‘SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Ji

House Bill No. 7089

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The agricultural sector of the country is experiencing constant decline. Due to the El
Nino phenomenon, said sector contracted by as much as 2.84% in the first quarter of 2010.
Huge production losses in palay (pegged at 11.41%) and com (pegged at 16.76%) were
recorded, along with cuts in the production of sugarcane, mongo and rubber. The fisheries
subsector also produced 0.63% less output in the first quarter of 2010. The gross value of
fisheries production was P53.1 billion, which was lower by 1.2% from last year's record.

There is a need to undertake Agricultural Extension in order to bolster this
deteriorating sector. Agricultural extension is a policy instrument for empowering individuals
and organizations by helping them help themselves. It is a system which assists farm
people, through educational procedures and sharing best agricultural practices, in improving
farming methods and techniques, increasing production efficiency and income, making
levels of living and lifting social and educational standards.

The clients of this agricultural and fisheries extension system are the producers (the
farmers, fisherfolks, agricultural processors), traders and consumers, with priority given to
‘economically and socially disadvantaged groups.

The bill provides for the creation of the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Extension
‘Agency (PAFEA), which shall serve as the national apex organization to unify all agriculture
and fisheries extension systems and ensure maintenance of the high standards of extension
programs. It shall orchestrate, provide national direction, set standards of performance, and
provide institutionalized financial and technical support to the LGUs.

As a crucial sector that influences the country’s continued economic development,
there is an impressing need to uplift our agricultural and fisheries sector. Agriculture and
Fisheries extension is central to the growth and development of this sector, which remain the
backbone of our economy.

In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


‘SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 2089

AN ACT

PRESCRIBING THE STRENGTHENING OF THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURE &
FISHERIES 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 |
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Agriculture and Fisheries
Extension Act x

Section. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The goals of 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 expanding productivity
as the key to raising the quality of life for all, especially the underprivileged.

The State shall promote economic modemization 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 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 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, education, 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-based and market-oriented industry.

The State shall adopt a market approach as the enabling framework for the
agriculture and fisheries sector to attain food security, poverty alleviation, sustainable
development and environmental protection, and balanced urban and rural development
while addressing the welfare of the consumers for more affordable nutritious food especially
among the lower income groups. The State shall promote market-oriented policies in its
agricultural development program to enable agriculture producers to transform their
enterprises into technologically advanced profitable ventures.

The State shall empower the agriculture and fisheries sector to develop and sustain
itself to meet present and future needs of the country. Towards 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


modemization 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.

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

) “Agriculture Development Worker (ADW)" or “Agriculture Extension Worker (AEW)"
refers to a person who is a graduate of at least a bachelor’s degree in agriculture,
agriculture engineering, agriculture economics, or any related course registered and licensed
with the Professional Regulation Commission or Civil Service Commission; who perform
communication, curriculum development, agriculturalicoastal_ community organizing,
econometrics, water management, veterinary work, statistical work, training and extension
works in agriculture production, trade, and processing including crop and animal protection,
food safety, agriculture and natural resource economics, and marketing. For the purposes of
this Act, “Agriculture Development Worker (ADW\) is interchangeably used with “Agriculture
Extension Worker (AEW).”

) “Agricultural Engineer” refers to a person registered with the Profession 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.

c) “Agriculture Extension” is an educational and information service aimed at the
transformation of the behavioral traits or characteristics of agriculture and fishery producers,
consumers, or traders as a consequence of “new knowledge" or research units. Agriculture
extension services include all those provided by both national and local govemments, non-
governmental organizations, and the private sector.

d) Agroforester refers to a person who is a graduate of a four-year course in forestry,
agroforestry, or related fields and licensed with the Professional Regulation Commission or
Civil Service Commission.

e) “Barangay Technician” refers to a successful agriculture/fishery producer who
volunteers and is assigned to assist farmers and other agriculture producers in their
respective barangays towards the modemization of their respective AF enterprises. The
barangay agricultural technician works closely with the barangay agriculture committee for
the planning of projects to be implemented at the barangay level.

