Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO._959_

Introduced by Representative Crispin Diego “Ping” D. Remulla

AN ACT
PRESCRIBING THE STRENGTHENING OF THE NATIONAL EXTENSION
SYSTEM TO ACCELERATE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The agricultural sector remains an integral part of the nation’s socio-economic
development. However, persistent poverty in rural areas and declining productivity highlight
the need for structural and institutional reforms. According to the Philippine Statistics
Authority, the value of production in agriculture and fisheries decreased by 2.2% in the fourth
quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Crop production, which accounts for the
largest share of agricultural output, contracted by 1.7 percent, while fisheries posted a sharper
decline of 6.0 percent. This ongoing downturn highlights the vulnerability of our rural economy
and underscores the need for systemic support.

This measure proposes to decentralize the extension services system by transferring key
responsibilities to the provincial level, which is deemed the most viable political and economic
unit for agricultural development. The bill aims to establish the Philippine Agriculture and
Fisheries Extension Agency (PAFEA), a national agency responsible for providing policy
direction, establishing performance standards, and extending institutionalized financial and
technical support to Local Government Units (LGUs).


By strengthening the country’s extension system through decentralization and national
support, this bill aims to empower local governments, improve agricultural productivity, and

uplift the quality of life in rural communities.

In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

CRISPIN DIEGO “PING” D. REMULLA


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 959

Introduced by Representative Crispin Diego “Ping” D. Remulla

AN ACT
PRESCRIBING THE STRENGTHENING OF THE NATIONAL EXTENSION
SYSTEM TO ACCELERATE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
ARTICLE 1
General Provisions

SECTION 1. Short Title, - This Act shall be known as the "Agriculture and Fisheries
Extension Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The goals of the national economy are a more equitable
distribution of opportunities, income and wealth; a sustained increase in the amount of goods
and services produced by the nation for the benefit of the people; and an expanding productivity
as the key to raising the quality of life for all, especially the underprivileged.

The State shall promote 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, and which are competitive in both domestic and foreign
markets. In pursuit of these goals, all sectors of the economy and all regions of the country
shall be given the optimum opportunity to develop.

Thus, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to enable those who belong to the
agriculture and fisheries sector to participate and share in the fruits of development and growth
in a manner that utilizes the nation's resources in the most efficient and sustainable way possible


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by establishing a more equitable access to assets, income, basic and support services and
infrastructure.

The State shall give priority to promote science, technology and human resource
development as essentials for national development and progress.

The State shall utilize research results through information, extension and
communication services. It shall support the development of a national extension system that
will help accelerate the transformation of agriculture and fisheries sectors of the Country from
a resource-based industry to a knowledge and technology-based and market-oriented industry.

The State shall adopt the market approach in assisting the agriculture and fisheries sector
while recognizing the contribution of these sectors to food security, environmental protection,
and balanced urban and rural development, without neglecting the welfare of the consumers,

especially the lower income groups. The State shall promote market-oriented pol
agricultural production to encourage farmers to shift to more profitable crops.

The State shall empower the agriculture and fisheries sector to develop and sustain
themselves to meet present and future needs of the Country. Toward this end, the State shall
ensure the establishment and development of the agriculture and fisheries extension system
that increases and sustains its contributions to the achievement of the goals of agriculture
modernization as mandated by Republic Act 8435: a) Poverty Alleviation and Social Equity;
b) Food Security; c) Rational Use of Resources and Sustainable Development; d) Global
Competitiveness; and e) People Empowerment.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the term:

1. Agriculturist refers to a person who is a graduate of a bachelor's degree in agriculture
or any related course registered and licensed with the Professional Regulation
Commission or Civil Service Commission; who performs communication, curriculum
development, econometrics, statistical work, training and extension works in
agriculture production, trade, and processing including crop and animal protection,
food safety, agricultural and natural resource economics, and marketing;

2. Agricultural Engineer refers to a person registered with the Professional Regulation
Commission or Civil Service Commission performing training and extension work in
agricultural and fisheries mechanization, irrigation, drainage, soil and water
conservation, agricultural buildings and structures, agricultural processing and post-
harvest facilities;


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10.

