• I 
,., 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
SENATE BILL NO. 
1309 
-ie-Nab "" " 
~1!1;r "F tllR,$,ml", 
'13 
AUG 15 Pl :21 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Philippines, since time immemorial, is an agricultural country. 
Being such, agriculture is considered as one of the biggest sectors in the 
country's economy. It provides not only food but also one of the sources 
of employment. 
Small farm holders and tenant farmers have depended on the 
traditional subsistence level of farming systems. Modernization of the 
Agriculture Sector of the country will result to higher production and 
income for the farmers. 
In spite of the extension efforts made by government agencies and 
institutions and non-government organizations, these farmers have not 
been able to adopt to 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marginalized farmers have remained technologically outdated and 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. 
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 agriculture to modern highly productive agriculture 
through generation and transfer of more productive and useful 
technologies of farming and rural living. Information technology 
A sustained expansion of the national economy requires sustained 
growth in the agricultural sector. We must transform our farmers into a 


r I f '  
resource of renewed national vigor and creativity in our drive for global 
competitiveness. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
JO~~ 
~: EJERCITO 


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, , 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
SENATE BILL NO. 
'13 
AUG 15 P 1 :22 
1309 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 
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 2013_" 
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 
research 
and 
extension 
activities 
of the 
National 
Government, the local 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: 


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t 
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c) Local Government Units 
d) State Universities and Colleges 
e) Farmers' and Non-Government Organizations 
CHAPTER III. 
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 
c) Coordinate the activities of the NISATGaT 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 NISATGaT 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 (PAO) - in each 
province who will represent the respective provinces in the Regional 
Integrated System for Agriculture Technology Generation and Transfer 
(RISATGaT) 
Council and 
co.ordinate 
all 
activities 
pertaining 
to. 
agricultural technology services to farmers in 
his/her 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) shall: 
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 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 
I 
agricultural institution as may be designated by the NISATGaT 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: 
a) Composition. The following shall serve as members of the 
NISATGaT 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 Cochairperson 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 Banos; 
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 RISATGaT Councils; 
8) The Director, Bureau of Animal Industry; and 
9) The Director, Bureau of Plant Industry; and 
10) 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; 
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, 
commercialization and dissemination. 
protection, 


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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 RISATGaT 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; 
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 Coordinator 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. 


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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 Council. 
a) Composition- The PATT Council shall be composed of the 
following 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 level by annual increment of 0.2% of the 
Gross Value Added (GVA) of the agriculture sector for the next ten (10) 
years as recommended by the NISATGaT Council and approved by the 
Department of Budget and Management and shall be included in the 
Annual General Appropriations Act. 


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b) This Act hereby allocates an endowment lump sum amount of 
Fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00) per annum for the next ten (10) 
years and shall be included in the General Appropriations Act starting 
2011. This fund shall be called the Agriculture Technology Generation 
and Transfer Fund to support high priority technology generation and 
I 
transfer programs of the NISATGaT 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 NISATGaT Council 
and the Commission on Audit. 
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 NISATGaT 
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. lncentives 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. Effectivity- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
Approved,