’ for transforming vast tracts of raw land in Mindanao
into fruits-for-export plantations. He has successfully accomplished his dream of
feeding most of the globe with Philippine bananas

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

he, Antonio Cc.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
‘Quezon City

Sixteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

5489

HOUSE BILL NO,

Introduced by Rep. Antonio F. Lagdameo, Jr., and
Rep. Anthony G. Del Rosario

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANANA RESEARCH CENTER IN
PANABO CITY, PROVINCE OF DAVAO DEL NORTE TO BE KNOWN AS THE.
ANTONIO 0. FLOIRENDO, SR. BANANA RESEARCH CENTER AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 National
Banana Research Center Act.”

SEC. 2, Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the State
to promote industrialization and full employment based on sound agricultural
development and agrarian reform through industries that make full and efficient use
of human and natural resources, and which are competitive in both domestic and
foreign markets. Toward this end, the establishment of a national banana research
center is necessary in order to develop a more balanced and integrated program for
the banana industry and to have a specialized institution which shall undertake
research programs and provide relevant, efficient, and strategic approaches to
enhance banana productivity in the country and improve the livelihood of banana

farmers.


SEC. 3. Philippine National Banana Research Center. — The Philippine
National Banana Research Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, is hereby
established in Panabo City, Province of Davao del Norte under the Department of
Agriculture to provide research and development techniques for crop improvement,
protection, production, post-harvest handling and the maintenance of germplasm
collection and gene bank that are capable of producing good quality varieties of
banana

The Center shall be known as the Antonio O. Floirendo, Sr. Banana Research
“Center in recognition of the many contributions made by Antonio O. Floirendo, Sr.
to the banana industry in the country.

SEC. 4. Duties and Functions. - The Center shall exercise the following
duties and functions:

a) Integrate, collate and support research programs and studies on the
banana industry;

b) Conduct continuing research on developing productive, high yielding,
disease-resistant and good varieties of banana;

) Conduct comprehensive studies and research on banana diseases
and how to efficiently and effectively address the same;

d) Undertake research and generate relevant, efficient, cost-effective, and
scientific approaches to achieve sustainable banana farming:

e) Establish and maintain germplasm collection and gene bank for
banana;

f) Accelerate the transfer of improved banana technologies to farmers

and other stakeholders through on-farm research;


9) Upgrade the skills of development facilitators and banana farmers
through trainings, seminars and workshops on farming techniques, banana
production and postharvest handling and processing;

h) Establish national and international linkages for banana research,
development and production activities;

i) Coordinate with local government units, non-government organizations
and the private sector involved in the development of the banana industry; and

j) Receive and manage grants, aid, donations or any kind of assistance
from donors, either foreign or domestic, to achieve the Center's objectives.

SEC. 5. Executive Director. ~ The Center shall be headed by an Executive
Director who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the
recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture. The Executive Director shall be a
recognized agriculturist with experience in banana research development or a
specialist banana grower actively involved in banana farming and production
technologies.

All other officers and employees of the Center shall be appointed by the
Secretary of Agriculture upon the recommendation of the Executive Director and in
accordance with existing Civil Service law and rules and regulations.

SEC. 6. Duties and Responsibilities. - The Executive Director shall
exercise the following duties and responsibilities:

a) Exercise over-all supervision and direction over the implementation of
all research and development programs of the Center and in general to supervise
and direct its management, operation and administration;

b) Execute contracts, incur obligations, acquire and dispose of assets and

deliver documents on behalf of the Center;


©) Approve the organizational structure, staffing pattern, operating and
capital expenditures of the Center:

d) — Recommend the appointment of the officers and employees of the
Center on the basis of the highest possible standards of merit and fitness for public
servants subject to the civil service laws, rules and regulations:

2) Implement and enforce policies, decisions, orders, rules and
regulations issued by the Department of Agriculture; and

f) Exercise such other powers and functions and perform such other
duties as may be authorized, delegated, or assigned by law

SEC. 7. Annual Report. - The Executive Director shall submit to the
President of the Philippines, through the Secretary of Agriculture, an annual report
generally dealing with the activities and operations of the Center, together with the
audit report on the relevant accounts.

SEC. 8. Donations and Solicitations. - The Center may solicit and receive
donations or endowments of money. property or services which shall be exempt
from income or gift taxes and all other taxes, charges or fees imposed by the
government or any political subdivision or instrumentality thereof.

Government corporations are hereby authorized to give grants to the Center
from the unimpaired surplus of funds at their discretion

SEC. 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of
this Act shall be charged to the appropriations for the Department of Agriculture
Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for the operation and maintenance of the

Center shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.


SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall issue the necessary
rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 11. 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. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations and other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly

SEC. 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,