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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPU 
First Regular Session 
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"04 JUN 30 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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S E N A T  
S. No. 
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Introduced by Senator S. R. OsmeAa 111 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
By virtue of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local 
Government Code of the Philippines, the employees of the Department of 
Agriculture assigned in municipalities, cities and provinces were devolved to the 
respective local government units. The process has not been without problems 
that served as a drag on the implementation of agricultural policies and 
programs. Among these problems brought to the fore by agriculture workers are 
(I) 
for lack of coordination between the priorities of the Department of Agriculture 
and the local government units; (2) insufficient support from local government 
units in terms of salaries and incentives; (3) nonstandard treatment of salaries 
due to the fact that positions are optional; and (4) low morale among agricultural 
workers. 
This bill seeks to address this situation by mandating the non-optional 
creation of the Municipal Agriculturist's Office; the standardization of salaries and 
benefits; and providing for consultations with agriculturist's 
unions or 
organizations in the formulation of personnel policies affecting workers in the DA 
and the local government units. The bill also seeks to professionalize the practice 
of agriculture through the creation of an Agricultural Board of Examiners in the 
Professional Regulatory Commission. 
There is no need to belabor the importance of agriculture in the economy. 
If the country is to modernize its agricultural sector, it needs a highly motivated 
work force with cutting edge skills in science and technology to popularize 
methods that would upgrade farm and farmer productivity all over the country. 
Hence, restoring and upgrading the morale of our agricultural extension workers 
merits top priority in the government's policy objective. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly 
requested. 
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SERGIO OSMENA 111 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS 
F THE REPUBLI 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINE 
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Introduced by Senator S. R. OsmeAa I l l  
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AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA OF AGRICULTURAL OFFICERS AND 
EMPLOYEES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Title. - This act shall be known as the “Magna Carta of 
2 Agricultural Officers and Employees” 
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SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms 
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a) Agricultural Employee - is a person who is a graduate of agriculture of 
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any recognized college or university or any related course in agriculture and a 
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holder of an appropriate civil service eligibility and is employed at the Department 
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of Agriculture or devolved to the local government units whose functions and 
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duties are related to agriculture and must be a citizen of the Philippines with good 
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moral character 
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b) Agricultural Extension Work - refers to the profession which helps 
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farmers in the promotion of agricultural development plans, programs and 
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projects in agriculture through the use of extension methodologies, concepts and 
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principles. 
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e) Agricultural Officer - is a person who is a graduate of agriculture or 
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any related course from a rec.ognized college or university and .a holder of’a first. 
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grade civil service eligibility or its equivalent, currently holding a supervisory 
position at the Department of Agriculture or devolved to the local government 
units for at least three [3] years for a Municipal Agricultural Officer or City 
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Agriculturist and at least three [3] years for a city agricultural officer or city 
agriculturist and must be a citizen of the Philippines with good moral character. 
d) Agricultural Practitioner - is a citizen of the Philippines with good moral 
character who is an agriculture employee in a government or non-government 
agency as well as in the private institution whose actual duties and functions are 
related to agriculture. 
e) CSC - refers to the Civil Service Commission 
9 DA - refers to the Department of Agriculture 
g) DOLE - refers to the Department of Labor and Employment 
h) LGU - refers to the Local Government units 
i) NLRC - refers to the National Labor Relations Commission 
j) PRC - refers to the Philippine Regulatory Commission 
SEC. 3. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall promote the agricultural 
sector being the backbone of the country and likewise improve the economic and 
social well-being of the agricultural officers, employees and practitioners, their 
standard of living as well as elevate their working conditions and employment 
status. The State shall likewise develop the agricultural officers and employees 
skills, knowledge, orientations and capabilities in order that they will be more 
responsive to the needs of the farmers as well as better equipped them to deliver 
basic services and programs to their clientele. Lastly, the State shall encourage 
those with proper qualifications and excellent abilities to remain in agricultural 
extension work either in government or non-government service. 
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SEC. 4. Coverage. - This Act shall cover all eligible Agricultural Officers 
and Employees of the devolved and non-devolved offices of the Department of 
Agriculture as well as all the Agricultural practitioners in the government and non- 
government service. 
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SEC. 5. Qualifications of Agricultural Officers and Employees. 
a) No person shall be appointed Agricultural Officers unless he is a 
citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the Local Government Unit concerned, of 
good moral character, a holder of a college degree in agriculture or any related 
course from a recognized college or university, and a first grade civil service 
eligible or its equivalent. He must have practiced his profession in agriculture or 
acquired experience in related field for at least five [5] years in the case of the 
provincial and city agricultural officers and at least three [3] years in the case of 
the Municipal Agricultural Officers. 
The position of the Municipal and City Agriculturist shall be mandatory in 
the municipal and city government. 
