FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
)' 
OR THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Biazon 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Agriculture has been the traditional backbone of the Philippine economy. It is a principal 
source of income and employment, employing almost half of the total labor force. It is thus 
considered a major industry in the Philippines. 
However, it has been observed that small farm holders and tenant farmers have depended 
on the traditional subsistence level of farming systems. In spite of the extension efforts made by 
government agencies and institutions and non-government organizations, these farmers have not 
been able to adopt new agriculture technologies that have otherwise made the large new 
agribusiness farms in the country highly productive and profitable. 
Low investment in research and development (R&D), inadequate generation and 
ineffective transfer of agricultural technologies are the primary reasons why the majority of 
small and marginalized farmers have remained technologically outdated and economically 
powerless. 
The Philippines cannot afford to allow the present state of affairs to continue. Otherwise, 
with increasing population, the country may not be able to produce or import the food to meet 
the needs of its people. 
In order for the Philippines to become a progressive industrialized nation, it should have 
a strong and highly productive agricultural sector. Its strength and productivity, however, lie on 
the empowerment of the majority of its farmers and the promotion of the development of cutting- 
edge agricultural technologies to enable our country to become highly competitive in the 
international market. 
This bill is in response to the strongly felt need to integrate R&D and technology 
generation and transfer into a single coherent and harmonious national system dedicated to the 
socio-economic well-being of the Filipino farmers and development of the nation. It aims to 
transform traditional peasant agriculture to modern highly productive agriculture through 
generation and transfer of more productive and useful technologies of farming and rural living. 
A sustained expansion of the national economy requires sustained growth in the 
agricultural sector. We must transform our farmers into a resource of renewed national vigor and 
creativity in our drive for global competitiveness. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
RODOLFO &IAZON 
Senator 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
4 JUL -3 
P J  3 6  
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
~~~~~~~~~~ 
By: 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Biazon 
AN ACT 
TO 
ESTABLISH 
AN 
INTEGRATED 
SYSTEM 
FOR 
AGRICULTURE 
TECHNOLOGY GENERATION AND TRANSFER AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
CHAPTER I. TITLE AND POLICIES 
SECTION 1. Title- This Act shall be known as the “Agriculture Technology 
Generation and Transfer Act of 2007.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - 
a) The State shall protect and promote the socio-economic welfare and 
well-being of Filipino farmers, particularly those in the countryside. Towards this 
end, it is the purpose of this Act to establish an Integrated System of Agriculture 
Technology Generation and Transfer that will most efficiently and effectively 
provide the agricultural technology services as a means of empowerment of 
farmers and enable them to help sustain a self-sufficient and self-reliant food and 
agriculture production for its people and accelerate agro-industrial development 
of the country. 
b) The State also commits itself to the protection of the environment and 
the promotion of sustainable agriculture 
SEC. 3. Scope, This Act shall apply to, and govern all existing agricultural 
15 
research and extension activities of the National Government, the local 


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government units, farmer's and non-government organizations and the state 
universities and colleges in the country. 
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms- The following terms shall mean as defined 
herein: 
a) Agriculture- refers to the art, science and business of cultivating the 
soil, planting of crops, growing of fruit trees, management of forests, raising or 
catching or both of livestock poultry or fish; including the harvesting and post- 
harvest handling of such products, and other activities and practices performed 
by persons whether natural or juridical in conjunction with such operations. 
b) Research and Development (R&D)- pertains to all organized activities 
designed to search for new knowledge or modify existing ones, develop new 
methods and techniques of operation, tools, equipment or types of organisms 
through the application of the scientific method. 
c) Technology Generation- R&D activities that are directed principally 
towards the development of such methods, techniques, computer softwares and 
hardware, tools, equipment, or types of organisms that may be used or applied 
for the benefit of man. The product of such activities may be referred to as 
technologies. 
d) Technology Transfer- pertains to all organized activities designed to 
enable individuals or groups to effectively adapt a particular technology. 
e) Farmer-any person who engages in any agricultural activity 
9 Sustainable Agriculture- any principle, method and/or practice that 
aims to make agriculture economically viable, ecologically sound, socially just, 
and culturally appropriate. 
CHAPTER II. THE INTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR AGRICULTURE 
TECHNOLOGY GENERATION AND TRANSFER 
SEC.5. The Integrated System of Agriculture Technology Generation 
and Transfer (ISATGaT) - All government agencies and institutions, including 
local government units, farmers and non-government organizations that are 


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engaged in R&D, training and extension activities in agriculture shall be 
organized and formed into an Integrated System of Agriculture Technology 
Generation and Transfer (ISATGaT). It shall be organized into hierarchical and 
interlocking councils at the national, regional and provincial levels. The national 
and regional councils shall be concerned with both the technology generation 
and transfer activities while the provincial councils shall be concerned with 
technology transfer activities. 
