Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bifirio.   6223
Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARIIA
and District, Ilocos Norte
Eml.ANATORy NOTE
No less than the  1987 Constitution  mandates the  State  ``to 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. "
As an agricultural country, the Philippines takes pride in its rich flora,
fauna,  and  agricultural  products  and  by-products  recognized  locally  and
internationally. Various places in the country also thrive in their rich produce
but lack the medium or resource to promote this to nearby places, to the entire
country, and to the rest of the world. Consequently, many of the agricultural
products    went    undisposed    due    to    poor   linkages    and    information
dissemination,  that  can  be  addressed  through  an  organized  and  unified
system or database of agricultural information.
Indeed,  there is  a call  for a need to  establish  and institutionalize  a
Philippine Integrated Agricultural Information System or PIAIS.
The PIAIS is a comprehensive information database that will collect
and synchronize agricultural data from various sources, which include, but not
limited to research institutions, municipalities and cities, universities, private
companies and independent research arms, and farmers. This computerized,
web~based  agricultural   inventory  will   greatly  contribute  in   establishing
reliable, relevant, and updated knowledge on the agricultural data of every
locality in the country. Further, PIAIS will also be of great help in improving
linkages not only from farmer to co-farmer, but also to the consumer and the
market.
Apart from the  information  and data  relative to  agriculture  and its
products, crop harvest, volume, and type forecasting, including an inventory
of  specific  classification  of  crop  varieties  planted,  livestock,  poultry,  and
aquaculture produce in a particular area or locality are included in the PIAIS.
Moreover, a registry of farmer or fisherfolk's contact details and farm location
will also be included in the proposed database.


This  proposed  measure  will  not  only  boost  the  Philippines  as  an
agricultural country, but also, and most importantly, secure a stable market
for the  country's  agricultural  and  fisheries  products,  thereby  ensuring  an
appropriate return of investment from our local farmers and fisherfolk.
The  Department  of  Agriculture  (DA),  Department  of  Science  and
Technology (DOST), Department of Interior and Ijocal Government (DILG),
and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DIor),
are   the   proposed   agencies   mandated   to   spearhead   the   collection   of
information and creation of the PIAIS.
On behalf of the 2nd District of Ilocos Norte, and for the greater benefit
of  our  Filipino  farmers  and  fisherfolk,  the  approval  of  this  measure  is
eamestly sought.
ENGE


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bin-No.  8223
Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2nd District, Ilocos Norte
AN Acr ESTABLlsHING THE pHILlpplNE INTEGRATED
AGRIcul;ruRAL INFORMATloN sysTEM (plAls) IN AIL clTIEs
AND MUNICIPALITIES
Be it  enacted by  the  Senate  cmd the  House  Of Represenlc[rfues  Of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:
SEcrloN 1. Short TitJe.  - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine
Integrated Agricultural Information Systems Act."
SECI'I0N 2. Deczaran.on o/PoJz.ey. - It is the policy of the State to uplift
the   socioeconomic   conditions    of   farmers   and   farming   communities
nationwide in order to promote their welfare and empower their sector in the
overall  development  and  progress  of  the  country.  Pursuant  to  this,  an
integrated, computerized, web-based agricultural commodity supply inventory
and registry system linking farmers and organized communities all over the
country needs to be established to provide an easy-to-access local and global
real  time  information  for  agricultural  commodities,  with  an  end  view  of
creating a wider range of market linkages among farmers and agricultural
buyers.  Furthermore,  through  a  synchronized  and  integrated  agricultural
information system, the National Government shall have access to real-time
agricultural  information  which  can  rationalize  the  objectives  and  policy
directives in the agricultural sector.
SECTION  3.   Ofjecrfues.   -  This  Act  aims  to  attain  the  following
objectives:
a.   Provide an up-to-date database of agricultural and fisheries products
in a locality;
b.  Foster information sharing between farmers and potential buyers of
agricultural and fisheries products;
c.   Secure a market for agricultural  and fisheries products  and ensure
appropriate    return    of   investment    for    farmers    and    fisheries
stakeholders;


