ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL TOBACCO RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTER AT THE MARIANO MARCOS MEMORIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY.

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 1248
• Sections: 15

Preamble

WHEREAS, tobacco is one of the pillars of the Philippine

economy, contributing to the government about P800-900 Million annually of

revenue derived from specific taxes, licenses and inspection fees;

WHEREAS, the revenue from export of tobacco and tobacco

products has contributed largely to the export income of the country and there

is a big potential of maximizing this contribution because of increasing world

demand for tobacco products;

WHEREAS, tobacco has been successfully grown and is a major

crop of the Ilocos provinces and Cagayan Valley and at present is the main

source of livelihood of about 6 million people aside from another 21 million in

related enterprises that depend on the tobacco industry;

WHEREAS, the production of good quality tobacco leaf is the

key to the maintenance and expansion of the local and export markets;

WHEREAS, the country must organize a comprehensive and

integrated tobacco program to develop high yielding varieties and improved

cultural management, postharvest handling and processing practices so that the

country can produce quality tobacco at a cost that is competitive in the world

market;

WHEREAS, the foregoing considerations require the services

of highly competent, full-time teams of agricultural scientists, amply supported

with facilities, funds, staff and working conditions conducive to the

development of improved varieties and production, processing, classification,

grading and marketing techniques in the shortest time possible;

WHEREAS, the Philippine Council for Agriculture and

Resources Research (PCARR) has recommended the establishment of a National

Tobacco Research Center at the Mariano Marcos Memorial College of Science and

Technology (MMMCST) with Cagayan Valley Institute of Technology (CVIT) as

research station and other testing stations as necessary;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the

Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the

Constitution do hereby decree and order the following:

Section 1

SECTION 1. There is hereby established the Philippine

Tobacco Research and Training Center in the Mariano Marcos Memorial College of

Science and Technology (MMCST), Batac, Ilocos Norte (hereinafter referred to as

the Tobacco Center) to integrate and conduct researches on tobacco all over the

country in line with the national tobacco research program developed by the

Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research (PCARR). The specific

functions of the Tobacco Center are the following:

To develop high yielding, good quality and pest resistant varieties of all

types of tobacco;

To develop improved production and harvesting techniques and effective

cropping systems for tobacco;

To undertake investigations in controlling insects, diseases, and other

pests attacking tobacco;

To conduct studies on modern processing, postharvest handling,

classification, grading and marketing;

To provide training to farmers, students, specialists and extension workers

on production, post-harvest handling, primary processing, classification,

grading and marketing;

To disseminate improved varieties and release up-to-date information on

production, post-harvest handling, processing, classification, grading and

marketing; and

To coordinate research activities of the Philippine Virginia Tobacco

Administration (PVTA), the Philippine Tobacco Administration (PTA), the

Philippine Tobacco Board (PTB) and other research institutions or agencies which

may conduct researches on any type of tobacco;

To enter into agreements or relationships with other institutions or

organizations — private and public, national and foreign — furtherance of the

above purposes.

Section 2

SEC. 2. To carry out this project an initial appropriation

in the amount of P40 million will be appropriated and disbursed from the Tobacco

Fund established under Republic Act No. 4155 for the capital requirements of the

Tobacco Center which will include acquisition and development of experimental

field, construction of buildings, laboratories and housing for the center's

staff and trainees and acquisition of equipment while P20 Million per annum will

be allocated and disbursed for the operating expenses of the Center.

Section 3

SEC. 3. In accordance with these objectives of the Tobacco

Center, the Mariano Marcos Memorial College of Science and Technology (MMMCST)

is hereby authorized to acquire by negotiated sale or by expropriation private

agricultural properties which are deemed necessary in the furtherance of its

objectives; Provided, That acquisition of said agricultural properties

shall be in accordance with existing policies and procedures of MMMCST.

Section 4

SEC. 4. The Tobacco Center shall be headed by a Director who

shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees of MMMCST upon recommendation by the

President of MMMCST. All other employees will be appointed by the Director. All

officers and employees of the Center shall be selected and appointed on the

basis solely on merit and fitness and are not subject to the regulations of the

Wage and Classification Office.

The Director shall have the responsibility of planning, implementing, and

supervising the Center's programs and activities.

Section 5

SEC. 5. The research priorities of the Center shall be

consistent with the framework of Section 1 above and shall be subject to the

research planning and monitoring mechanism of the Philippine Council for

Agriculture and Resources Research (PCARR) as provided under

Presidential Decree No. 48. The policies, plans and programs of the Center shall

be reviewed annually by an Advisory Board composed of:

The Secretary of Agriculture

The President of Mariano Marcos Memorial College of Science and Technology

as Vice Chairman

The Director General of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources

Research

Two representatives of the Private Sector appointed by the Secretary of the

Department of Agriculture

The Director of the Philippine Tobacco Research and Training Center

The members of the Advisory Board shall serve without compensation other than

actual and necessary expenses incurred upon meetings of the Board or upon other

authorized official business.

Section 6

SEC. 6. The Tobacco Center may, for the purpose of its

training, research and development activities, obtain the services of scholars,

scientists and technical personnel of other unifc in the Mariano Marcos Memorial

College of Science and Technology and of any other agency of the Philippine

government, of from abroad. Such personnel may be paid honoraria by the Center

as fixed and authorized by the Advisory Board.

Section 7

SEC. 7. The staff of the Tobacco Center is hereby exempted

from government restrictions on travel abroad for purposes of advanced studies,

observation trips to agricultural universities, institutes and reseach

organizations with similar functions and attendance in scientific symposia and

conferences.

Section 8

SEC. 8. The Tobacco Center is hereby authorized to plan and

construct buildings and other facilities and to purchase equipment locally and

abroad as may be necessary to carry out its functions. Furthermore, the Tobacco

Center shall be exempt from all forms of taxes and import duties and other

imposts on any materials, equipment, articles,, goods and services that may be

imported from abroad for its operation.

Section 9

SEC. 9. All existing facilities, experimental farms,

laboratories, equipment and similar resources devoted to tobacco research and

training by present agencies may be used by the Tobacco Center for carrying out

its stated functons.

Section 10

SEC. 10. Funds of the Tobacco Center shall be used only for

purposes recommended by the Advisory Board and approved by the Board of Trustees

of MMMCST.

Section 11

SEC. 11. Expenditures and disbursements made by the Tobacco

Center in the conduct of its activities shall be subject to special auditing and

accounting rules and regulation suited to the requirements of research.

Section 12

SEC. 12. Any and all savings and income of the Tobacco

Center shall constitute a revolving fund which shall not be reverted to the

General Fund but shall be used to attain the objectives of the Center.

Section 13

SEC. 13. The President of MMMCST is hereby directed to take

such appropriate steps as are necessary for the immediate implementation of this

Decree. Furthermore, the Advisory board shall prepare for approval of the

MMMCST. Board of Trustees suitable operational guidelines pertaining to staff

development, salaries, honoraria, disbursement powers of the Director and such

other regulations that will ensure speedy realization of the objectives and

functions of the Tobacco Center.

Section 14

SEC. 14. All acts, parts of acts, executive orders,

ordinances, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of

this Presidential Decree are hereby repealed, amended or modified

accordingly.

Done in the City of Manila, this 25th day of November in the year of our

Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Seventy-Seven.