) ‘Catalytic Financing” refers to the provision of financial assistance by the National
Government as counterpart grant to the resources provided by the Local Government Units
to achieve increased investment by the private sector in the implementation of agriculture
and fisheries extension services to accelerate the achievement of national goals.

9) “Civil Society” refers to the group of organizations whose voluntary 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.

h) “Consumers” are those that acquire goods or services for direct use or ownership
rather than for resale or use in production and manufacturing.

i) ‘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, fisher folk and those
‘engaged in food and non-food production and production, in order to give them enhanced
‘economics rights.

}) “Extension System for Agriculture and Fisheries” refers to the extension service
delivery system of the country that includes all services provided by national, local, non-
governmental organizations and the private sector.


) “Farmer-to-Farmer or Fisher-to-Fisher Extension Approach’ refers to the modality of
‘extension where a farmer or fishers systematically leamed from their successful peers new
knowledge or skills to improve the productivity and income of their enterprises.

1) “Fisheries” refers to all interrelated activities which include the production, growing,
harvesting, processing, marketing, developing, conserving and managing of all aquatic and
fisheries areas.

m) “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.

1n) “Food Security’ refers to the national policy objective of meeting the food
requirements of the present and the 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” refer to financial transfers from the national government to the local
governments to enable them to meet national standards in the provision of Agriculture and
Fisheries Extension Services (AFES) especially among the poor. The funding formula takes
into consideration, among others, the financial capacity of a municipality or a province.

p) "Knowledge Management” is a systematic approach which invents, understands,
shares, creates and utilizes knowledge in order to create values such as producers value,
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.

@) “Partnership” refers to the relationship between and among agencies that is
characterized by mutual cooperation and responsibility towards the achievement of shared
goals.

1) *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.

8) ‘Targeted Financial Transfer’ is a financial support provided by the national
government to the LGUs to enable them to plan and implement projects in agriculture
extension aimed at helping the poor and economically disadvantaged rural beneficiaries.

1) “Value chain” is a process from seed to shelf or from the producers to the consumers,
showing activities and interventions offfor a chosen commodityies based on understanding
the needs for such interventions.

u) “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.

Section 4. Statement of Goals. — Agricultural Extension is a policy instrument for
agriculture and fisheries development aimed at empowering individuals and organizations;
public agriculture extension shall contribute towards the achievement of the national goals of
agriculture development.

Section 5. Statement of Objectives. — Agriculture and Fisheries extension shall
contribute to the following objectives:

a) To enhance the economic right 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, regardless of their geographic location, 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 govemments.

Section 6. Clients. - The clients of Philippine agricultural and fisheries extension
system are the producers (farmers, fisherfolk, and 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.

ARTICLE I
STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATIONS

Section 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 the national
standards of performance and effectively contribute towards the achievement of the national
goals of agriculture and fisheries modemization and sustainable development.

Section 8. Powers and Functions:

1a) Provide direction in the development of national extension policies in agriculture and
fisheries;

b) Orchestrate the development of extension strategic plan including its financing in
coordination with the Department of Budget and Management and 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 more
efficient and client-responsive national agriculture and fisheries knowledge management
system;

d) Develop a system towards the management of 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 help achieve optimal
efficiency along the value chain;

) Provide leadership in the development and implementation of the National Agriculture
and Fisheries Knowledge Network (NAFKN) in agriculture and fisheries of the Department
through a system of partnership that may include, but not limited to the LGUs (Local
Government Units), the regional development council (RDC), the Regional Agriculture and
Fisheries Council (RAFCs), the academe especially the state universities and colleges
(SUCs) of agriculture and fisheries, the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), producers, rural-
based organizations (RBOs) and the private sector;

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

9) Hamess centers of research excellence specially state universities and colleges
(SUCs) of agriculture and fisheries in the implementation of the national programs especially
in the areas of extension innovations, national training, impact assessment, and monitoring
and evaluation of extension institutions, programs, and projects;

h) Provide leadership in developing and implementing a national system of
strengthening institutional extension capacities at all levels of implementation; and

1) In coordination with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Local
Government Units, The Department of Local Govermments, 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 impacts
to national and local goals.