SEC. 6. Purpose. - The purpose of the ISATGaT is to most effectively 
and efficiently respond to and provide for the technology needs of farmers and 
enable them to attain higher productivity and market competitiveness in the 
context of sustainable agriculture principles and practices. 
SEC. 7. Components of the System.- 
a) Department of Agriculture 
b) Institutes and Centers for Agricultural Research Development and 
Training 
c) Local Government Units 
d) State Universities and Colleges 
e) Farmers’ and Non-Government Organizations 
CHAPTER 111. ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF COMPONENT UNITS IN EACH 
LEVEL OF THE SYSTEM 
SEC. 8. The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall: 
a) Provide the office of the Chairman and the Secretarial of the National 
Integrated System for Agriculture Technology Generation and Transfer 
(NISATGaT) Council: 
b) Organize and operate a Bureau of Agriculture Technology Generation 
and Transfer (BATGaT) out of its existing research centers and outreach 
stations and training institutes for purposes of addressing agriculture technology 
issues or for national concern; and 


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c) Coordinate the activities of the NlSATGaT Council with that of the 
other units within its department and with other agencies and instrumentalities of 
the Government in order that such activities shall be consistent with and in 
pursuit of the National programs and objectives of the country. 
SEC. 9. The Autonomous National Institutes and Centers for 
Agricultural Research, Development and Training shall:- 
a) Undertake such technology generation and transfer activities as may 
be recommended by the NlSATGaT Council; and 
b) Maintain and improve high level technical manpower and appropriate 
facilities to be able to effectively undertake whatever technology generation and 
transfer activities may be deemed necessary. 
SEC. 10. The Local Government Units (LGUs) shall:- 
a) Designate a Provincial Agriculture Officer (PA0)- in each province who 
will represent the respective provinces in the Regional Integrated System for 
Agriculture Technology Generation and Transfer (RISATGaT) Council and 
coordinate all activities pertaining to agricultural technology services to farmers in 
hislher provinces; and 
b) In collaboration with a duly recognized provincial college of agriculture, 
shall organize a Provincial Agriculture Technology Transfer (PAT) Council 
whose members will include the head of the agricultural institution, the PAO, 
Municipal Agricultural Officers, representatives of recognized local farmers' and 
non-government organizations. 
SEC. 11. The State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) shallr 
a) Designate an Agriculture Technology Generation and Transfer 
(ATGaT) Coordinator who will represent the institution in the Regional Integrated 
System for Technology Generation and Transfer (RISATGaT) Council in the case 
of duly accredited regional SUCs; 
b) Designate an Agriculture Technology Transfer (ATT) Coordinator for 
the institution and who will represent the institution in the Provincial Integrated 


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System for Agriculture Technology Transfer (PISATT) Council in the case of duly 
accredited provincial agricultural colleges or provincial technical institutes of 
agriculture; 
c) Undertake research, technology generation and/or technology transfer 
on such areas as may be recommended by the NISATGaT, RlSATGaT or 
PISATT Council in the case of duly accredited national, regional or provincial 
agricultural institution(s), respectively: 
d) Provide the office of the Chairman and Secretariat of the RlSATGaT 
Council in the case of the regional state agricultural institution or of the PISATT 
Council in the case of the provincial agricultural institution as may be designated 
by the NlSATGaT Council; and 
e) Provide facilities and staff for and conduct training of agricultural 
technologies, technicians and farmers in the utilization of the various agricultural 
technologies. 
SEC. 12. Farmers and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) shall:- 
a) Volunteer facilities or certain portions of their farms for tests and/or 
demonstration of certain agricultural technologies that are of potential benefit to 
them; 
b) Actively participate in the problem/ opportunity identification, planning 
and implementation of research and development of promising technologies; and 
c) Share in the cost of research and development of technologies that are 
potentially beneficial to them. 
