THE HOUSE Committee on Agriculture and Food has approved House Bill No. 2045, which seeks to designate Visayas State University (VSU) as the core research and development center for the coconut industry in the Visayas.

The bill, authored by Leyte Fifth District Representative Carl Nicolas Cari, was approved during committee deliberations earlier this month. It aims to strengthen government-backed coconut research in a region that contributes significantly to national production.

The proposed measure institutionalizes the National Coconut Research Center–Visayas at VSU and renames it the Visayas Coconut Research and Development Center, providing sustained funding, expanded programs, and closer integration with the Philippine Coconut Authority.

Once enacted, the center will serve Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas, offering science-based support to coconut farmers, processors, and micro-enterprises across the value chain.

VSU President Dr. Prose Ivy G. Yepes and NCRC-V Director Dr. Marisel A. Leorna expressed strong support for the bill, emphasizing the center’s work in germplasm conservation, pest management, tissue culture, high-yield varieties, and value-adding technologies.

Officials from the PCA, Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of Finance also backed the proposal, highlighting the importance of research that directly contributes to higher productivity, stronger livelihoods, and long-term sustainability in the coconut sector.