Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In pursuant to SECTION 38 of RA No.10601 otherwise known as the 
“Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization (AFMech) Law” that reads: 
“Funding – The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the DA’s 
program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall 
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA)”. 
The DA shall likewise set aside funds from the Agricultural Competitiveness 
Enhancement Fund (ACEF) for grants to upgrade the Agricultural Machinery 
Testing and Evaluation Center (AMTEC) and to establish one (1) testing center 
in Visayas and one (1) testing center in Mindanao. 
This House Bill seeks to allocate funds annually from the Bureau of Agricultural 
Research (BAR) its regular R&D funds to support research programs, processing 
of patent applications, and testing and certification of locally designed agri-
fisheries equipment and machineries. 
Earnest approval of this bill is hereby requested. 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO Ph.D.  
July 1, 2022 
11:21 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
     AN ACT 
MANDATING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (DA) TO 
SET ASIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL 
COMPETITIVENESS ENHANCEMENT FUND (ACEF) FOR GRANTS 
TO UPGRADE THE AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY TESTING AND 
EVALUATION CENTER (AMTEC), INCREASING ITS FUND 
ALLOTMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES    
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. DECLARATION OF POLICY 
The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall provide an additional funding of Five 
hundred million pesos (₱500,000,000.00) to establish Two (2) AMTEC testing 
centers in Visayas and Two (2) AMTEC testing centers in Mindanao in pursuant 
to the mandate of RA No.10601 in enhancing and the mechanization of the 
state’s agricultural equipments and other infrastructures. 
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SECTION 2. SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING 
a. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall allocate funds 
from the Higher Education Development Fund necessary for the 
upgrading 
of 
agri-fisheries 
mechanization 
and 
engineering 
laboratory facilities of concerned SCUs, faculty training program 
and scholarships. 
b. The Technical Educational Skills Development Authority (TESDA) 
shall likewise allocate funds from its annual appropriations 
necessary for the skills certification and training program for agri-
fishery machinery technicians and operators. 
c. The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) shall therefore allocate 
funds annually from its regular R&D funds to support research 
programs, processing of patent applications, and testing and 
certification of locally designed agri-fisheries equipment and 
machineries. 
All LGUs shall include in their investment plans, as part of the priority 
appropriations for local development fund, the funding support for the 
implementation of their respective provincial, city, municipal and barangay 
agricultural and fisheries mechanization programs in accordance with Republic 
Act No. 7160 “Local Government Code of 1991” and its implementing rules and 
regulations and the Department of the Interior and Local Government-
Department of Budget and Management (DILG-DBM) Joint Memorandum 
Circular No. 1, Series of 2005. 
SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION - There is hereby authorized to appropriate 
the necessary funds to carry-out into effect the provisions of this act. This 
funding shall be included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA). 


SECTION 4. REPEALING CLAUSE. All laws, executive orders, issuances, 
rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed 
or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 5. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE.  If, for any reason or reasons, any 
portion or provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the 
remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and 
effect. 
SECTION 6. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
days after its publication in any newspaper of general circulation.  
 
 
Approved,