Presidential Decree No. 1248 (PD 1248) — Establishing a National Tobacco Research and Training Center at the Mariano Marcos Memorial College of Science & Technology.
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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