Section 9. Structure of PAFEA. — The Agency shall be headed by a Director General
(0G) with a rank of Assistant Secretary who shall be assisted by two Deputy Director
Generals (DDG); they shall be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the
Secretary of Agriculture from a list submitted by an Independent Search Committee
organized and based on the qualification standards set by the Council of 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.

Section 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.

As part of the functions and duties, the Council for Extension Research
Development in Agriculture and Fisheries (CERDAF) shall:

a) Recommend to the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture policies covering
program priorities and resource allocation in agriculture and fisheries research and extension
of all agencies of the Department;

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

c) 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;

d) Strengthen the institutional efficiency of the NRDE system, including the creation of a
monitoring and evaluation system on the effectiveness and efficiency of its various
components; and

e) Set guidelines in the use of services and facilities, collection of fees and in the
utilization of income.

Section 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 selected from among
the other members of the Board. The Director General of the Philippine Agriculture and
Fisheries Extension Agency (PAFEA) and the Director of the Bureau of Agricultural
Research (BAR) shall be the officio members, and the Chair shall appoint the Director
General of PAFEA as Secretary of the Council.

The CERDAF shall have the following members:

a) Designated Undersecretary for Policy and Planning of the following Departments:
1) Department of Science and Technology;
2) Department of Environment and Natural Resources;
3) Department of Interior and Local Goverment;

b) Presidents of the following LGU organizations:
1) League of Provinces;
2) Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP);

c) Four (4) CSO representatives or one each from the rural youth, rural women, farmer,
and fisherfolk as identified and selected by the Department of Agriculture;

d) One (1) private sector representative appointed by the DA Secretary;


e) One representative each from the following national professional scientific
societies/organizations as recommended by the Secretary of the Department of Science &
Technology:

1) crops;

2) agriculture economics/economics;

3) fisheries & aquatic science;

4) livestock/animal science;

5) plant protection;

6) sociology/anthropology/communications

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

The PAFEA shall maintain

small regional office to:

@) Liaise with Department Regional Field Units (RFUs), which should serve as the
principal arm of the Department in the implementation of extension policies and programs in
the regions;

b) Provide technical assistance in the efficient implementation of PAFEA policies and
programs; and

‘c) Monitor and evaluate extension programs and projects funded by the DA that are
being undertaken in the region.

The PAFEA is authorized to utilize existing Agricultural Training Institute (ATI)
plantilla and to convert them into positions most appropriate to the Agency to provide
national technical and managerial leadership.

ARTICLE Ill
Organization of the Local Government Extension Services

Section 13. Province as the LGU Unit of Operation for Agriculture and Fisheries
Extension. - To achieve efficiency and to provide more responsive services, the planning
and implementation unit of the extension services at the Level of Local Government Units
shall be the province through a Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Services
under the Office of the Governor. Towards this end, all technical and financial assistance for
agriculture and fisheries development from the National Government to the LGUs shall be
coursed through, and coordinated by the province.

The Provincial Agriculture and Extension Services shall be headed by a technically-
qualified career Provincial Agriculturist & Fisheries Officer (PAFO). The PAFO shall have two
deputies or Assistant PAFOs: one for fisheries and one for agriculture development. The
PAFOs shall be appointed by the Director General of PAFEA chosen from three qualified
nominees per position submitted by the Governor. Its staff shall be composed of technically
qualified career agriculturists, economists, statisticians, agricultural engineers, fishery
technologist, and veterinarians appointed by the Provincial Govemor.