Priority shall be given to the devolved 
Municipal Agricultural Officers being the incumbent to be appointed as Municipal 
Agriculturist, a position mandated in RA 7160. 
b) Duties 
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Officers/AgricuIturiSts. 
The Agricultural Officers shall take charge of the office for 
agricultural services, and shall : 
1. Formulate measures for the approval of the sanggunian and 
provide technical assistance and support to the municipal, city and 
provincial governor as the case may be, in carrying out said measures to 
ensure the delivery of basic services and provision of adequate facilities 
relative to agricultural services as provided for under Section 17 of the 
Local Government Code of 1991 ; 
2. Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the 
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this Code; 
municipal and city major or governor as the case maybe, implement the 
same, particularly those which have to do with agricultural programs and 
projects which the municipal, city mayor or governor is empowered to 
implement and which the sanggunian is empowered to provide for under 
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3. In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, the 
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agriculturists shall: 
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a) Ensure that maximum assistance and access to resources in 
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the production, processing and marketing of agricultural and aqua-cultural 
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and marine products are extended to farmers, fishermen and local 
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en t rep re neu rs ; 
b) Conduct or cause to be conducted location-specific agricultural 
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researches and assist in making available the appropriate technology 
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arising out of and disseminating information on basic research on crops, 
preventive and control of plant diseases and pests, and other agricultural 
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matters which will maximize productivity; 
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c) Assist the municipal, city mayor or governor, as the case may 
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be, in the establishment and extension services of demonstration farms or 
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aqua-culture and marine products; 
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d) Enforce rules and regulations relating to agriculture and aqua- 
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culture; and 
e) Coordinate with government agencies and non-government 
organizations that promote agricultural productivity through appropriate 
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5. Recommend to the sanggunian and advise the municipal, city or 
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the governor, as the case may be, on all other matters related to 
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agriculture and aquaculture which will improve the livelihood and living 
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conditions of the inhabitants; and 
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6. Performs extension, regulatory and research services. 
technology compatible with environmental integrity. 
4. Be in the front-line of delivery of basic agricultural services, 
particularly those needed for the survival of the inhabitants during and in 
the aftermath of man-made and natural disasters; 
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SEC. 7. Organization / Composifion. - The Municipal Agricultural Office 
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Agriculturist. 
A supervising Agricultural Technologist shall serve as the 
coordinator of all the Agricultural Technologists assigned in the Municipality 
The City AgricuIturists/AgricuIturaI Office shall be headed by a City 
Agriculturist and/or City Agricultural Officer. An Assistant City Agriculturist and/or 
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Supervising City Agriculturist shall serve as the Coordinator of all the City 
Agricultural Technologists assigned in the City 
However, the composition of the Agricultural Officers and Employees 
Consultative Council shall be determined from the lists submitted by the Regional 
Association of Municipal Agricultural Officers/City and Municipal Agriculturists as 
well as the lists submitted by the Philippine Association of the Municipal and City 
Agriculturists. Another composition of the council shall be also taken from the 
lists submitted by the municipal, city, provincial, regional and national agriculture 
and fishery council chairman throughout the country. 
S EC. 8. Transfer or Geographical Reassignmenf of Agriculfural Officers 
and Employees. - No transfer or geographical reassignment shall be made or 
effected without a written notice to the agricultural officers and employees 
concerned stating therein the reasons for such. 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 helshe may appeal said order the Civil Service 
Commission or the Department of Labor and Employment, as the case may be. 
Provided, further, That no transfer and/or reassignment whatsoever shall be 
made three (3) months prior .to any local or national election. .Provided, finally,. 
That the necessary expenses of the transfer and/or reassignment of the 
agricultural officers and/or employees and his/her immediate family shall be paid 
for by the government. 
SEC. 9. Security of Tenure. - Agricultural officer and employee holding 
a permanent position shall not be terminated except for a cause; provided, in the 
event the Agricultural Officer or Employee is found to be unjustly dismissed by 
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the Civil Service Commission or National labor Relations Commission as the 
case may be, he/she shall be entitled to reinstatement without loss of seniority 
rights and backwages with twenty [20%] per centum interest to be computed 
from time hislher compensation is withheld from him/her to the time of 
reinstatement. 
However, if the agricultural officer or employee does not desire to be 
reinstated, helshe shall be entitled to backwages and separation pay with twenty 
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[20%] per centum interests. 
SEC. 
10. 
Discrimination Prohibited. - An agricultural officer and 
employee shall not be discriminated by reason of creed, sex, political beliefs, civil 
status, and ethnic groupings in the exercise of hidher profession. 
SEC. 
