[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11547, May 27, 2021 ]

AN ACT DECLARING THE CITY OF DAVAO AS THE CHOCOLATE CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE ENTIRE REGION XI (DAVAO REGION) AS THE CACAO CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - Section 1, Article XII of the 1987 Constitution provides that the Senate shall promote the industrialization and full employment based on sound agricultural development and agrarian reform, through industries that make full and efficient use of human and natural resources, which are competitive in both domestic and foreign markets.

Towards this end, the State hereby recognizes the importance of cacao as a driver of rural development not only because of its singular potential as a raw material that can increase the country's export earnings tremendously, and put the name of the country in the map for producing the finest chocolate beans, but for having provided livelihood to many small farmers in the countryside.

SEC. 2. Cacao and Chocolate Capital of the Philippines. - In recognition of its status as the country's biggest producer of cacao and its vital contribution in making the Philippines world renowned and sought after by chocolate makers from the U.S., Japan, and Europe, the City of Davao is hereby declared as the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines and the entire Region XI (Davao Region) as the Cacao Capital of the Philippines.

SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent or contrary to the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

This Act was passed by the Senate of the Philippines as Senate Bill No. 1741 on March 8, 2021 and adopted by the House of Representatives as an amendment to House Bill No. 7460 on March 9, 2021.

Approved: MAY 27 2021

(SGD.) RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE
    President of the Philippines   

Source: Supreme Court E-Library