Section 14. Extension Personnel in the Municipalities & Non-chartered Cities. —
Upon the effectivity of this Act, all municipal and non-chartered cities agriculture and
fisheries extension personnel shall become provincial employees unless the LGU
concemed chooses to retain these personnel under their own plantilla and budget.
Municipal and city extension employees transferred to the province _ shall be issued a new
appointment by the Govemor as organic personnel of the Provincial Agriculturist & Fisheries
Office (PAFO). Transferred extension personne! may continue to serve their respective
municipalities and non-chartered cities as detailed employees of the province based on a


rationalized organizational structure submitted by the LGUs and approved by the PAFEA
and the DBM. Existing employees of municipalities or cities that opt to retain their
personnel do not need to issue new appointments to staff of the same positions.

The Municipal/City Agriculture and Extension Services shall be headed by a
technically-qualified career Municipal/City Agriculturist & Fisheries Officer (M/CAFO) based
on the criteria set by the PAFEA. They shall be appointed by the PAFEA chosen from three
(3) qualified nominees submitted by the govemors. Existing MAOs or CAOs who are not
reappointed for reasons other than for just cause, shall serve as Supervising Agriculturists
with salaries equal to that of their existing positions. M/CAFO whether under the plantila of
the province or the municipalitiesicities shall have direct day-to-day supervision of all
extension municipal/city personnel whether organic or detailed to the municipalities.

On the other hand, the PAFO shall have direct technical supervision of all MICAFOs
in the province regardless of their sources of salaries. As such, M/CAFOs and their
personnel are obligated to attend meetings, workshops, seminars, and other activities
organized by the province that require their participation. In addition, they shall, on a
periodic basis, submit data and reports required by the province or the national government.
In cooperation with the PAFEA and the state colleges and universities of agriculture, all
provinces are required to design and implement a periodic extemal or third party evaluation
of all municipal and city extension programs and services.

Section 15. Salaries and Wages of Extension Personnel. — The salaries and wages
of all agriculture and fisheries technical extension personnel under the payroll of the
provincial government 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 concemed shall reallocate its savings from the personal services for agriculture
personnel to its agriculture and fisheries extension; Provided, further, that every year
thereafter, the concemed LGU shall appropriate the equivalent funds paid by the national
government as the minimum amount for its agriculture and fisheries operation or
counterparts to national grant-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 for both agriculture and
fisheries shall be standardized so that these are equal or be comparable with similar
positions of national employees without prejudice to the provision of additional staff benefits
by concemed LGUs where their 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 (5) years to determine its impact to the
quality of services, its cost-effectiveness, and impact on the goals of AFMA. A copy of the
report shall be provided to Congress and serve as the basis for the continuation or
modification of the grant-in-aid.

Section 16. Structure of the Provincial Extension Services. - The provincial and
municipal 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 Provincial & Municipal Extension Services
shall be rationalized to provide the appropriate number of positions for agriculturist, mixed
crop-livestock/tree specialist, communication and curriculum specialist, community
organizers/anthropologists, economists/agribusiness economists, agricultural engineers,
fishery technologists, and veterinarians.

Section 17. 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 parcel of the Provincial Agricultural Office (PAO). In cases where
these functions were earlier integrated into the Provincial Veterinary Services, they shall be


returned and re-integrated to the rest of the PAO services. This is to prevent conflict of
interest between regulatory functions and livestock extension functions.

Section 18. Strategic Plan in Agriculture and Fisheries. To provide coherence of all
govemment plans in agriculture and fisheries and to achieve efficiency in the use of
resources, all provincial govemments 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 Provincial Annual
Work Program & Budget and for the DA to provide short-term and long-term assistance.

ARTICLE IV
AGRICULTURAL SERVICE CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Section 19. Professionalization of Extension Services. - The State shall support the
development and professionalization of agricultural services by providing the necessary
compensation and benefits to various extension workers based on their duties,
responsibilities and qualifications. For this purpose, the PAFEA, in coordination with Civil
Service Commission, 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 goverment units. The
PAFEA shall also develop a career path of all technical extension personnel that will allow
them, regardless of assignment or location in goverment, 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 in all extension agencies/office to include representatives of civil societies
and the SUCs of agriculture and fisheries. In determining the salaries of agriculture and
fishery development workers, the provisions of Joint Resolution No. 4, series of 2009,
entitled, “Joint Resolution Authorizing the President of the Philippines to Modify the
Compensation and Position Classification System of Civilian Personnel and the Base Pay
Schedule of Military and Uniformed Personnel in the Government, and for Other Purposes,”
shall apply.

