Section 3. Powers. —

In the implementation of the declared national policy, the Authority shall have the following powers and functions:

  1. To formulate and adopt a general program of development for the coconut and other palm oil industry in all its aspects;

  2. To formulate and implement a nationwide replanting program using precocious high-yielding hybrid seednuts and, in the discretion of the Authority, the program may include new areas provided that existing coconut farmers shall always be given priority;

  3. To distribute, for free, to coconut farmers the hybrid coconut seednuts herein authorized to be acquired;

  4. To review and revise, and thereafter integrate into the adopted general program of development, the existing policies, projects and activities of all other governmental agencies directly relating to the development of the industry;

  5. In coordination with the hybrid coconut seed farm herein authorized to be established, to conduct genetical and agricultural researches and investigations for the improvement of the coconut palm productivity;

  6. To establish, operate and maintain one central experiment station and such sub-stations as it may prescribe to undertake extensive research in the control and eradication of coconut diseases and pests and in the method of making copra; and in connection therewith, all research stations and centers, facilities and equipment operated by any government agency or instrumentality in the researches on genetical, agronomical and disease control relating to coconut culture are all hereby transferred to the Authority;

  7. To explore and expand the domestic and foreign market for coconut products and by-products;

  8. To regulate the marketing and the exportation of copra and its by products by establishing standards for domestic trade and export and, thereafter, to conduct an inspection of all copra and its by-products proposed for export to determine if they conform to the standards established;

  9. To advise and thereafter prescribe by means of rules and regulations a method of measuring the moisture content of copra at its first domestic sale and a scale of deduction according to the percentage of the moisture content;

  10. To impose and collect the levies herein authorized to be collected;

  11. To impose and collect, under such rules that it may promulgate, a fee of ten centavos for every one hundred kilos of desiccated coconut, to be paid by the desiccating factory, coconut oil to be paid by the oil mills and copra to be paid by the exporters, which shall be used exclusively to defray its operating expenses; and

  12. To enter into, make and execute contracts of any kind as may be necessary or incidental to the attainment of its purposes and, generally, to exercise all the powers necessary to achieve the purposes and objectives for which it is organized; provided, however, it shall not engage in commercial/industrial activities including the commercial production of hybrid coconut seednuts.