SEC. 13. Creation of the National Integrated System for Agriculture 
Technology Generation and Transfer (NlSATGaT) Council.- To carry out the 
programs for generation and transfer of agriculture technologies of the country, 
the National Integrated System for Agriculture Technology Generation and 
Transfer (NISATGaT) Council is hereby created and attached to the Department 
of Agriculture for administrative purposes only, with the following composition 
and functions: 


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a) Composition. The following shall serve as members of the NlSATGaT 
Council with its Chairman to be elected from among its members and serve for a 
period of three (3) years: 
1) One outstanding scientist from each of the fields of Crop Science, 
Animal Science, Agricultural Engineering, Fisheries, Forestry and Veterinary 
Medicine who shall be nominated by heads of faculties, scientific or professional 
groups for a term of three (3) years, and from among themselves, a Co- 
chairperson shall be chosen; 
2) The Director of the Bureau of Agriculture Research, Technology 
Generation and Transfer (BARTGaT) who shall also serve as the Executive 
Director of the Secretariat of the Council; 
3) The Dean, College of Agriculture of the University Council of the 
Philippines at Los BaAos; 
4) The President of the Philippine Association of Agricultural Colleges 
and Universities; 
5) The Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and 
Resources Research and Development (PCARRD); 
6) One representative of the National Farmers’ Organizations and 
one representative of the National NGOs involved with agricultural technology 
transfer; 
7) Chairperson of each of the RlSATGaT Councils; 
8) The Director, Bureau of Animal Industry; and 
9) The Director, Bureau of Plant Industry; and 
I O )  The Director, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. 
b) Functions- The NlSATGaT Council shall have the following duties and 
functions: 
1) Scan the environment of the Philippine agriculture and study new 
development and trends where problems and opportunities could arise and taken 
advantaged of in the development of new technologies; 


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2) Study new technologies in agriculture and related fields and determine 
whether these could be advantageously adapted by Filipino farmers; 
3) Formulate policies that will encourage and promote the expeditious 
generation and transfer of technologies that are most beneficial to the Filipino 
people; 
4) Prioritize national programs for research, technology generation and 
transfer that government should support; 
5) Make representation with the Department of Budget and Management 
and see to the timely and sufficient allocation of funds for agriculture research, 
technology generation and transfer programs as recommended by NISATGaT; 
and 
6) Formulate policies regarding technology, protection, commercialization 
and dissemination. 
SEC. 14. Creation of the Regional Integrated System for Agriculture 
Technology Generation and Transfer Councils- To carry out the regional 
programs for generation and transfer of technologies appropriate for each of the 
regions, a Regional Agricultural Technology Generation and Transfer 
(RlSATGaT) Council is hereby created in each of the geographical regions of the 
country and attached to a chartered regional state university or college as 
designated by the NlSATGaT Council. 
a) Composition. - The RlSATGaT Council shall be composed of the 
following members whose Chairman shall be elected by its members for a term 
of three (3) years and assisted by a Secretariat; 
1) The Heads of the accredited agricultural university(ies) and college(s) 
in the region; 
2) The Directors/ Heads of Regional Integrated Agriculture Research 
Center and of other duly recognized agricultural commodity research and training 
centers in the region; 
3) The Manager/ head of the Regional Outreach Station; 


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4) The Provincial Agricultural Officers of each province of the region; 
5) The President (s) or Chairperson (s) of duly recognized farmers and 
non-government organizations involved in the promotion of agriculture in the 
region; and 
6) The Coodinator of Agriculture Technology Generation and Transfer 
of the institution to which the RlSATGaT is attached and who shall also serve as 
in charge of the Secretariat. 
b) Functions.- The RlSATGaT Council shall have the following duties and 
functions: 
1) Periodically discuss problems and opportunities for developing 
agriculture in the region and plan and cause the implementation of research, 
technology generation and transfer programs that will most effectively address 
such issues; 
2) Coordinate the research, technology generation and technology 
transfer activities in the region and see that they are consistent with the plans 
and programs approved by the RISATGaT; 
3) Determine the priorities for research, technology generation and 
transfer that may be implemented in the region and accordingly recommend 
financial support by the Government or by any interested parties; 
4) Periodically review on-going research and development projects and 
programs and see that they squarely address their objectives; and 
5) Plan and facilitate the transfer of new and appropriate agricultural 
technologies to farmers and other end-users in the region. 
SEC. 15. Creation of Provincial Integrated System for Agriculture 
Technology Transfer Council- To effectively transfer agriculture technologies to 
farmers in the provinces and municipalities, the Provincial Agriculture Technology 
Transfer (PAT) Council shall be established in each of the provinces and 
attached to the provincial agricultural college designated by the RlSATGaT 
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Council. 