Section 20. Mandatory Managerial Positions in the Provision of Agriculture
Services in the Local Government Units. - The creation of the following positions is
hereby made mandatory in addition to the prescribed position under the Local Government
Code of 1991:

a) Provincial Agriculture & Fisheries Officer (PAFO)
1) Asst. PAFO for Fisheries Development
2) Asst. PAFO for Agriculture Development

) City Agriculturist & Fisheries Officer (CAFO)
c) Municipal Agriculture & Fisheries Officer (MAFO)

Section 21. Transfer of Geographical Reassignment of Agricultural Officers and
Employees of the LGUs. No transfer or geographical reassignment shall be made or
effected without a written notice to personnel concemed stating therein the reason therefor:
Provided, that said written notice shall be made thirty (30) days prior to the date of transfer
or reassignment: Provided, further, that if the employee concemed disagrees with the order
of transfer or reassignment, he/she may appeal said order with the Civil Service Commission
or the Department of Agriculture, as the case may be: Provided, further, that pending
appeal, such transfer or reassignment shall be held in abeyance: Provided, furthermore, 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 and/or reassignment
of the agricultural worker or employee and his/her immediate family shall be paid by the
Government.

‘Section 22. Security of Tenure. — An agricultural extension worker holding a permanent
position shall not be terminated except for cause: Provided, that in the event he/she is found
to be unjustly dismissed as verified by the Civil Service Commission, 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 compensation has been withheld. In
cases, however when the agricultural extension worker does not desire to be reinstated,
he/she shall be entitled to back wages and separation pay with twenty per centum (20%)
interest.

Section 23. Discrimination Prohibited. - An agricultural extension worker shall not be
discriminated by reason of creed, sect, political belief, civil status, and ethnic grouping in the
exercise of his/her profession.

Section 24. Safeguards in Administrative Proceedings. - In every administrative
proceeding, an agricultural extension worker shall have:

a) the right to be informed of the charges;

b) the right to full access to evidence against him/her;

) the right to defend himselfiherseif through counsel of hisiher choice:

4d) the right to be given adequate time to prepare his/her case, which shall not be less
than seven (7) days from receipt of the formal charge;

€) the right to appeal to designated authorities;

f) the right to cross-examine witnesses and to processes for the production of witnesses;

9) the right to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in his/her defense in
case of exoneration or dismissal of the charges; and

h) such other rights provided by other national agencies and local government units to
their respective officers and employees to ensure faimess and impartially in prosecution.

Section 25. Code of Conduct. - All agricultural extension workers must be guided by a
code of ethics not contrary to law, morals, safety, health, public policy and public order which
shall be prepared by the Secretary of Agriculture in consultation with the recognized national
associations of agricultural extension workers.

Section 26. Training and Scholarship Program. - The Department of Agriculture
through the PAFEA shall undertake training and scholarship programs for the agricultural
extension workers, which shall be provided adequate budgetary support by the
Government.

Section 27. Married Agricultural Extension Workers. - Whenever possible, the proper
authorities shall take steps to enable married couples both of whom are public agricultural
extension workers, to be employed or assigned in the same municipality.

ARTICLE V
INCENTIVES AND REWARDS SYSTEM

Section 28. Criteria for Incentives and Rewards System. — The PAFEA shall develop
‘a reward and incentive system for agricultural extension workers provided under this Act,
which will encourage them to stay in the service, promote their productivity and reward them
for extraordinary performance.


