Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3235

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP, EDGAR MARY S. SARMIENTO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The 1987 Constitution, under Article XIII, Section 5, states that the State shall recognize the right
of farmers, farmworkers, and landowners as well as cooperatives, and other independent farmers”
organizations to provide in the planning, organization, and management of the program, and shall
provide support to agriculture through appropriate technology and research, and adequate financial
production, marketing, and other support services.

Upon the enactment of the Local Government Code of 1991, the country has implemented a
devolved system in terms of providing basic agricultural services. The responsibility of
discharging basic agricultural services fell upon the local government units. This is based on the
notion that local government officials would be in the best position to assess the needs of their
constituents and to properly implement programs that would cater to the needs of the locality.
Decentralization was supposed to empower LGUs and to strengthen their capabilities.

Our farmers have yet to experience the full benefit of the system. This bill aims to revert to the
national government the discharge of basic agricultural services previously devolved to the local
government units. The Department of Agriculture should be given full power to streamline its
agricultural program and ensure its uniform implementation across the country.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of the measure is earnestly sought.

EDGAR MXRY S. SXRMIENTO


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3235

Introduced by REP. EDGAR MARY S. SARMIENTO

AN ACT REVERTING TO THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT THE DISCHARGE OF

BASIC AGRICULTURAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES DEVOLVED TO

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AND AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC

ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF
1991

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Re-Nationalization of Basic
Agricultural Functions Act of 2019”

Section 2. Re-nationalization. — Section 17 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known
as the Local Government Code of 1991, is hereby amended:

Section 1.1 The devolution of the basic services and facilities to the Barangay on
“Agricultural Support services which include planting materials distribution system and
operation of farm produce collection and buying station,” is hereby withdrawn from the
Barangay and reverted back to the National Government. This amends Section 17, item
(b), No. (1), Par. 1 of the Local Government Code of 1991.

Section 1.2 The devolution of the basic services and facilities to the Municipality
on “Extension and on-site research services and facilities related to Agriculture and
Fisheries activities which include dispersal of livestock and poultry, fingerlings and other
seedlings materials for aquaculture; palay, com and vegetable seed farms; medicinal plant
gardens; fruit tree, coconut and other kinds of seedling nurseries; demonstration farms;
quality control of copra and improvement and development of local distribution channels,
preferable through cooperatives; inter-barangay irrigation system; water and soil resource


utilization and conservation projects; and enforcement of fishery laws in municipal waters
including the conservation of mangroves” is hereby withdrawn from the Municipality and
reverted back to the National Government. This amends Section 17, item (b), No. (2), Par.
| of the Local Government Code of 1991

Section 1.3 The devolution of basic services and facilities to the province on
“Agricultural extension and on-site research services and facilities which include the
prevention and control of pest and animal pet and diseases; dairy farms, livestock markers,
animal breeding station and artificial insemination centers, and assistance in the
organization of farmer's and fishermen’s cooperative and other collective organizations,
as well as the transfer of appropriate technology,” is hereby withdrawn from the Province
and reverted back to the National Government. This amends Section 17, item (b), No. (3),
Par. (1), of the Local Government Code of 1991

Section 1.4 The devolution of the basic services and facilities to the City “as
embodied in the same basic services and facilities for Municipality and Province,” Section
17, (Item (b), No. 1 and 3, Par. (1), is hereby withdrawn from the city and reverted back to
the national Government. This amends Section 17, item (b), No. (4), Par. | of the Local
Government Code of 1991.

Section 3, Transfer of assets - Accordingly, all personnel, technicians, facilities, and
properties previously transferred to the Barangay, Municipalities, Provinces, and Cities shall be
returned to the National Government.

Section 4. Appropriations, - The funds necessary to cover the implementation of these
amendments should be appropriated for agriculture and shall be provided for in the current General
Appropriations Act and the years after.

Section 5. Agriculture and Fisheries Review Panel. ~ For the purpose of this Act, an
Agriculture and Fisheries Review Panel is hereby created to be composed of the following: the
Secretary of Agriculture, as Chairman; the Secretary of Interior and Local Government, the
Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Director of the Philippine
Council for Agriculture and Fisheries, or their duly designated representatives, as members.

The Agriculture and Fishery Review Panel in consultation with concerned sectors in the
field, shall identify the problems of the industry under the re-nationalization set-up and recommend
measures to enhance the agriculture productivity.

Section 8. Repealing Clause. ~ Ail laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, and rules
and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed
or modified accordingly.


Section 9. Separability Clause. ~ if, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act
is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions thereof shall not be affected
thereby and shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 10. Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of national circulation

Approved,