Considering that corn is the most important food next to rice, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jr. has cited the need for the Philippines to set up a research institute that would increase the productivity and quality of the country’s corn.
He filed House Bill No. 7818 or the proposed Philippine Corn Research Institute Act, reminding the government that under the 1987 Constitution, it is mandated to provide support to agriculture through appropriate technology and research and adequate financial, production, marketing, and other support services.
“The bill seeks to increase productivity and quality of our corn produce through modern farm plating practices, harvesting, processing, and packaging techniques for the domestic and global markets,” Villafuerte said.
The former House deputy speaker noted that in 2018, the Philippines produced around 7,772,000 metric tons of corn.
“Around 600,000 households depend on it as a primary source of income. We should be able to increase the productivity and quality of our corn produce by establishing the Philippine Corn Research Institute,” he said.
“It intends to equip our farmers to combat climate change by enhancing their capability to continuously develop cutting-edge technology and agricultural innovations.”
He said corn serves as staple food of 20 percent of the population and a component of up to 75 percent of formulated feeds for livestock, poultry, and aquaculture fishery.
HB 7818 seeks the creation of the Philippine Corn Research Institute (PhilCorn), which shall be attached to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Under the measure, the PhilCorn is mandated to modernize the corn industry and consequently improve the livelihood and household income of resource-poor corn farmers in the rained, upland, and drylands farming communities. It also seeks to empower the corn farmers with tools of science and technologies to help them cope with problems of low yields, droughts, floods, land degradation, global warming, and other risks arising from environmental and climate changes.
The bill provides that the Board of Trustees shall exercise all the corporate functions and powers of the PhilCorn and shall control all its businesses, activities, and properties that are relevant to the goal and functions of the Institute.
HB 7818 provides an initial funding of P400 million for the PhilCorn, which shall have its principal office at the Isabela State University or at any other suitable site as the Board of Trustees may decide.