Catalytic Financing - the provision of financial support to achieve excellence, equity
and increased investment by the local governments in the implementation of agriculture
and fisheries extension services towards the achievement of national goals;

Civil Society - refers to the group of organizations whose uncoerced collective action
revolves around shared interests, purposes and values. Civil societies are organizations
composed of community groups, women’s organizations, faith-based organizations,
professional associations, trade unions, self-help groups, social movements, business
associations, coalitions and advocacy groups;

Consumers” - are those that acquire goods or services for direct use or ownership rather
than for resale or use in production and manufacturing;

Empowerment - is the expansion of assets and capabilities of people to participate in,

negotiate with, influence, control and hold accountable institutions that affect their
lives; it involves providing authority, responsibility, and information to people directly
engaged on agriculture and fishery production, primarily at the level of the farmers,
fisherfolk and those engaged in food and non-food production and processing, in order
to give them enhanced economics rights;

Fisheries

refers to all systems or networks of interrelated activities which include the
production, growing, harvesting, processing, marketing, developing, conserving and
managing of all aquatic and fisheries areas;

Fisheries Technologist refers to a person who is a graduate of a four year course in
Fisheries and registered and licensed with the Professional Regulation Commission or
Civil Service Commission performing training and extension on fisheries, marine
resources and aquaculture;

Food Security - refers to the policy objective, plan and strategy of meeting the food
requirements of the present and future generations, of Filipinos in substantial quantity,
ensuring the availability and affordability of safe and nutritious food to all, either
through local production or importation, or both, based on the country's existing and
potential resource endowment and related production advantages, and consistent with
the overall national development objectives and policies;

Formula grants - these are national government financial transfers to the local
governments to support the regular expenditures in the provision of Agriculture and
Fisheries Extension Services (AFES) based on a formula that\ takes into consideration,

among others, the level of economic development of a municipality or a province;


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. Gross Value Added in Agriculture - refers to the total value, excluding the value of non-
agricultural or fisheries intermediate inputs, of goods and services contributed by the

agricultural and fisheries sectors;

is]

. Knowledge Management - is a systematic approach which invents, understands, shares,
creates and utilizes knowledge in order to create values such as customer's value,
employee's value, stockholder’s value, business partner's value and social value to

achieve the vision and goal of the organization;

cre)

. Partnership - a relationship between and among agencies that is characterized by
mutual cooperation and responsibility towards the achievement of shared goals;

-

|. Private sector - the part of a nation’s economy that is not owned and managed by the
government;
15. Producer - one that produces, especially a person or organization, that produces goods
or services for sale;
16. RBOs - are rural based organizations or people's organizations composed of various
sectors of the rural community such as farmers, fisherfolk, growers, seed producers,

women, and youth;

3

. Targeted financial transfer - is a financial support provided by the national government

to the LGUs in support of national goals or programs;

18. Value chain - is a process from seed to shelf or from the producers to the consumers,
showing activities and interventions of/for a chosen commodity/ties based on
understanding the needs for such interventions;

19. Veterinarian refers to a person registered with the Professional Regulation Commission

performing professional services related to the practice of veterinary medicine

including training and extension on disease prevention control and animal health.

SEC. 4. Statement of Goals. - Agricultural extension is a policy instrument for

empowering individuals and organizations; public agricultural extension shall contribute
towards the achievement of the national goals of agricultural development.

SEC. 5. Statement of Objectives. - Agriculture and fisheries extension shall contribute

to the following objectives:

a) To enhance the economic rights of Producers, especially the poor, to use the
most appropriate technologies they feel will give them the best profit and to
choose the most affordable loans in producing the quality and quantity of
products and to sell their products freely; Traders, to move goods in the
expectation of profits unconstrained by serious lack of knowledge and


information; and Consumers, to buy safe and nutritious foods at the lowest
prices possible.

b) To manage knowledge in strengthening the individual and organizational

capabilities of producers, traders and consumers; and

c) To help create an enabling environment that strengthens the linkage between

knowledge generation and knowledge use and encourages increased investment
in agriculture extension by the private sector, civil society, and Local
Governments.

