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In the interest of the service,
and to support the national government's initiative to further
modernize and boost the corn industry, the Philippine Corn Research
Center (PhilCorn) is hereby established as an attached agency
of the Department of Agriculture (DA) under the following premises
and guidelines:
| 1. |
The
AGRICOM Report upon which the AFMA was promulgated, prescribed
urgent measures, one of which is the establishment of research
centers/institutes, designed to modernize RDE and to hasten the
delivery of services of the Department of Agriculture. |
| 2. |
In
order to attain the above basic objectives, the DA and its bureaus
and attached agencies were restructured along functional lines
through the Agricultural Bureaucracy Restructuring Plan (ABRP)
created by virtue of Executive Order No. 162 and implemented
by virtue of Executive Order No. 338. |
| 3. |
The
PhilCorn shall be organized and managed as a semi-autonomous
unit with budgetary allocation from the national government similar
to other DA attached agencies. However, it shall operate and
function initially under the direct guidance of the DA's Bureau
of Agricultural Research (BAR) which shall provide support, supervision,
and funding during its early development stage. BAR shall initiate
the creation of an interim set of Center officers who will assist
in the initial operationalization of PhilCorn. |
| 4. |
The
PhilCorn shall be established in a 60-hectare experimental area
within the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) Campus in Kabacan,
North Cotabato, which will also serve as the Center's central
experiment station |
| 5. |
Based
on EO 338, Section 37 (Redeployment of Personnel), at least forty
(40) scientists/researchers of the Cotton Development Authority
(CODA) shall be assigned to form the core personnel of the PhilCorn
(in the interim) while awaiting approval of its organizational
structure and staffing pattern. |
| 6. |
The
purposes and objectives of the PhilCorn shall include but not
limited to the following: |
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| 6.1 |
To
develop, in coordination with the University of Southern Mindanao
(USM), the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB),
other State Colleges and Universities (SCUs), regional research
centers of the DA, and the private sector, a viable and dynamic
national corn research and development program that will strengthen,
further improve or otherwise modernize a national corn industry
into a highly productive and profitable business and sustain
the gains already made in corn production; |
| 6.2 |
To
develop and adopt cost effective and environment friendly technologies; |
| 6.3 |
To
improve the income and economic conditions of the industry's
stakeholders, particularly the small scale corn farmers; and |
| 6.4 |
To
expand employment opportunities in the rural areas and ultimately
promote the general welfare of the people through high productivity,
commercial processing and competitive domestic and export marketing
of corn, feeds, and corn-based products. |
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| 7. |
In
order to pursue with the establishment and rapid development
of PhilCorn, an Advisory Committee (AC) of nine (9) members is
hereby created composed of: Director, Bureau of Agricultural
Research, as Chairman, and President, University of Southern
Mindanao, as Co-Chairman, and the following as members - UP Mindanao
Representative, DA-BAR-ERT Chairman, DA-Region XII RTD for Research,
Farmer organization representative, Traders/Millers sector representative,
Livestock sector representative, and the National Team Leader
of the Corn RDE Network. They will be appointed by the Secretary
of the Department of Agriculture. |
| 8. |
The
Advisory Committee shall exercise the following powers and functions,
subject to review and approval by the DA Secretary: |
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| 8.1 |
To
define and formulate the program plans, policies, procedures
and guidelines of the PhilCorn in accordance with its purposes
and objectives and those of DA-BAR; |
| 8.2 |
To
define and prescribe the PhilCorn's organizational structure,
RDE Network and branch stations, staffing pattern and corresponding
qualification standards that will be attractive for the recruitment
of young, intelligent, dynamic, and highly committed scientists; |
| 8.3 |
To
organize a Search Committee that shall screen qualified nominees
for positions of Director, Deputy Directors, and other top officials
of PhilCorn, the result of which shall be submitted for approval
by the Secretary of Agriculture; |
| 8.4 |
To
prepare the PhilCorn's financial requirements consisting of capital
expenditures and operational budget; and |
| 8.5 |
To
create such committee or committees and appoint their respective
members as may necessary or proper for the establishment and
management of the PhilCorn or for the attainment of its purposes
and objectives. |
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| 9. |
An
initial budget of Php 45 million shall be allocated by the BAR
from R & D Grants, DA's Makamasa funds, and from other sources
such as the KR-2 and PL480 that are administered by NAFC. |
| 10. |
All
personnel of the DA as well as its bureaus and attached agencies
are mandated to extend full cooperation and assistance to the
PhilCorn in the performance of its functions. |
Compliance herewith by all concerned
is strictly enjoined.
This order shall take effect
immediately.
(Signed)
DOMINGO F. PANGANIBAN
Secretary |
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