Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
 First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _______________
Introduced by ANG PROBINSYANO 
Party-List Representative Alfred Delos Santos
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In line with the policy of the State to improve the socio-economic well-being
of the workers in the agricultural sector, this Bill aims to codify and institutionalize
the various rights and benefits to be granted to the said workers. This Bill seeks to
implement measures in order to alleviate the inequity suffered by the workers in the
agricultural sectors.
According to the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, approximately
40% of underemployed workers in the Philippines come from the agricultural sector.
Moreover, these sectors account for around 29% of the total number of all workers
in the country. In addition, the GDP growth rate and percentage share to GNI of
these sectors remain remarkably low compared to other sectors. According to the
Philippine Statistics Authority, among the basic sectors of Philippine society, farmers
posted one of the highest poverty indices with 34.3%. It also consistently registered
as one with the highest poverty incidence in 2006, 2009, and 2012. As such, this Bill
aims to address all of these problems by serving as an essential impetus in the
growth and development of the workers in the agricultural sector.
In  light  of  the  foregoing,  the  Bill  proposes  measures  which  are  oriented
primarily towards the professionalization of those in the agricultural development
sectors, the protection and enforcement of their rights, and the institutionalization
of the various benefits to be granted to them.
It is for the foregoing premises that the approval of this Bill is earnestly
sought.
ALFRED C. DELOS SANTOS
Representative, Ang Probinsyano Party-List
July 13, 2022
4:43 pm
1912


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
 First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _______________
Introduced by ANG PROBINSYANO 
Party-List Representative Alfred Delos Santos
AN ACT
MODERNIZING THE PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the
Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION  1.  Short  Title. –  This  Act  shall  be  known  as  the  “Agricultural
Modernization Act of 2022.”
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – Considering that the State recognizes the
importance of the development of the agricultural sector in the overall goal of
sustainable national economic growth, the State shall hereby endeavor to promote
and improve comprehensively the social and economic well-being of workers in the
agricultural sectors.
Particularly, the State shall hereby focus on the following principles in order
to  stimulate  and  accelerate  the  sustainable  growth  and  development  of  the
agricultural sector as well as the workers therein:
a) Poverty Alleviation and Social Equity – The State shall ensure that the
underprivileged  sectors  of  society  have  equitable  access  to  resources,
income  opportunities,  basic  and  support  services,  and  infrastructure,
especially in areas where productivity is low, as a means of improving their
quality of life compared with other sectors of society;
b)
Food  Security  –  The  State  shall  assure  the  availability,  adequacy,
accessibility, and affordability of food supplies to everyone at all times;
c) Rational Use of Resources – The State shall adopt a rational approach in
the allocation of public investments in agriculture in order to assure efficiency
and effectiveness in the use of scarce resources and thus obtain optimal
returns on its investments;
1912


d) Global Competitiveness – The State shall enhance the competitiveness of
the agricultural sector in both domestic and foreign markets;
e) Sustainable Development – The State shall promote development that is
compatible  with  the  preservation  of  the  ecosystem  in  areas  where
agricultural  activities  are  carried  out.  The  State  should  exert  care  and
judicious use of the country’s natural resources in order to attain long-term
sustainability;
f) People Empowerment – The State shall promote people empowerment by
enabling all citizens through direct participation or through their duly elected,
chosen or designated representatives the opportunity to participate in policy
formulation and decision-making by establishing the appropriate mechanisms
and by giving them access to information; and
g) Protection from Unfair Competition – The State shall protect small farmers
from unfair competition such as monopolistic and oligopolistic practices by
promoting a policy environment that provides them priority access to credit
and strengthened cooperative-based marketing system.
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the term:
a) “Agricultural Sector” shall refer to the sector engaged in the cultivation of
the soil, planting of crops, growing of fruit trees, raising of livestock, poultry,
or fish, including the harvesting and marketing of such farm products, and
other farm activities and practices.
b) “Agricultural Development Worker (ADW)” shall refer to all persons who
are engaged in agricultural development activities, whether in the public or
private sector, including but not limited to those employed in the Department
of Agriculture (DA), local government units, state colleges and universities,
and concerned private firms and institutions, regardless of their employment
status.
SECTION 4. Coverage. – The provisions of this Act shall be applicable to all
ADWs in the public and private sectors.
SECTION 5. Employment Generation Support. – The State shall ensure and
promote the provision of employment opportunities for ADWs. In line with this, the
DA and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in collaboration with the
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Technical Education and Skills
Development  Authority  (TESDA),  shall  spearhead  nationwide  employment
generation programs for ADWs, for employment in both the domestic and foreign
markets.
SECTION 6. Professionalization of Agricultural Development Workers in Public
Service. – The State shall promote and ensure that the ADWs in the public service
are conferred with the appropriate position title, salary grade, just compensation,
benefits, and professional recognition.