SEC. 6. Clients. - The clients of the Philippine agricultural and fisheries extension
system are the producers (farmers, fisherfolk, agricultural processors), traders, and consumers
along the value chain. Public extension shall focus on the delivery of public goods. The priority
clients shall be the economically and socially disadvantaged groups in agriculture and fisheries.
Local Government Units shall put primary attention to these groups in the provision of
extension services through formula grants and targeted and catalytic financing of National
Government Agencies.

ARTICLE I
Structure and Organization

SEC. 7. Creation of the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Agency
(PAFEA). - The Agricultural Training Institute is hereby strengthened and transformed into
the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Agency (PAFEA). It shall serve as the
national apex organization for a unified and efficient agriculture and fisheries extension system
of the country. It shall ensure that public extension services meet national standards of
performance and effectively contribute to the achievement of national goals for agriculture and
fisheries modernization.

The Philippine Agricultural and Fisheries Extension Agency (PAFEA) shall coordinate

all government extension programs in agriculture and fisheries.

SEC. 8. Powers and Functions.

a) Provide direction in the development of national extension policies in agriculture
and fisheries;

b) Orchestrate the development of the extension strategic plan, including its financing
in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management and other
stakeholders;

c) Develop and implement national policies and programs aimed at the continuous

improvement of the quality of extension methods, products, and services towards a


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more efficient and client-responsive national agriculture and fisheries knowledge
management system;
d

Develop a system towards the management of the country's extension resources for
agriculture and fisheries to ensure a sustainable, participatory. And efficient system
of funding for information, education, and communication materials (IEC) and to

achieve optimal efficiency along the value cl

°)

Provide leadership in the development and implementation of the National
Agriculture & Fisheries Knowledge Network (NAFKN) in agriculture and fisheries
of the Department through a system of partnerships that may include, but not be
limited to, the (Local Government Units) LGUs, the regional development council

(RDC), the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council (RAFCs), the academe

especially the SUCs of agriculture and fisheries, the Civil Society Organizations

(CSOs), producers, rural based organizations (RBOs) and the private sector;

f) Provide national leadership in consultation with agriculture and fisheries councils
(AFCS), in developing extension partnerships towards increased investment and
private sector participation;

g) Team up with state universities and colleges (SUCs) of agriculture and fisheries as
key partners in the implementation of the national programs specially in the areas
of extension innovations, national training, and monitoring and evaluation of
extension institutions and programs;

h)

Provide leadership in developing and implementing a national system of

strengthening institutional extension capacities at all levels of implementation; and,

i) Incoordination with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM); the Local

Government Units, The Department of Local governments, and other stakeholders,

the PAFEA shall set up a review mechanism for all agriculture and fisheries

extension programs and budgets of national agencies to determine cost
effectiveness of operations and potential impacts to national goals.

SEC. 9. Structure of PAFEA. - \t shall be headed by a Director General (DG) with a
rank of Assistant Secretary to be assisted by two Deputy Director Generals (DDG) and they
shall be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture from
alist submitted by an independent Search Committee organized and based on the qualification
standards set by the Council for Extension Research Development in Agriculture and Fisheries
(CERDAF). They shall have a fixed tenure of six (6) years and may be re-appointed for an
additional term of four (4) years based on very satisfactory performance.


SEC. 10. The Council for Extension Research Development in Agriculture and

Fisheries (CERDAF). - The Council for Extension Research Development in Agriculture and
Fisheries (CERDAF) is hereby strengthened. It shall ensure that the agriculture and fisheries

research, development and extension policies and programs of the Department are consistent

with national policies and priorities.

a) Functions and duties of the Council for Extension Research Development in
Agriculture and Fisheries (CERDAF).

1.

Approve policies covering program priorities and resource
allocation in research and extension of all agencies of the
Department;

Enhance coordination and linkage of government institutions
involved in agriculture and fisheries research, development and
extension;

Strengthen the participation of various stakeholders, especially
the civil society, local government units, and private sector in
the development of National Research Development and
Extension (NRDE) agenda and programs;

Strengthen the institutional efficiency of the NRDE system,
including the setting up of a monitoring and evaluation system
on the effectiveness and efficiency of its various components;

and,

. Set guidelines in the use of services and facilities, collection of

fees and in the utilization of income.