Section 29. Other Compensation and Benefits. - All agricultural extension workers
shall be entitled to the following additional compensation and benefits:

a) Representation Allowance and Traveling Allowance — Alll Provincial/City/Municipal AF
Officers shall be entitled to Representation Allowance and Traveling Allowance (RATA)
equivalent to the Department Head of the equivalent Local Government Units.

b) Hazard Allowance - All agricultural development workers assigned in difficult areas,
strife-tom or embattled areas, distressed or isolated stations, animal/plantfisheries breeding
station, plant nurseries, plantations and demonstration farms, laboratories especially those
handling x-rays, radioisotopes, chemicals, etc., sea-bome patrols, construction and
installation of agricultural infrastructure projects, and other areas declared under a state of
calamity or emergency which exposes them to great danger, occupational risks of perils of
life shall be compensated with hazard allowance equivalent to at least twenty per centum
(20%) of the monthly basic salary.

) Subsistence Allowance - All agricultural extension workers who are required to render
services in the communities, institutions, animal and plant breeding nurseries, plantations
and demonstration farms and other banner programs and projects of the Department of
Agriculture in order to make their services available at all times, shall be entitled to full daily
subsistence allowance of three (3) meals, which shall be computed in accordance with the
prevailing circumstances.

d) Longevity Pay - A longevity pay equivalent to five per centum (5%) of the monthly
basic pay shall be paid to an agricultural extension worker for every (3) years of continuous,
efficient and meritorious services rendered.

e) Clothing Allowance - All agricultural extension workers shall be entitled to a clothing
allowance in accordance with the approved laws and regulations or as mandated by law.

) Housing — All agricultural extension workers who are on tour of duty and those who,
because of unavoidable circumstances, are forced to stay in the institution or community
shall receive housing allowances unless the goverment is able to provide free public
accommodation. Housing allowance shall be reviewed periodically and adjusted accordingly.

g) Motor and Vehicle Loan — Alll agricultural extension workers shall be entitled to avail of
the motor and vehicle loan of the Department of Agriculture. The government shall provide
adequate budgetary support for this purpose.

ARTICLE VI
The Farmer-to-Farmer Extension Approach

Section 30. The Farmer-to-Farmer Approach. The farmer-to-farmer approach in
‘extension is hereby institutionalized. The PAFEA, in cooperation with centers of research
excellence and interested LGUs, shall take leadership in developing a highly flexible and
innovative system. It shall pilot the approach until it becomes an integral part of the national
system in no more than ten (10) years. For the initial implementation of this provision, an
initial budget of Twenty Million Pesos (P20,000,000) is hereby allocated for the first year.
Every year thereafter the budget shall be adjusted accordingly depending on the needs and
response of the LGUs and non-govemmental organizations subject to review by the
CERDAF.

ARTICLE VII
Funding for Extension Services


Section 31. Initial Appropriation. — For the first year of implementation of this Act,
the amount of Ten Billion Pesos (P10,000,000,000,00) 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 Ten Billion Pesos (P10,000,000,000.00) or one percent of the gross
value added in agriculture and fisheries, whichever is higher, for the implementation of this
Act. Five Billion Pesos (P5,000,000,000) of this amount shall be allocated to the salary grant
to LGUs for the local extension personnel and operation of the PAFE. The Department
of Agriculture is hereby tasked accordingly to rationalize its budget to meet the requirements
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 Agricultural 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 VIII
Final Provisions

Section 32. Phased implementation. The implementation of this Act shall be phased
over a period of five (5) years.

Section 33. Oversight Committee. The Congressional Oversight Committee for
Agriculture and Fisheries Modemization (COCAFM) shall oversee the implementation of this,
Act for a period not exceeding five (5) years from its effectivity.

Section 34. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) shall be formulated by
the Department of Agriculture in close coordination with the Department of Interior and Local
Government, the Leagues of Governors and Mayors and relevant members of the civil
society which shall include an implementation plan indicating a phased approach to smooth
transition from the present to the reformed extension system under this Act. The Secretary
of the Department of Agriculture shall fumish a copy of the IRR to the Committee of
Agriculture of both Houses of Congress.

Section 35. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations, issuance or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
amended accordingly.

Section 36. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

Section 37. 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

Approved,