7 .  No Understaffing and/or Overloading of Agricultural Officers 
and Employees. - There shall be no understaffing and/or overloading of 
agricultural officers and employees. The ratio of staff to clientele shall be such 
as to reasonable effect a sustained quality agricultural service at all times without 
overworking the agricultural officers and employee and overextending hidher 
services. Only professional and eligible agricultural officers and employees shall 
occupy the agricultural positions in all agricultural agencies and institutions of the 
government agencies and/or government-owned and controlled corporations. 
SEC. 12. 
Safeguards in Adminisfrafive Proceedings. - In every 
administrative proceeding, an Agricultural Officer and employee shall have: 
a) the right to be informed of the charges; 
b) the right to full access on evidences against him/her 
c) the right to defend himself/herself or by a counsel of hidher choice; 
d) the right to be given adequate time to prepare hidher case, which shall 
in no case exceed twenty (20) days; 
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e) the right to appeal to designate authorities; 
f) the right to cross-examine witnesses and to processes for production 
of witnesses; 
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g) the right to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in hidher 
defense in case of exoneration or dismissal of the charges; 
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h) such other rights provided by the other national agencies and local 
government units to its respective officers and employees so as to ensure 
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fairness and impartiality in the proceedings. 
SEC. 13. Code of Conduct. - All agricultural officer and employee must 
be guided by its code of ethics not contrary to law, moral, safety, health, public 
policy and public order. 
SEC. 14. Normal Hoyrs of Work. - The normal hours of work o.f any. 
agricultural officer and employee shall not exceed eight (8) hours a day or forty 
(40) hours a week. 
Hours of work shall include: (1) the time the agricultural office and 
employee is required to be in active duty or to be at a prescribed workplace; (b) 
the time which an agricultural officer and employee is permitted to work; (e) the 
time which an agricultural officer and employee is required to work in a place 
other than prescribed workplace. 
SEC. 15. Overlime Work. - Where the exigencies of the service so 
require, any agricultural officer and employee, whether in the government or non- 
government service, may be required to render service beyond the normal eight 
(8) hours a day, inclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and non-working holidays. In 
such case, the agricultural officer and employee shall be paid an additional 
compensation in accordance with existing laws on the matter. 
SEC. 16. On-Call Pay. - In case of “On-Call” status, the agricultural 
officer and employee shall be entitled to an “On-Call” pay equivalent to fifty 
percent (50%) of hidher regular wage. “On-Call status refers to a condition when 
an agricultural officer and employee are called upon to respond to urgent or 
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immediate need or relief work during emergencies such that the agricultural 
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officer or employee cannot utilize hislher time for personal needs: Provided, That 
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no agricultural officer and employee shall be placed in “On-Call” status beyond 
seven (7) days. 
SEC. 
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Married Agricultural Officer and Employee. - Whenever 
possible, the proper authorities shall take steps to enable married couple or 
couples, both of whom are public workers to be employed or assigned in the 
same municipality. 
SEC. 18. Basic Compensation. - After the effectivity of this Act, the 
salaries of an agricultural officer and employee shall be: 
(a) For the Municipality/City Agriculturist or Agricultural Officer - Their 
salaries shall be equated to the salaries of the Department Heads of the Local 
Government Units where they are devolved or assigned but not lower than 
Salary Grade 24; 
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(b) For Agricultural Technologies (ATs) devolved to the Local Government 
Units shall be upgraded to Salary Grade 18; 
(c) For Agricultural Development Specialists (ADS) - Their salary grades 
shall be upgraded to Salary Grade 20; 
Based on the principle on equality of salary scale, the salaries of devolved 
Agricultural officials and employees whose salaries are appropriated by LGUs 
shall not be less than those provided for Agricultural Officers and Employees of 
the National Government. The amount necessary to pay the difference between 
the salary rates received by the national paid and local paid Agricultural Officers 
and Employees of equivalent position shall be subsidized by the national 
government. 
SEC. 19. Representation Allowance and Travelling Allowance. - All 
Municipal/City/Provincial Agricultural Officers shall be entitled to Representation 
Allowance and Travelling Allowance (RATA) equivalent to the Department Heads 
of the LGUs where they are devolved / assigned. 
SEC. 20. Hazard Allowance. - Any agricultural officer or employee 
assigned in difficult areas, strife-torn or embattled areas, distressed or isolated 
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stations, animal / plant / fishery breeding stations, plant nurseries, plantations 
and demonstration farms, laboratories specifically those handling x-rays, 
radioisotopes, chemicals, sea-borne patrols and other areas declared under a 
state of calamity or emergency which exposes them to great danger, volcanic 
activity/eruption, occupational risks of perils of life shall be compensated with 
hazard allowance equivalent to at least twenty per centum (20%) or the monthly 
basic salary. 
SEC. 21. 
Subsistence Allowance. - Any Agricultural officer and 
employee who are required to render services in the communities, institutions, 
animal and plant breeding stations, fish sanctuariedfishery nurseries, plant 
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, should be entitled to full subsistence allowance of three (3) meals 
which shall be computed in accordance with prevailing circumstances. 
