HOUSE OF REPESENTATIVES

RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines pave: 11 WL 2018
HOUSE OF REPRESENTAT! vie.
Quezon City im
ey

SEVENTEENTH CONGRE!
First Regular Session EASTRATION UNIT

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nouse gino, 1369

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT PROVIDING THE ENABLING MECHANISMS FOR RESEARCH AND.
DEVELOPMENT OF COCONUT SUGAR IN THE COUNTRY AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The coconut industry is a major agriculture industry in the country. Coconut is
among the Philippine’s top export produce and one of the most important crops in the
country. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the
country is the second largest coconut producer in the world, accounting for 26.6% of
global production.

One of the recent products that can be manufactured from the coconut tree is "coco
sugar". Coconut sugar is a by-product of coconut sap or tuba and is obtained by boiling
freshly harvested sap until it evaporates and thickens. It is then allowed to cool to
become granular.

Chemical analysis shows that coco sugar contains higher amounts of nutrients
compared to brown and refined cane sugar, Coco sugar has higher levels of nitrogen,
phosphorus, potassium, chlorine, magnesium, sulfur, and micronutrients.

Health experts indicate that coco sugar can help in the proper management and
control of diabetes mellitus because it helps in lowering the total cholesterol level.
Coconut sugar is good for people with diabetes since it has a low glycemic index (GI)-
coco sugar only has a GI of 35 compared to cane sugar's Gl of 50.

This bill seeks to further boost the coconut industry in the country by providing the
mechanisms to fund the research and development of coco sugar to ensure this
product's conformity with internationally accepted standards for food and safety. It is
hoped that this measure will help improve the lives of Filipino families who are directly
and indirectly dependent on the coconut industry.

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

(Yin
ANGELINA “HELEN” D.L. TAN, M.D.
4" District, Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1363

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT PROVIDING THE ENABLING MECHANISMS FOR RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT OF COCONUT SUGAR IN THE COUNTRY AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title
Research and Development Act".

This Act shall be known as the "Coconut Sugar

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
promote domestic materials and locally produced goods, and to adopt measures to make
such locally produced goods competitive in both the local and international market.

‘Towards this end, the State shall provide the enabling mechanisms to promote
the production of coconut sugar in order to help and boost the coconut industry in the
country.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the terms "coconut sugar"
and "coco sugar" shall refer to the product derived from coconut sap and obtained by
boiling the same until it evaporates, thickens, and thereafter solidifies turning into
honey syrup or granular sugar.

SEC. 4. Promoting Research and Development (R&D) on Coconut Sugar. - The
Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in coordination with the Philippine
Coconut Authority (PCA), Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Food and Nutrition
Research Institute (FNRD, shall conduct an extensive research and development (R&D)
study on the health benefits and nutritional value of coconut sugar in order to develop
the same and ensure its compliance with internationally accepted standards on food and

‘The DOST shall facilitate and support interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and
international research activities to advance knowledge on and understanding of the
health and nutritional benefits of using coconut sugar, and to disseminate this
information to stakeholders involved in the production and promotion of coconut sugar.

‘The DOST, in coordination with the PCA, DA, and the FNRI, shall conduct a year-
round information, education and communication campaign to inform and educate the
general public on the various health benefits of utilizing coco sugar. It shall also publish
the latest research findings, studies and materials on the nutritional value of coco sugar;

SEC. 5. Coconut Sugar Credit Facility and Loan Package. - The Land Bank of the
Philippines (LBP) is hereby mandated to formulate a Coconut Sugar Credit Facility and
Loan Package Window, which shall extend low interest loans to small and medium
enterprises seeking to venture into the business of promoting the consumption and
utilization of coconut sugar.


Within six (6) months from the date of effectivity of this Act, the LBP is mandated
to formulate the necessary guidelines, procedures, and requirements for the various
stakeholders to avail of the Coconut Sugar Credit Facility and Loan Package, as provided
under this Section.

SEC. 6. Annual Appropriation. - The Department of Science and Technology
(DOST) shall include in its annual programming and annual appropriation the amount
necessary to fully implement the objectives of this Act.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within six (6) months
from the date of effectivity of this Act, the DOST, in coordination with the PCA, DA, and
the FNRI shall promulgate such implementing rules and regulations necessary to
implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations, or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act shall be held
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions of this Act not otherwise affected
thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the
date of its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,