Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 410

Introduced by: HON. CARL NICOLAS C. CARL

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Philippine government views the coconut industry as one of the key players in the
agricultural sector. Coconut has recently become important for food, feed. medicine. cosmetics,
renewable energy. and a trading commodity

With 615.926 hectares planted, the Easter Visayas region is considered to be the top
coconut-producing region in the Visayas (Westem, Central, and Eastem Visavas) with a total of
1.08 million metric tons of coconut a year. The production represents a 73% share of the Visayas
Coconut Industry. Four hundred fifty-seven thousand twenty-six farmers (457.026) in the Eastem
Visayas depend on the industry. Coconuts have a significant impact on the well-being of the rural
population. Therefore, coconut research and development in this region is critical.

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is an agency of the Philippine govemment under
the Department of Agriculture responsible for developing the coconut and other palm oil industries
for itto be globally competitive and efficient. It is now mandated to promote the coconut and other
palm oil industries’ rapid integrated development to ensure that the coconut farmers become direct
participants and beneficiaries of such development, To implement this, it has established two (2)
coconut research centers in Luzon and two (2) coconut research centers in Mindanao, but NONE
in the Visayas

The Visavas State University (VSU) in Baybay City. Leyte has filled this R&D vacuum
through a research center established in 1975 and later renamed as the National Coconut Rescarch
Conter-Visayas (NCRC-V) in CY 2000 approved by its BOR with funding from the university's
income and annual appropriation from the national govemment

NCRC-V conducted R&D to improve productivity. efficiency. and profitability of the
coconut industry of the Visayas and the country. Its significant accomplishments include but are
not limited to the following:

a. Developed five (5) self-pollinated Makapuno hybrids that bear fruits. under optimum
care, in 3 to 4 years from planting and ensuring a yield of 90% to 100% Makapuno nuts
even without isolation from typical coconut palms.

b. NCRC-V also has sclected and developed 11 high-yielding dwarf coconut hybrids. five
(5) Makapuno hybrids. and four (4) outstanding cultivars. These hybrids and outstanding
coconut cultivars are now widely promoted and disseminated to farmer adopters of
Regions VII. VIII, and in regions of Mindanao and Souther Luzon:

©, Distributed thousands of scediings of the high-yielding "Baybay Tall" cultivar and high-
yielding dwarf coconut cultivars in thc DA-PCA replanting program to replace senile
palms and coconut palms damaged from the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda
Baybay Tall is the only local cultivar of the coconut palm that can rival the yields of the
outstanding DA-PCA coconut hybrids:

d. Capacitated more than 30,000 coconut farmers on recommended practices of growing,
coconut and on processing various products from coconut:


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives

‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

Developed small types of machinery and equipment to support the processing and
utilization of products and by-products from coconut by small coconut farmers that
reduce the production cost, maximize the production capacity and increase farmer's
income:

f. Actively spearheaded the development and implementation of sustainable management
strategies for major existing pests of coconuts. A mass production center for pupal
parasitoid (Iirustichus brontispae) against Brontispa longissima was established in
2011. which successfully mass-produced the parasitoid and hindered the spread of
Brontispa in Region VIL

g. Established a zero-waste processing technology for normal and Makapuno coconuts.
allowing the coconut farmers and processors to cam more from the crop:

h, Established more than 23 hectares of community-based coconut-com-banana
intercropping techno-demo sites as livelihood options for typhoon-affected communities
in Tacloban City. and the Municipalities of Inopacan. Macrohon, Ormoc, and, Carigara
in Region 8, as well as in Bohol and Catmon, Cebu.

i, Established a coconut gene bank of 46 local and introduced accessions. several
demonstration farms, and spearheaded selection of typhoon-tolerant coconut genetic
resources from Yolanda-affected areas in Eastern Visayas:

With those accomplishments, the NCRC-Visayas envisages to significantly further its
contributions to the coconut industry

Strengthening NCRC-V an existing and proven rescarch center on coconut is appropriate.
cost-effective. and efficient for the government. It will immensely benefit the coconut industry of
the Visayas and the country. Furthermore. this bill will strengthen the collaboration between the
Jine agency (DA-PCA) and the academe (VSU), which is a proven effective practice of developed
countries in supporting agricultural development.

This bill. therefore. proposes that NCRC-V of Visayas State University be recognized as the
zonal coconut research and development center for the Visayas by the DA-PCA and be renamed
the Visayas Coconut Rescarch and Development Center (VCRDC) mandated to conduct joint
R&D with the DA-PCA. and shall annually and jointly be funded by the PCA and the VSU.

Moreover. this bill was previously filed in the 18" Congress by the undersigned and had
been pending with the House Committee on Agriculture and Food since 2021-05-17

For the preceding reasons, the immediate consideration and approval of this bill is eamestly
sought.

Respectfully submitted.

CARL NICOLAS C. CARI
Representative
5 District, Leyte


Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 410

Introduced by: HON. CARL NICOLAS C. CARL

AN ACT PROPOSING THE ESTABLISHMENT, RECOGNITION, AND
STRENGTHENING OF THE COCONUT RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE VISAYAS.
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF

‘enate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

Be it enacted by the

SECTION 1. Renaming of NCRC-V. The National Coconut Research Center - Visayas.
established by the Visayas State University (VSU), will be renamed as Visayas Coconut Rescarch
and Development Center (VCRDC),

SECTION 2. The Visayas Coconut Research and Development Center (VCRDC) shall be
recognized by the Department of Agriculture ~ Philippine Coconut Authority (DA-PCA) as the
Zonal Research and Development Center of coconut in the Visayas with the following Vision.
Mission, and Research and Development Thrusts:

A. Vision: Center of relevant coconut technologies and development in the Visayas;
B. Mission: Gencrate and disseminate relevant coconut technologies towards a profitable.

sustainable coconut industry in the Visavas and:
C.—_ Research and Development Thrusts: Varietal Improvement. Coconut Production &

Cultural Management, Pest Management. Climate-smart Coconut Farming System.

Product Development and Commercialization, and Socio-economic Research and

Extension i

SECTION 3. The VCRDC shall have the following objectives

a.To develop innovative agricultural, industrial, and socio-economic research and

development programs for the coconut industry for the benefit of the Filipino coconut
farmers.

‘+ Improved and high-yielding coconut varieties

Novel products from coconut

* Advanced techniques on coconut propagation

* Production and processing machinery systems

+ Climate-smart farming systems

b. To develop and disseminate improved coconut planting materials:

©. To serve as a repository of coconut research done by institutions in the Visayas:

4. To engage collaboration and coordination with institutions of higher learning on local and
foreign scholarships and fellowship programs that will enhance coconut development:


Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

©. To organize and hold local. regional. or international conferences/fora. on the current trends
and developments of the coconut industry

£. To develop modem and effective farm extension programs for coconut farmers and other
beneficiaries

g. To publish and disseminate research findings and make appropriate recommendations to
various stakeholders

SECTION 4, Strengthening of VCRDC through additional funding from the DA-PCA. Through
the DA-PCA. the Department of Agriculture shall provide annual financial support and allocation
for VCRDC’s Research & Development programs

SECTION 5. Strengthening the Rescarch & Development Collaboration between the DA-PCA
and VCRDC. Through the DA-PCA, the Department of Agriculture shall detail at Ieast onc DA~
PCA Rescarch and Development personnel to jointly implement relevant rescarch and
development programs with rescarchers and staff of VCRDC

SECTION 6. The amount necessary to carry out this Act's provisions shall be included in the
General Appropriation Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette
‘or a newspaper of general circulation

APPROVED,