SEC. 22. Longevity Pay. - A Longevity pay equivalent to five percent' 
(5%) of the monthly basic pay shall be paid to an agricultural officer and 
employee for every three (3) years of continuous, efficient and meritorious 
services rendered. 
SEC. 23. Clothing Allowance. - All agricultural officers and employees 
shall be entitled for a clothing allowance in accordance with the approved laws 
and regulations or as mandated by law. 
SEC. 24. Housing. -All agricultural officer and employee who are in tour 
of duty and those who, because of unavoidable circumstances to stay in the 
institution or community, etc. living quarters or such quarters are not available, 
he/she shall be entitled to free living quarters: Provided, That if such living 
quarters are not available, the agricultural officer and employee shall receive 
housing allowance: Provided, further, That the rate of which shall be received 
periodically in view of an increase. 
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SEC. 25. Compensation for Injuries. - Agricultural Officer and Employee 
shall be protected against work-related injuries in accordance with the Labor 
Code of the Civil Code Law as the case may be. 
SEC. 26. Right to Join Organization. - Agricultural Officer and Employee 
shall have the right to freely join organizations or union for purposes not contrary 
to law, in order to defend and protect their mutual interest and to obtain redress 
of grievances through peaceful concerted activities: Provided, That under no 
circumstances shall government agricultural officer and employee be allowed to 
join, declare, stage, form any strike or cessation of services. 
SEC. 27. Freedom from lnterference or Coercion. - It shall be unlawful 
for any person to commit any of the following act interference or coercion: 
a) to require as condition of employment that the agricultural officer and 
employee shall not join an agricultural organization or union; 
b) to discrjrninate in order to encourage or discourage membership in any 
agricultural officer and employee organization or union; 
c) to prevent an agricultural officer and employee from carrying out his 
duties and functions in the agricultural work organization or union or to penalize 
the agricultural officer and employee for any lawful action performed in that' 
capacity; 
d) to make calculated harassment and interference with the intention of 
intimidating or preventing the agricultural worker from performing hidher duties 
and functions; and 
e) to perform acts calculated to diminish the independence and freedom 
of the union or organization to direct its own affairs. 
SEC. 28. Consultation. - The Department of Agriculture shall consult 
professional and agricultural work organizations or unions in formulating policies 
to govern the agricultural security of the agricultural officers and employees. 
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SEC. 29. Human Resource Development.. - The gove.rnment and. non- . 
government agencies shall conduct human resource development and 
management study in the following areas: 
a) Adequate facilities and resources to render qualify agricultural service 
to the clientele; 
b) Opportunity for the agricultural officer and employee to grow and 
develop their potentials and experience a sense of worth and dignity in their 
work; 
c) Mechanisms for democratic consultations; 
d) Ways and means of enabling rank and file agricultural officer and 
employee viable educational opportunities for personal growth and development; 
and 
e) Staffing patterns and standards of agricultural officer and employee 
welfare to ensure the people receive quality care. 
SEC. 30. Professionalization of Agriculture Graduate. - There is hereby 
created and Agriculture Board of Examiners in the Professional Regulation 
Commission to Upgrade the Aquaculture profession. 
Those who have passed the Civil Service Examination for Agriculture and 
have served the industry in either private or public capacity for not less than five 
(5) years shall automatically be granted eligibility by the Board of Examiners. 
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The first board of examination for Bachelor of Science in Agriculture 
graduates shall be conducted within one (I) 
year from the approval of this Act. 
SEC. 31. Rules and Regulations. - The Management and Agricultural 
Officers and Employees Organization or Union Consultative Council shall 
formulate and prepare necessary rules and regulations in implementing the 
provisions of the Magna Carta, in coordination to the DOLE, CSC, NLRC, LGUs 
and the DA. 
SEC. 32. Penal Provisions. - Any person who shall willfully interfere 
with, restrain or coerce any agricultural officer and employee in the exercise of 
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his/her rights or shall in any manner commit any act in violation of any of the 
provisions of this Act, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less 
than twenty thousand pesos (P20,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not more than one 
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year or both at the discretion of the court. 
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If the offender is a public official, the court, in addition to the penalties 
provided in the preceding paragraph, may impose the additional penalty of 
disqualification from office of such offending public official. 
SEC. 33. Separability Clause, - If any portion, section or provisions of 
this Act is declared unconstitutional, invalid, such sections or parts not affected 
thereby shall remain in force and effect. 
SEC. 34. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules 
and regulations, or parts hereof inconsistent with the provision of this Act are 
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 35, Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (I 
5) days after its 
publication in the Of7icial Gazefte or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation whichever comes earlier. 
Approved, 
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