d.  Allow  local   government  units   (LGUs)   to  manage   a   secure   and
independent platform that creates linkages for farmers and fisheries
stakeholders;
e.   Provide data on specific commodities that are readily available in a
particular locality for purposes of production monitoring in order to
meet the demands of the market;
f.   Provide   a   secure,   transparent,   and   independent   modern   web
application that  may be  accessed  anytime  by the  public through  a
multi-platform support or cross-platform support devices which can be
linked to existing systems in the Department of Agriculture (DA);
9.   Streamline training and seminars in the management of the operations;
h.  Monitor  the  use  of inputs  given  by  producers,  buyers,  and  other
segments of the value-chain including information during post-harvest
and processing; and
i.   Ensure that all forms of assistance given to local government units
(LGUs),  registered cooperatives,  and other qualified individuals and
organizations are monitored.
Smc"OIN  4. Integrated Agriculture Irformation System.  - AIL ct:+ies
and municipalities are hereby mandated to establish an Integrated Agriculture
Information System  (IAIS), hereinafter referred to as Integrated formation
System. The IAIS shall serve as a dynamic online computer database where
information on the demand for specific agricultural and fisheries commodities
is  gathered  and  uploaded  simultaneously  with  the  production  data  from
farmers in every barangay. The IAIS shall merge and synchronize agricultural
data from  different sources into  a cohesive database designed to facilitate
linkages  from  place  of origin  or  the  farm  to  local,  and  ultimately,  global
markets. The IAIS shall also be integrated with the existing systems of the DA.
The Integrated formation System shall have the following features and
contents:
a.   Municipal  and  city-wide  identification  of  individual  farmers,  fish
breeders,  and  fisherfolk,  as  well  as  qualified  organizations  which
produce specific farm and fisheries products, regardless of quantity;
b.  Crop harvest, volume, and type forecasting;
c.   Inventory of specific classification of crop varieties planted, livestock,
and type of fish raised in a particular LGU;
d.  Farmers'  and fisherfolk demographics,  including age group, gender,
ethnic group, income, seminars and trainings attended, and assistance
received;


e.   Selected reports presented in both tabular and graphical form;
f.   Registry  of farmers'  contact  details  and  farm  location  to  facilitate
market linkages;
9.   Search engine which allows farmers, fish breeders, and fisherfolk to
look for potential and actual buyers and for such buyers to search for
farms, farmers, and available agricultural and fisheries products; and
h.  Customizable  dashboard  accessible  only to  registered  farmers  and
fisherfolk clients, which contains the farmers' and fisherfolks' profile,
such as the area of the farm or fishpond, crops planted, livestock, and
type of fish raised.
SECI'I0N 5. Registrafron. - AIl cities and municipalities shall encourage
and facilitate the free registration of all farmers, fisherfolk, as well as buyers
transacting within their respective areas in the Integrated formation System.
S:EC"OIN 6. Functions cmd Responsibttities Of Cities cmd Munieipalhies.
- The LGU shall exercise the following functions and responsibilities:
a.   The  Municipal Agricultural  Office  (MAO),  in  coordination with the
Municipal Agrarian Reform Office (MARO), shall gather, encode, and
consolidate  all  perdnent  data  on  the  profile  and  demographies  of
farmers, fisherfolk, as well as buyers;
b.   Monitor   and   control   farm   inputs,   including   machineries   and
equipment;
c.   For   municipalities   and   component   cities,   prepare   and   submit
real-time data under (a) and a) to the provincial agricultural office
and to the respective regional offices of the DA;
d.  For highly urbanized cities,  submit real-time  data to the  respective
regional offices of the DA;
e.   Establish farmer and buyer linkages and act as a gatekeeper at the city
or   municipal  level   in  the   nationwide   marketing   of  agricultural
products; and
f.   Serve as the web administrator at the municipal or city level and be
responsible  for  integrating  farm  and  fisheries  locations  into  the
geographic integration system map.
SmcTl:OIN  7.  Functions  cmd  Responeibitities  Of the  Province.  -  'The
provincial government shall have the following functions and responsibilities:
a.   The Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) is the web
administrator at the provincial level and is responsible for integrating
farm and fisheries data into the geographic integration system maps


