1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
3rd Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representative ERIC GO YAP 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Pursuant to Department Order No. 3, Series of 2007 of the Department of 
Agriculture (DA), the Agriculture Training Institute is designated as the extension and 
training arm of the agency which is mandated to train agricultural extension workers 
and their beneficiaries and lead in the delivery of e-extension services for agriculture 
and fisheries 
This bill seeks to strengthen the Agricultural Training Institute by transforming 
it into the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Agency (PAFEA), 
consolidating all other extension systems for the sake of efficiency and coherence. It 
shall ensure that its services actually meet the national standards of performance and 
effectively contribute towards the achievement of the national goals of agriculture and 
fisheries modernization and sustainable development. 
The creation of this extension agency shall reinforce the declining state of the 
Agricultural and Fisheries Sector and empower it to develop and sustain itself to 
address the needs of the country. It shall serve as a mechanism to those who belong 
to the agriculture and fisheries sector to participate and share in the fruits of 
development and growth. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
ERIC GO YAP 
November 17, 2021
9:59 am
10508


1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
3rd Regular Session 
House Bill No. _________ 
Introduced by Representative ERIC GO YAP 
AN ACT 
PRESCRIBING THE STRENGTHENING OF THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURE 
& 
FISHERIES 
EXTENSION 
SYSTEM 
TO 
ACCELERATE 
AND 
FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Agriculture and 
Fisheries Extension Act”. 
SEC. 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 modernization 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. 
10508


 
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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 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: 
 
a. “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, agricultural/coastal 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).” 
 
b. “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 consequence of “new knowledge” 
or research units. Agriculture extension services include all those provided by 


 
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both national and local governments, 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 modernization 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. 
 
f. “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 the fisheries extension services to 
accelerate the achievement of national goals. 
 
g. “Civil society” refers to the group of organization 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. 
 
j. “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. 
 
k. “Farmer-to-Farmer or Fisher-to-Fisher Extension Approach” refers to the 
modality of extension where a farmer or fishers systematically learned from 
their successful peers new knowledge or skills to improve the productivity and 
income of their enterprises. 
 


 
4 
l. “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. 
 
n. “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, consistent with the overall national development 
objectives and policies. 
 
o. “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. 
 
q. “Partnership” refers to the relationship between and among agencies that is 
characterized by mutual cooperation and responsibility towards the 
achievement of shared goals. 
 
r. “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. 
 
s. “Targeted Financial Transfer” is a financial support provided by the national 
government to the LGUs to enable them to plan and implement projects 
agriculture extension aimed at helping the poor and economically 
disadvantaged rural beneficiaries. 
 
t. “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/ies 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 


 
5 
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 
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. 
 
SEC. 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 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 
governments. 
 
SEC. 6. Clients. The clients of Philippine agricultural and fisheries extension 
system are the producers (farmers, fisherfolk, and agricultural processor), 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 II 
STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATIONS 
 
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 the national standards of performance and effectively contribute towards the 
achievement of the national goals of agriculture and fisheries modernization and 
sustainable development. 
 
SEC. 8. Powers and Functions: 


 
6 
 
a. 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; 
 
e. 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); 
 
g. Harness centers of research excellence especially 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 
 
i. In coordination 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 impacts to national and local 
goals. 
 


 
7 
SEC. 9. Structure of PAFEA. The agency shall be headed by a Director General 
(DG) with a rank of Assistant Secretary who shall be assisted by two Deputy Director 
General (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. 
 
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 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. 
 
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 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 
Department: 


 
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1. Department of Science and Technology 
2. Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
3. Department of Interior and Local Government; 
 
b. Presidents of the following LGU organization: 
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 
 
 
SEC. 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 a small regional office to: 
 
a. 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. 
 
 
 
 


 
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ARTICLE III 
ORGANIZATION OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXTENSION SERVICES 
 
 
SEC. 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 Service 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 agriculturist, 
economist, statisticians, agricultural engineers, fishery technologist, and veterinarians 
appointed by the Provincial Governor. 
 
SEC. 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 
concerned chooses to retain these personnel under their own plantilla and budget. 
Municipal ad city extension employees transferred to the province shall be issued a 
new appointment by the Governor as organic personnel of the Provincial Agriculturist 
& Fisheries office (PAFO). Transferred extension personnel 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 appointment to staff of the 
same positions. 
 
The Municipal/City Agriculture and Extension Service 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 governors. 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 plantilla of the province or the 
municipalities/cities 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 
M/CAFOs in the province regardless of their sources of salaries. As such, M/CAFOs 
and their personnel are obligated to attend meetings, workshops, seminar, and other 


 
10 
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 external or third party evaluation of all municipal and city extension 
programs and services. 
 