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a) Composition- The PATT Council shall be composed of the following 
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members with the Chairman to be elected from among the members and serve 
for three (3) years: 
1) The Head(s) of recognized provincial agricultural college(s) or 
institute(s): 
2) The Provincial Agricultural Officer (PAO) who shall also serve as 
Coordinator of Technology Transfer and in-charge of the PATT Council 
Secretariat; 
3) The Municipal Agricultural Officer of each municipality; and 
4) The chairperson(s) of duly recognized farmers and non-government 
organizations involved in agriculture in the province. 
b) Functions- The PATT Council shall have the following duties and 
functions: 
1) Periodically discuss problems and opportunities for developing 
agriculture in the province and plan and cause the implementation of appropriate 
technology for transfer to farmers and other local end-users; 
2) Coordinate all technology transfer activities in the province and see 
that they are consistent with its approved plans and programs; 
3) Determine priority technology transfer activities that may be 
implemented in the province and accordingly recommend financial support by the 
local government or by any interested parties; 
4) Periodically review on-going technology transfer activities in the 
province and see that they squarely address their objectives; and 
5) Plan and facilitate the transfer of new and appropriate agriculture 
technologies to farmers and other end-users in the province. 
SEC. 16. Budgetary Scheme shall be as follows: 
a) The current appropriations or budgets for agriculture research, 
technology generation and transfer program of the state agencies, institutes and 
centers and local government units and SUCs shall be increased from the present 


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level by annual increment of 0.2% of the Gross Value Added (GVA) of the 
agriculture sector for the next ten (IO) years as recommended by the NlSATGaT 
Council and approved by the Department of Budget and Management and shall 
be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act. 
b) This Act hereby allocates an endowment lumpsum amount of Fifty 
million pesos (P50,000,000.00) per annum for the next ten (IO) years and shall be 
included in the General Appropriations Act starting 2008. This fund shall be called 
the Agriculture Technology Generation and Transfer Fund to support high priority 
technology generation and transfer programs of the NlSATGaT Council the 
RlSATGaT Councils and the PATT Councils: Provided, That such fund shall be 
invested in government bonds and securities and managed by the NlSATGaT 
Council using only the interest earnings of the said fund. 
c) The operations of the Bureau of Agriculture Research, Technology 
Generation and Transfer shall be funded initially from the DA allocation for the 
operation of both its Bureaus of Agricultural Research (BAR) and Agricultural 
Training Institute (ATI). Upon the effectivity of this Act, the BAR and AT1 shall be 
replaced by the BARTGaT. Subsequently, the appropriation of the BARTGaT 
shall be incremented according to the provisions of subsection (a) hereof. 
SEC. 17. Grants, Fiduciary and Revolving Funds - The Fiduciary and 
Revolving Funds centralized under P.D. 711 are hereby authorized and 
reallocated to the government agencies, institutions, centers and SUCs 
participating in the ISATGaT to encourage them to demonstrate the economic 
benefits of the technologies that have been developed; furthermore endowment 
funds shall be authorized to be accumulated in the institutions out of the funds 
generated from earnings and from grants and other external sources to be used 
as incentives for research fellowships, incentives and awards for excellence in 
technology generation and transfer and the like. Such funds shall be disbursed in 
accordance with the law and the guidelines set by the NlSATGaT Council and 
the Commission n on Audit. 


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CHAPTER IV. INCENTIVES, PRVILEGES AND BENEFITS 
SEC. 18. lncentives for Private Institutions- Private institutions and 
organizations may avail of the research, technology generation and transfer fund: 
Provided, That their Programs are approved for funding by the NlSATGaT 
Council. Furthermore, their expenditures for research and development activities 
shall be eligible for tax exemptions: Provided, That the information that they 
derive therefrom are shared with the community of researches through scientific 
publications, seminars, symposia and the like. 
SEC. 19. lncenfives and Benefits for Technologists and Technicians 
and Farmers Participating in Technology Generation and Transfer- 
a) Technologist and technicians involved in research, technology 
generation and transfer shall be paid salaries at least or equal to the teaching 
staff of the SUCs of equivalent academic training and qualifications. They shall 
also be given corresponding incentives and benefits for any patent on products 
or processes that they have developed. 
b) Farmers who participate in the planning and implementation of 
technology generation and transfer activities or make available certain areas of 
their farm lots or farm facilities for such activities shall be entitled to certain 
incentives and benefits as may be recommended by the supervising Council and 
approved by the Commission on Audit. 
SEC. 20. Repealing Clause - All existing laws, rules and regulations or 
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
SEC. 21. Separability Clause- If any part, section or provision of this Act 
shall be held invalid or unconstitutional, no other part, section or provision hereof 
shall be affected thereby. 
SEC. 22. Effecfivity- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
Approved,