SECTION 7. Performance Evaluation and Merit-based Promotion System. – The
DA, in consultation with the Civil Service Commission (CSC), DOLE, PRC, TESDA, the
Professional Regulatory Boards (PRBs) on Agriculture, Agricultural and Biosystems
Engineering, and Foresters, and recognized national associations of ADWs, shall
prepare standardized career and personnel development plans for ADWs in the
public sector. Such plans shall include but are not limited to, provisions on merit
promotion,  performance  evaluation,  in-service  training  grants,  job  rotation
opportunities, and performance-based rewards systems.
SECTION 8. Transfer of Geographical Reassignment of ADWs. – With regard to
ADWs in the public sector, no transfer or geographical reassignment shall be made
or effected without prior written notice to the ADW concerned stating therein the
reason for such: Provided, That said written notice shall be made thirty (30) days
prior to the date of transfer or reassignment:  Provided further, That if the ADW
concerned does not consent to the order of transfer or reassignment, he/she may
appeal the said order before the appropriate government entity: Provided further,
That pending the resolution of the appeal thereof, such transfer or reassignment
shall be held in abeyance: Provided further, That no transfer or reassignment shall
be made three (3) months prior to any local or national elections: Provided, finally,
That the necessary expenses of the transfer or reassignment of the ADW concerned
as well as his/her immediate family, if necessary, shall be paid for by the State.
SECTION 9. Security of Tenure. – ADWs in the public sector with permanent
positions shall be terminated only for just and authorized causes: Provided, That if it
is  determined  by  the  proper  authority  that  the  ADW  concerned  is  unjustly
dismissed, he/she shall be entitled to reinstatement without loss of seniority rights
and back wages with twenty per centum (20%) interest to be computed from the
time of withholding of compensation up to the time of reinstatement. However, if
the ADW concerned does not wish to be reinstated, he/she shall be entitled to back
wages and separation pay with the corresponding twenty per centum (20%) interest
to be computed from the time of withholding of compensation up to full payment of
judgment award.
SECTION 10. Code of Professional Conduct. – All ADWs, whether in the public
or  private  sector,  shall  be  guided  by  a  Code  of  Professional  Conduct  to  be
promulgated by the PRC and its appropriate PRBs. The Secretary of Agriculture, in
consultation with the DOLE, CSC, and the concerned stakeholders shall adopt a
Code of Professional Conduct of the ADWs that not regulated by the PRC and its
appropriate PRBs.
SECTION 11. Normal Hours of Work. – The normal hours of work of an ADW,
whether in the public or private sector, shall not exceed eight (8) hours per day or
forty (40) hours per week. The hours of work shall include, but shall not be limited
to the time in which:
a) The ADW concerned is required to be present and on active duty at the
prescribed place of work;
b) The ADW concerned is permitted to work, whether or not such work is
done at the prescribed place of work; and


c) The ADW concerned is required to work in places other than the prescribed
place of work.
SECTION  12.  Overtime  Work. –  Where  the  exigencies  of  the  service  so
require, any ADW, whether in the public or private sector, may be required to
render service beyond the regular eight (8) hours per day, inclusive of Saturdays,
Sundays, and non-working holidays. In such cases, the ADW concerned shall be
given additional compensation in accordance with existing laws on the matter.
SECTION 13. Freedom from Interference or Coercion. – It shall be unlawful for
any person or juridical entity to commit any of the following acts upon any ADW:
a) To require, as a condition of employment, that an ADW concerned shall not
join an association, organization, or union of ADWs;
b) To discriminate in order to encourage or discourage membership in any
association, organization, or union of ADWs;
c) To prevent an ADW from performing his/her duties and functions in his/her
association, organization, or union of ADWs;
d) To penalize an ADW for any lawful action performed in his/her capacity as
a member of any association, organization, or union of ADWS;
d)  To  harass  or  intimidate  an  ADW  or  prevent  him/her  from  performing
his/her official duties and functions; and
e) To perform acts that will diminish the independence and freedom of any
association, organization, or union of ADWs in directing its own affairs.
SECTION 14. Non-discrimination Provision. – ADWs shall not be discriminated
based on belief, civil status, ethnic grouping, religion, or sex in connection to the
exercise of his/her profession.
SECTION 15. Rights in Administrative Proceedings. – In every administrative
proceeding concerning an ADW, he/she shall have the right to:
a) Be informed of the charges;
b) Full access to evidence against him/her;
c) Defend himself/herself with or without the assistance of counsel of his/her
choice;
d) Be given adequate time to prepare his/her case, which shall, in no case,
exceed thirty (30) days;
e) Appeal any adverse ruling to the proper authorities;