SEC. 15. Salaries and Wages of Extension Personnel. The salaries and wages of 
all agriculture and fisheries technical extension personnel under the patrol 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 concerned shall reallocate its savings from 
the personal services for agriculture personnel to its agriculture and fisheries 
extension; Provided, further, that every year thereafter, the concerned 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 concerned 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 serves as the basis for the continuation or modification on the grant-in-aid. 
 
SEC. 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 need 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. 
 
SEC. 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 reintegrated to the rest of the PAO 
services. This is to prevent conflict of interest between regulatory functions and 
livestock extension functions. 
 


 
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SEC. 18. Strategic Plan in Agriculture and 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 
Provincial Annual Work Program & Budget and for the DA to provide short-term and 
long-term assistance. 
 
 
ARTICLE IV 
AGRICULTURAL SERVICE CAREER DEVELOPMENT 
 
SEC. 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 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 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 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 provision of Joint Resolution No. 4, 
series if 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. 
 
SEC. 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 
 
b. City Agriculturist & Fisheries Officer (CAFO) 
 
c. Municipal Agriculture & Fisheries Officer (MAFO) 
 
 


 
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SEC. 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 concerned 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 concerned 
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. 
 
SEC. 22. Security 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 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. 
 
SEC. 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. 
 
SEC. 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; 
 
c. The right to defend himself/herself through counsel of his/her choice; 
 
d. 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; 
 
e. The right to appeal to designated authorities; 
 
f. The right to cross-examine witnesses and to processes for the production of 
witnesses; 
 
g. The right to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in his/her 
defense in case of exoneration or dismissal of the charges; and 
 


 
13 
h. Such other rights provided by other national agencies and local government 
units to their respective officers and employees to ensure fairness and 
impartially in prosecution. 
 
SEC. 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. 
 
SEC. 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. 
 
SEC. 27. Married Agricultural Extension Workers. Whenever possible, the 
proper authorities shall take steps to enable married couples both whom are public 
agricultural extension workers, to be employed or assigned in the same municipality. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ARTICLE V 
 
 
 
INCENTIVES AND REWARDS SYSTEM 
 
SEC. 28. Criteria for Incentives and Rewards System. The PAFEA shall 
develop a reward and inventive 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. 
 
SEC. 29. Other Compensation and Benefits.  All agricultural extension workers 
shall be entitled to the following additional compensation and benefits: 
 
a. Representation 
Allowance 
and 
Travelling 
Allowance 
– 
All 
Provincial/City/Municipal AF Officers shall be entitled to Representation 
allowance and Travelling 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-torn or embattle area, distressed or isolated stations, 
animal/plant/fisheries breeding station, plant nurseries, plantations and 
demonstration 
farms, 
laboratories 
especially 
those 
handling 
x-rays, 
radioisotopes, chemicals, etc., sea-borne patrols, construction and installation 
of agricultural infrastructure projects, and other areas declared under 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. 
 
c. Subsistence Allowance – All agricultural extension workers who are require to 
render services in the communities, institutions, animal and plant breeding 
nurseries, plantations and demonstration farms and other banner programs 


 
14 
and project 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 centrum (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 
 
f. Housing – All agricultural extension worker who are on tour of duty and those 
who, because of unavoidable circumstances, are forced to stay in the institution 
or community shall be receive housing allowances unless the government is 
able to provide free public accommodation. Housing allowance shall be 
reviewed periodically and adjusted accordingly. 
 
g. Motor and Vehicle Loan – All 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 
 
SEC. 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 
(P20,000,000.00) is hereby allocated for the first year Every year thereafter the budget 
shall be adjusted accordingly depending on the need and response of the LGUs and 
non-governmental organizations subject to review by the CERDAF. 
 
 
ARTICLE VII 
Funding for Extension Services 
 
SEC. 31. Initial Appropriation. For the first year of implementation of this Act, 
the amount of 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 (P5,000,000,000.00) 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. 


 
15 
 
 
The PAFEA 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 
 
SEC. 32. Phased Implementation. The implementation of this Act shall be 
phased over a period of five (5) years. 
 
SEC. 33. Oversight Committee. The Congressional Oversight Committee for 
Agriculture 
and 
Fisheries 
Modernization 
(COCAFM) 
shall 
oversee 
the 
implementation of this Act for a period not exceeding five (5) years from its effectivity. 
 
SEC. 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 
indication 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 
furnish a copy of the IRR to the Committee of Agriculture of both Houses of Congress. 
 
SEC. 35. Separability Clause. Should any part of this Act be declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof that are not affected thereby 
shall continue to be in full force and effect.  
 
SEC. 36. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, 
rules and regulations, and issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.  
 
SEC. 37. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper or general circulation. 
 
Approved,