MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
[ EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 76, March 04, 2002 ]
PROVIDING FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HYBRID RICE PROGRAM, TRANSFERRING THE PHILIPPINE RICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
WHEREAS, the Government is committed to the creation of one million new jobs in agriculture and fisheries under the “One Million Jobs” Program;
WHEREAS, by virtue of Administrative Order (A.O.) No. 25 dated December 12, 2001, the Government embarked on the Hybrid Rice Program and the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Trade and Industry, the National Food Authority and their respective allied agencies were authorized to accelerate and intensify the promotion of the utilization of hybrid rice technology;
WHEREAS, under the Hybrid Rice Program, hybrid rice planting targets shall cover 135,000 hectares in 2002, 200,000 hectares in 2003 and 300,000 hectares in 2004 in the major irrigated rice producing provinces;
WHEREAS, the utilization of hybrid rice technology is expected to increase productivity and create new jobs;
WHEREAS, by virtue of Executive Order No. 1061 dated November 5, 1985 as amended by Executive Order No. 60 dated November 7, 1986, the Philippine Rice Research Institute was established under the Department of Agriculture, to develop, in coordination with the University of the Philippines at Los Baños, a national rice research program so as to sustain and further improve the gains already made in rice production, improve the income and economic condition of small rice farmers, expand employment opportunities in the rural areas, and ultimately promote the general welfare of the people through self-sufficiency in rice production;
WHEREAS, there is a need to place the Philippine Rice Research Institute under the Office of the President for closer administrative supervision and to reconstitute the Board of Trustees to enhance its effectiveness;
WHEREAS, under Section 31, Chapter 10, Title III, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1987, the President has the continuing authority to reorganize the administrative structure of the Office of the President.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO , President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:
Section 1. Lead Agency. The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PHILRICE) shall be the primary Government agency responsible for the Hybrid Rice Program (“Program”) and the promotion of the utilization of hybrid rice technology.
The PHILRICE shall recommend to the President the designation of a Program Coordinator who shall direct, manage and supervise the day-to-day operations of the Program and the delivery of various program support interventions to the various provinces included in the Program.
The PHILRICE may call upon any agency of the Government for such assistance as may be necessary to attain the objectives and targets of the Program.
Section 2. Transfer. – The PHILRICE is hereby transferred from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to the Office of the President.
Section 3. Reconstitution. – The Board of Trustees of PHILRICE is hereby reconstituted and Section 4 of Executive Order No. 1061 dated November 5, 1985, as amended by Executive Order No. 60 dated November 7, 1986, is hereby further amended to read as follows:
“ Section 4. Board of Trustees. – The corporate powers of the Institute shall be exercised, and all its business activities and properties shall be controlled by a Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, composed of the Presidential Adviser for One Million Jobs as Ex Officio Chairman and twelve (12) other members to be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Presidential Adviser for One Million Jobs. The appointive members of the Board shall serve for two (2) years.
The Board shall meet regularly at least once a month or as often as the exigencies of the service demand. The presence of at least seven (7) members shall constitute a quorum, and the majority vote of the members present, there being a quorum shall be necessary for the adoption of any resolution, rule, regulation, decision or any other act of the Board.
The members of the Board, including the Chairman, shall receive per diem, as the Board may determine, for each Board Meeting actually attended: Provided, That such per diem shall not exceed Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000.00) during any one month for each member. The said members shall also be entitled to reimbursable transportation and representation allowances in going to and coming from Board Meetings and transacting official business for the Institute.”
Section 4. Hybrid Rice Action Teams. – The PHILRICE shall, in coordination with the concerned agencies and provincial governments, organize Hybrid Rice Action Teams for each of the provinces included in the Program. The Hybrid Rice Action Teams shall be composed of agriculturists, agrarian reform officers, irrigation officers, representatives of the National Food Authority and representatives of the stakeholders of the Program from the farming and business sectors.
The Hybrid Rice Action Teams shall identify suitable rice production areas, recommend partners to the farming and business sector of the rice industry, supervise production activities at the farm level, facilitate delivery of extension services and ensure the financing and marketing of the Program.
Section 5. Reports. – The PHILRICE shall submit periodic reports to the President on the status of the implementation of the Program.
Section 6. Funding. – To ensure the attainment of targets of the Program as specified in A.O. No. 25, the DA shall allocate and realign the amount of Four Hundred Fifty Million Pesos (P450 Million) from its Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Program budget as funding support for the Program.
For the CY 2002 requirements of the Program, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall ensure the timely release of funds to the DA, which shall immediately sub-allot and transfer the said funds to the PHILRICE.
For CY 2003 and CY 2004, appropriations for the Program shall be included in the budget proposal of the PHILRICE to achieve the targets of 200,000 hectares and 300,000 hectares respectively.
Section 7. Repeal. – All orders, rules, regulations and issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Executive Order, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 8. Effectivity. – This Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon approval.£A⩊phi£
City of Manila, March 04, 2002.
(SGD.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
By the President:
(SGD.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary
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