f)  Cross-examine  witnesses  and  to  have  subpoenas  processed  for  the
production of his/her own witnesses;
g) Reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred during his/her defense,
in cases of exoneration or dismissal of the charges; and
h)  Such  other  rights  provided  by  existing  laws,  rules,  and  regulation  in
relation to ensuring fairness and impartiality in administrative proceedings.
SECTION  16. Right  to Join Organizations. – ADWs  shall have the right  to
autonomy in terms of joining associations, organizations, or unions for purposes not
contrary to law, in the protection of their mutual interests, and in the pursuit of
seeking redress for grievances through peaceful concerted activities.
SECTION 17. Consultation in Policymaking. – All necessary public and private
sector institutions concerned with the agricultural sectors, to be determined by the
DA, in cooperation with the DOLE, CSC, PRC, and the corresponding PRBs, shall be
taken into consideration and consulted in the formulation of national educational
policies and professional standards as well as in the formulation of national policies
and programs on agriculture of the State: Provided, That the State shall ensure that
ADW  associations,  organizations,  or  unions  are  adequately  represented  in  the
national  and  local  Agricultural  Councils,  local  development  councils,  and  other
policymaking and consultative bodies of the State.
SECTION  18.  Performance-based  Rewards  System. –  The  rewards  and
incentives  systems  for  ADWs  in  the  public  sector  provided  under  this  Act,
established for the purposes of empowering and encouraging ADWs, improving their
productivity, and acknowledging their extraordinary performance, shall include, but
shall not be limited to, the following:
a) Honorarium – remuneration for services rendered beyond the established
workload  of  ADWs,  whose  broad  and  superior  knowledge  and  expertise
contribute to the productivity and innovation in the agricultural sector;
b) Incentive Bonus – remuneration given to individuals whose services in
management, administration, and policymaking contribute considerably to
the  efficient  and  effective  implementation  of  the  various  development
programs of the State concerning agricultural development;
c)  Performance  Bonus  –  remuneration  granted  to  ADWs  for  exceeding
established targets and key performance indicators; and
d) Other incentives that may be established by the appropriate government
bodies.
SECTION 19. Other Compensation and Benefits. – All ADWs, in addition to the
compensation and benefits already provided by existing laws, shall be entitled to
the following compensation and benefits:
a) Representation Allowance and Travelling Allowance;


b) Hazard Allowance;
c) Subsistence Allowance;
d) Longevity Pay;
e) Clothing Allowance;
f) Housing Allowance;
g) Compensation for Injuries;
h) On-call Pay; and
i) Vehicle Loan.
SECTION 20. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DA, in cooperation
with  the  DOLE,  CSC,  PRC,  the  corresponding  PRBs,  and  the  private  sector
stakeholders  on  agricultural  development,  shall  formulate  and  prepare  the
necessary implementing rules and regulations for the provisions of this Act.
SECTION  21.  Monitoring  and  Implementation. –  The  DA  shall  form  an
Oversight Committee to monitor the implementation of the provisions of this Act.
The Oversight Committee shall be composed of representatives from the DA, DOLE,
CSC,  PRC,  the  corresponding  PRBs,  and  the  private  sector  stakeholders  on
agricultural development: Provided, That the Oversight Committee shall submit bi-
annual reports regarding the status of the implementation of the provisions of this
Act to the Committee on Agriculture and Food of the House of Representatives and
the Senate.
SECTION  22.  Penal  Clause. –  Any  person  who  shall  violate  any  of  the
provisions of this Act shall, upon conviction, be punished with a fine of not less than
Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) or imprisonment of not more than one (1) year,
or both, at the discretion of the court.
If the offender is a public official, the court shall order his/her dismissal from
public service and the same shall be disqualified from holding public office.
SECTION 23. Funding. – The funding essential in carrying out the provisions of
this Act shall be included in the proper General Appropriations Act: Provided, That
the  first  inclusion  shall  be  in  the  General  Appropriations  Act  during  the  year
following its enactment into law.
SECTION 24. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part of this Act is held
invalid  or  unconstitutional,  the  remaining  provisions  or  parts  unaffected  shall
remain in full force and effect.
SECTION  25.  Repealing  Clause. –  All  laws,  executive  orders,  presidential
decrees  or  issuances,  letters  of  instruction,  administrative  orders,  rules,  and


regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
SECTION 26. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,