for agriculture and fisheries;
b.  The I.ocal Economic and Investment Promotion Office (LEIPO) acts as
the lead administrator of the IAIS in the provincial level and ensures
the balance between supply and demand;
c.   The Provincial Agricultural Office (PAO) monitors the submission of
reports from  municipalities  and component cities,  and ensures the
completeness,  accuracy,  and  validity  of the  data  submitted by the
MAOs and the MAROs; and
d.  Except for highly urbanized cities, prepare and submit such data to the
regional office of the DA.
SEC"OIN 8. Functions cmd Respousibttities Of the Regional O!ffice Of the
DA.  - The regional office of the DA shall have the following fimctions and
responsibilities:
a.   Integrate the  data provided by the  provinces  and highly urbanized
cities  in  the  existing  information  systems  of the  DA,  such  as  the
National   Farmers   and   Fisheries   Information   System   (NFFIS),   a
web-based  data  collection  system  that  serves  as  a  platform  for
updating the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA);
b.   Collaborate with the regional offices of the Department of Trade and
Industry  (DTI)  in  order  to  facilitate  the  availment  of the  various
programs of the DTI, as well as to strengthen market linkages through
such programs;
c.   Recommend to the central office of the DA appropriate interventions
in the form of marketing, importation, and training assistance, as may
be needed;
d.  Validate the data from the LGUs acting as the system administrator at
the regional level and provide real-time report to the central office of
the DA; and
e.   Endorse for financial assistance the qualified fifth (5th) and si2th (6th)
class municipalities that can be given assistance in establishing and
maintaining their respective IAIS.
SHCTl:OIN 9. Functions c[nd RespousibHities Of the Central Office Of the
DA.  - The  central office  of the  DA shall have the following functions  and
responsibilities:
a.   AIlocate   funding   for   the   integration   of  the   AIS   with   existing
information systems ;
b.  Coordinate with the Department of Information and Communications
Technology (DICT) to upgrade, expand, and integrate its information


systems;
c.   Ensure  that the  implementation,  appropriate verification  processes
and information safeguards are in place pursuant to existing laws and
regulations,   in  coordination  with  the  DICT,   Philippine  Statistics
Authority (PSA), National Privaey Commission (NPC), Department of
Interior  and  Local  Government  (DILG),  and  the  Department  of
Science and Technology (DOST);
d.  Approve  the  prioritized  interventions  by  the  regional  offices  and
allocate corresponding funding;
e.   Collaborate with other agencies for the creation of market linkages in
the domestic and international markets; and
f.   Provide safety nets in the import and export of agricultural products in
order to support farmers.
Smc"OIN lo. Duties Of the Secretary Of Agriculture. -The See;rctzny Of
the   DA   shall   monitor   and   ensure   the   compliance   of  all   cities   and
municipalities as provided for under this Act, and shall, as soon as practicable,
establish   a   centralized   IAIS   that   shall   integrate   and  link   all   existing
information systems in the country.
SECITON  11.  Reports.  -  The  Secretary of the  DA shall  prepare  and
submit to the President and both Houses of Congress an annual report on the
implementation    of   the    program    which    shall    contain    the    list    of
accomplishments and recommendations for improvement.
SECTION  12. JmpJemenfl.ng Rules and Reguzafrons.  -  Within ninety
(9o) days after the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall
promulgate    the    necessary    rules    and    regulations    for    the    effective
implementation of this Act.
SECTION 13. Appropri.afrons. -The Secretary of the DA shall include in
the   Department's   programs   the   establishment   of  the   integrated   and
centralized IAIS, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act (GAA). The LGUs shall provide the necessary funds for the
establishment of an AIS in their respective annual budgets.
SECTION 14.    Separabl.71.fry clause. - If any provision of this Act shall
be held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions which are not
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
SEcrl0N 15. Repealing CJc[use. -   Any provision of law, decree, order,
rule  or  regulation  inconsistent  with  this  Act  is  hereby  repealed  and/or
modified accordingly.


SECI'ION  16. E#ecn.I;I.fry.  - This Act shall take effect fifteen  (15)  days
after  its  publication  in  the  O#cl.aJ  Gazeffe  or  in  a  newspaper  of general
circulation.
Approved,