REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7359 - AN ACT TO
ABOLISH THE SERICULTURE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT THE DON
MARIANO MARCOS MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY, MUNICIPALITY OF BACNOTAN,
PROVINCE OF LA UNION, AND CREATE THE SERICULTURE RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE, AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS
THEREFORE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Section 1. The Sericulture Research and Development Center
(hereinafter referred to as the SRDC) is hereby abolished. In its stead
the Sericulture Research and Development Institute (SRDI) (hereinafter
referred to as the Institute) based at the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial
State University, (DMMMSU), in the Municipality of Bacnotan, Province
of La Union, is hereby established.
Sec. 2. All functions, equipment, facilities,
supplies, records and personnel of the Sericulture Research and
Development Center are hereby transferred to the Sericulture Research
and Development Institute.
Sec. 3. The Institute shall have the following
general powers and functions in line with the research and development
programs of the Department of Science and Technology, Department of
Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, National Economic and
Development Authority, and the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State
University:
a) educate and train sericulturists.
b) conduct researches; and
c) extend technologies.
Sec. 4. The institute shall have the following
specific powers and functions;
a) develop productive, high yielding, good quality
and pest/disease resistant varieties/strains of mulberry and silkworm;
b) produce adequate certified mulberry planting
materials and high quality silk worm eggs;
c) develop efficient, economic and productive
mulberry leaf production, preservation and utilization technologies;
d) develop sound and productive silkworm rearing
technology;
e) develop the production and fabrication of reeling
and re-reeling machineries suitable for rural use;
f) develop effective mulberry and silkworm pests
management strategies;
g) evolve productive farming systems compatible with
mulberry leaf production;
h) develop efficient and effective local and
international marketing systems;
i) develop and implement appropriate and applicable
technology packages and effective technology dissemination and
utilization systems, particularly the conduct of training programs;
j) upgrade skills of farmers and their families,
development agents and extension workers through trainings, seminars
and workshops on mulberry leaf production and storage, silkworm rearing
for industrial and seed cocoon production, reeling and re-reeling,
handloom weaving and other silk product and by-product utilization;
k) coordinate with the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial
State University in the conduct of higher and advanced sericulture
degree programs;
l) coordinate with other government/private agencies
involved in the development of sericulture as a rural-based industry in
the country.
Sec. 5. The Institute shall be headed by a
Director who shall be responsible for the planning, implementation and
supervision of the program and activities of the Institute. He shall be
appointed by the Board of Regents of the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial
State University upon recommendation of the University President. All
other officers and employees shall be appointed by the Director of the
Institute, in accordance with the Civil Service Law.
Sec. 6. The plans and programs of the institute
shall be reviewed annually by an Advisory Board composed of:
a) the Secretary of Agriculture as Chairman;
b) the University President of the Don Mariano Marcos
Memorial State University, as Vice Chairman;
c) the Secretary of Trade and Industry, as Member;
d) the Executive Director of the Philippine Council
for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and
Development (PCARRD), as Member;
e) the Administrator of the Fiber Industry and
Development Authority (FIDA), as Member;
f) the Director, Philippine Textile Research
Institute (PTRI), as Member;
g) the Director, Sericulture Research and Development
Institute (SRDI), as Member and Secretary;
h) one (1) representative from private associations
or cooperatives or producers of mulberry and silk cocoon, as Member;
and
i) one (1) representative from the local silk cloth
processing and manufacturing industry, as Member.
Sec. 7. The presence of five (5) members at the
time of the meeting shall constitute a quorum: provided, however, that
the Chairman or, in his absence, the Vice Chairman shall preside.
Sec. 8. For the purpose of research and
development activities of the institute, researchers and support
personnel of other related agencies may be detailed with the Institute
upon the request of the Director of the Institute and subject to the
approval of the Board of Regents of the University: provided, that such
personnel shall be paid honoraria for their services.
Sec. 9. The Institute is hereby authorized to
plan, construct, develop, improve, acquire, or lease buildings, farms,
fields and other facilities, to purchase machineries, equipment,
materials and supplies locally or abroad as may be necessary to carry
out its functions and objectives. Moreover, the Institute shall enjoy
exemption from taxes and other duties in the importation of such
machineries, equipment, materials and supplies required in its research
and development programs, subject to the provisions of Section 105(s)
of the Tariff and Customs Code, Section 103(f) of the National Internal
Revenue Code and the provisions on automatic appropriations under the
General Appropriations Act.
SECTION 10. The main offices, experimental area and
nursery of the Institute shall be situated at the Don Mariano Marcos
Memorial State University campus at Bacnotan, La Union. The Institute
may hereafter establish similar facilities in its other service areas
in order to promote the development of sericulture in the country side.
SECTION 11. The amount of Twenty million pesos
(P20,000,000.00) for the 1992 fiscal year budget is authorized to be
appropriated from the Special Activities Fund of the President of the
Republic of the Philippines, or from any other sources; and thereafter,
the amounts required for its operation, maintenance, research and
development activities shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act and said amount to be disbursed to the Don Mariano
Marcos Memorial State University, in the Province of La Union,
exclusively for the capital and operational requirements of the
Institute which shall include personnel services, maintenance and
operating expenses, acquisition of equipment and laboratory facilities,
development of experimental fields, and establishment of regional,
provincial, municipal sericulture projects as determined by the
Director of the Institute, subject to the approval of the Board of
Regents of said university.
SECTION 12. All expenditures and disbursement of
funds made by the Institute in the conduct of its research and
development activities shall be subject to existing auditing and
accounting rules and regulations.
SECTION 13. Any and all savings and income of the
Institute shall constitute a revolving fund which shall not be reverted
to the General Fund and which shall be used by the Institute to further
pursue its objectives.
SECTION 14. All existing laws, rules and regulations
or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed, superseded or modified accordingly; Provided, however,
that nothing in this Act shall amend, modify or repeal the provisions
of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code.
SECTION 15. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days of its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least
two (2) newspaper of general circulation.
Approved: April 8, 1992
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