SEC. 11. Composition of the Council for Extension Research Development in
Agriculture and Fisheries (CERDAF). - The Undersecretary for Policy and Planning of the
DA shall be the Chair of the Council. There shall be a Vice Chair to be elected from among the

other members of the Board. The Executive Director of the Philippine Agriculture and

Fisheries Extension Agency (PAFEA) and the Director of the Bureau of Agriculture Research
(BAR) shall be ex officio members, and the Chair shall appoint the Executive Director of
PAFEA as Secretary of the Council. The CERDAF shall have the following as members:

(1) Designated Undersecretaries for Policy & Planning of the following

Departments:
i. Department of Science and Technology;
ii, Department of Environment and Natural Resources:


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if Department of Agrarian Reform;
(2) Presidents of the following LGU organizations:
i. League of Provinces;
Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP);
(3) Four (4) CSO representatives from the rural youth, rural women,
and farmer, and fisherfolk sectors as identified and selected by

the Department of Agriculture;

(4) One (1) private sector representative designated by the
Management Association of the Philippines (MAP);

©) Representatives from scientific/professional
organizations/societies;

(6) One representative each from the following national professional
organizations: i) agriculturists; ii) agricultural engineers; ii)
fishery technologists and iv) veterinarians.

SEC. 12. Offices under the PAFEA. -To carry out the functions of the Agency, PAFEA
shall have four technical offices as follows: (1) Policy Development; (2) Extension Innovations
& National Training; (3) Knowledge Products & Services Development; and (4) Extension
Governance & Partnerships.

‘The PAFEA shall maintain a small regional office to: (1) liaise with the Department
Regional Field Units (RFUs) that should serve as the principal arm of the Department to
implement extension policies and programs in the regions (2) provide regional technical
assistance in the implementation of PAFEA policies and programs and (3) monitor and evaluate
extension offices and programs being undertaken by government agencies. The PAFEA is
authorized to utilize existing Agricultural Training (ATI) plantilla positions but in no case shall
it exceed 85% of the plantilla positions in 2010.

ARTICLE IIL
Organization of the Local Government Extension Services

SEC. 13. Province as the LGU Unit of Operation for Agriculture & Fisheries
Extension. - To achieve efficiency and to provide more responsive services, the administrative
unit for the planning and implementation of the extension services at the level of Local
Government Units is the province through the Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Extension
Services under the Office of the Governor. The Provincial Agriculture and Extension Services
shall be headed by a technically qualified career Provincial Agriculturist (PA). The PAS shall
be appointed by the Director General of PAFEA, chosen from three qualified nominees


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submitted by the Governor. Its staff shall be composed of technically qualified career
agriculturists, economists, statisticians, agricultural engineers, fishery technologists and
veterinarians appointed by the Provincial Governor.

SEC. 14, Extension Personnel in the Municipalities. - Ail municipal and non-chartered
agriculture and fisheries extension personnel are hereby transferred to the province, and they
shall be appointed by the Governor and become employees of the provincial government upon

the effectivity of this Act. However, they will continue to serve municipalities and non-

chartered cities as detailed employees of the province based on a rationalized organizational
structure endorsed by the LGUs and approved by the PAFEA and the DBM. The Municipal
Agriculture and Extension Services shall be headed by a technically qualified career Municipal
Agriculturist Officer (MAO) who shall be appointed by the Director General of PAFEA,
chosen from three qualified nominees submitted by the Governor.

SEC. 15. Salaries and Wages of Extension Personnel. - The salaries and wages of the
agriculture and fisheries technical extension personnel shall be paid by the National
Government through an annual grant-in-aid to be paid out of the regular appropriation of the
PAFEA of the Department of Agriculture; Provided, however, that during the first year of the
effectivity of this Act, the local government concerned shall reallocate its savings from the
personal services for agricultural personnel to its agriculture and fisheries operations; Provided,
further, that every year thereafter, the concerned LGU shall appropriate the equivalent funds
as the minimum amount for its agricultural and fisheries operation or counterparts to national

grants-in-aid in agriculture and fisheries, without prejudice to the provision of additional funds

that may be allocated by the LGUs for this purpose. The salaries and wages of technical
extension personnel shall be standardized and equal to that of comparable positions of national
employees without prejudice to the provision of additional staff benefits by concerned LGUs
where finances warrant. The provision of grants in aid to pay for the salaries and wages of the
technical personnel of the LGU extension services shall be subject to external review and
evaluation every five years to determine its impact to the quality of services and its cost-
effectiveness. A copy of the report shall be provided to Congress and serve as the basis for the
continuation or modification of the grants-in-aid.

