Creation of the "Post-Harvest Coordinating Committee" ( Letter of Instructions No. 538-A )

May 12, 1977

LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 538-A

 

WHEREAS, a breakthrough has been attained in the government grains self-sufficiency program with combined use of technology development and extension, infrastructure support, supervised credit and agrarian reform; DEICaA

WHEREAS, the socio-economic benefits of increased production should be complemented by improved post-harvest system which encompasses all phases from harvesting, threshing, drying, storage, milling, transportation and other related activities;

WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to combine and integrate government efforts in providing post-harvest research and extension, credit assistance, manpower development and other strategies necessary to effectively minimize post-harvest grains losses and thereby bring about increased domestic grains supply for our growing populace;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, do hereby issue the following instructions:

1. That an interagency committee to be known as "Post-Harvest Coordinating Committee" is hereby created to be composed of the following officials:

 The Administrator, National Grains Authority

 The Chancellor, University of the Philippines, Los Baños

 The Chairman, National Science Development Board

 The Director-General, Philippine Council on Agriculture and Resources Research

 The Executive Director, Technical Board on Agricultural Credit

 The Director, Bureau of Cooperatives, DLGCD

 The Administrator, Farm Systems Development Corporation

2. The Committee shall have the following functions:

a. Formulate, evaluate programs and insure coordination in the implementation of all research and extension programs on grains post-harvest technology being undertaken by any and all government agencies and instrumentalities; cEAIHa

b. Design a manpower development program for post-harvest technology;

c. Review and rationalize all existing credit programs on post-harvest technology to hasten the adoption and utilization of modern processing and handling facilities for grains;

d. Determine the funding requirements of all such programs on post-harvest technology.

3. The committee shall formulate the rules and regulations to implement this LOI.

4. The committee, through the chairman, shall have the power and authority to call on all government agencies and instrumentalities for assistance in the form of personnel, facilities and other resources as well as to form and create sub-committee as may be required. IaAScD

DONE in the City of Manila, this 12th day of May, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Seventy-Seven.