SEC. 16. Professionalization of Extension Services. - The PAFEA, in coordination with
the Civil Service Commission and subject to the approval of the CERDAF, shall develop
qualification standards beyond the minimum set by the Civil Service Commission for the
various managerial, technical, and non-technical positions of the extension services of the

country including that of all local government units. The PAFEA shall also develop a career


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path of all technical extension personnel that will allow them regardless of assignment or
location in government, to move vertically in the promotion system. Managerial positions shall
be open to all qualified personnel regardless of geographic or agency assignment. Towards this
end, the PAFEA shall issue guidelines for the creation of a merit promotion boards for each
extension agency that will include representatives of the SUCs of agriculture and fisheries.

SEC. 17. Structure of the Provincial Extension Services. - Uhe provincial agriculture
and fisheries extension services shall organize and structure its services based on the
agricultural and extension needs of the province and on the standards set by the PAFEA. The
technical positions of the PAFEA and the Provincial Extension Services shall be rationalized
to provide the required number of positions for agriculturists, communication and curriculum
specialists, economists, agricultural engineers, fishery technologists, and veterinarians.

SEC. 18 LGU Livestock Production Services. - In recognition of the need to provide
an integrated extension approach to total farm development, the LGU livestock production
Services shall be part and parce! of the Provincial Agricultural Office (PAO). In cases where
these functions were transferred to the Provincial Veterinary Services, they shall be retuned
and integrated into the rest of the PAO services.

SEC. 19, Strategic Plan in Agriculture & Fisheries. - To provide coherence of all
government plans in agriculture and fisheries and to achieve efficiency in the use of resources,
all provincial governments are required to develop a five-year strategic plan in agriculture and
fisheries based on the framework and principles provided by the Department of Agriculture
(DA). The Strategic Plan shall serve as the basis for the DA to provide short-term and long-
term assistance. The yearly program of work and budget shall be derived from the strategic
plan.

ARTICLE IV
Funding for Extension Services

SEC. 20. Initial Appropriation. - For the first year of implementation of this Act, the
amount of five billion pesos (PHP 5,000,000,000.00) shall be appropriated out of the total
budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA) for personal services, grants-in-aid to the LGUs,
operation and capital outlay requirements of the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Extension
Agency (PAFEA).

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is hereby mandated to include
annually in the President's program of expenditures for submission to Congress and release an
amount not less than five billion pesos (PHP 5,000,000,000.00) or one percent of the gross

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value added in agriculture and fisheries, whichever is higher, for the implementation of this
Act.

‘The PAFEA is authorized to utilize part of its yearly appropriation to set up or upgrade
necessary facilities to improve the provision of national extension services.

All assets, resources both human and financial of Agriculture Training Institute (ATI),
shall be transferred to the PAFEA.

All revenues generated out of the use of services, facilities and equipment shall be
utilized by the Agency to augment its maintenance and operating expenditures subject to the
approval of the Governing Board.
ARTICLE IV
Final Provisions

SEC. 21. Oversight Committee. - The Congressional Oversight Committee for
Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization shall oversee the implementation of this Act for a
period not exceeding five (5) years from its effectivity.

SEC. 22. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the implementing rules and regulations shall be formulated by the
Department of Agriculture in coordination with the members of the Congressional Oversight
Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization. The said rules and regulations shall
be submitted by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to the Committee of
Agriculture of both Houses of Congress.

SEC. 23. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations,
issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended
accordingly.

SEC. 24. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

SEC. 25. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days from the date of
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least in two (2) national newspapers of general

circulation

Approved,

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