In the year 2002, agriculture accounted for 19% of the Philippines’ 
Gross National Product (GRIP) and 36.5% of employment. Filipino farmers, 
who are the key players in this important industry, obtain government 
assistance and support mainly through agricuitura’al development workers. 
Agriculturists, 
veterinarians, 
agricultural 
engineers, 
aquaculturists, 
extension workers, extensionists, nutritionists, agricultural technologists 
and other agricultural technicians maintain the government‘s linkages to 
farmers all over the country in pursuing the modernization of Philippine 
agriculture. 
The delivery of services to farmers had been left considerably 
weakened and fragmented by the devolution of certain government 
functions to the local level and the ensuing coordination problems between 
the Department of Agriculture and Local Government Units (LGUs). 
Confronted with financial constraints, LGLlis often dispense with the 
hiring of agriculturists at the city and municipal levels because these 
positions are optional in the Local Government Code of 1991. This bill 
seeks to make these positions mandatory in both the city and municipal 
level, as well as the creation of the positions of agricultural engineer and 
fisheries and aquacultural officer in the provincial, city and municipal 
governments. 
This bill seeks to affirm the rights of agricultural workers with 
provisions for their career development as a way of acknowledging their 
important role in agricultural modernization. 
In view of the foregoing, early 
requested. 
Senator 


Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lblto’’ 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the HQWM o ~ ~ e ~ ~ ~ § e ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ v e §  
of the 
the Philippines in CQ~~JRXS 
a § s e ~ ~ ~ e ~ :  
SECTION 1. 
Short Tit!@. - This Act shall be known as the ‘ 
Agricultural Devejopment Wo&ers.” 
Declarratkm os‘ Pdfcy. - It is hereby declared a policy of the State 
to accelerate the development and modernization of Philippine agriculture and improve 
the economic and social well-being of agricultural development workers as well as their 
working conditions and employment status. The State shall likewise develop their skills, 
knowledge, orientation and capabilities so that they will become more responsive and 
effective in providing the necessary services for countryside development. 
SEC. 2. 
SEC. 3. 
Oefinifion of Terms. 
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a) 
Agricultural Development Workers - shall mean all persons who are 
engaged in agricultural development activities and all persons employed in the 
Department of Agriculture including its bureaus and attached agencies, Local 
Government Units (LGUs) and concerned government and private institutions, and shall 
include aquaculturists, veterinarians, agricultural engineers, nutritionists, agricultural 
extension workers, agricultural technicians and operators, allied agricultural 
professionals, administrative and support personnel employed regardless of their 
employment status. 
Agricu/furisf - shall refer to a person who is a graduate of a four year 
course in agriculture or any related course performing any of the specialized activities 
such as agronomy, horticulture, animal husbandry, entomology, plant pathology, plant 
breeding, agricultural economics, agricultural extension and marketing. 
Veferinarian - shall refer to a person registered with the Professional 
Regulation Commission performing professional activities on veterinary services such 
as disease prevention control, animal health care, etc. 
d) 
Agricultural Engineer - shall refer to a person registered with the 
Professional Regulation Commission performing engineering activities in agriculture, 
particularly on areas of farm power and machinery, irrigation and drainage, soil and 
b) 
c) 
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water conservation, agricultural buildings and infrastructure, agricultural processing and 
post harvest facilities. 
Aquaculturist - shall refer to a person who is a graduate of a four year 
course in fisheries and performing activities on fisheries and aquaculture and fishery 
production and processing. 
Nutritionist - shall refer to a person registered with the Professional 
Regulation Commission performing activities related to dietary and proper nutrition. 
Agricultural Technician - shail refer to a trained or skilled agricultural 
worker but not necessarily a college graduate, peiforrning activities such as plant 
nursery propagator, plant breeder, farm mechanic, etc. 
Agricultural Extension Worker - shall refer to an agriculturist, veterinarian, 
agricultural engineer, aquaculturist, nutritionist or home extensionist who helps farmers 
and fishermen in the promotion of agricultural end fisheries development plans, 
programs and projects through the use of extension methodologies, concepts and 
principles. 
e) 
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g) 
h) 
i) 
j) 
k) 
I) 
m) 
CSC - refers to the Civil Service Commission. 
DOLE - refers to the Department of Labor and Employment. 
NLRC - refers to the National Labor Relations Commission. 
DA - refers to the Department of Agriculture. 
LGU - refers to the Local Government Unit. 
SEC. 4. 
Prof"ssionalkation of ~
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Sewices. - The State shall 
support the development and professionalization of agricultural services by providing 
the necessary compensation and benefits to various agricultural development workers 
based on their duties, responsibilities and qualifications. 
For this purpose, the Civil Service Commission in coordination with the 
Department of Budget and Management, Department of Agriculture, Department of 
Interior and Local Government and the recognized national associations of agricultural 
development workers shall review the existing functions, responsibilities, position titles 
and qualifications of the agricultural development workers employed at the Department 
of Agriculture, Local Government Units and concerned government agencies, and 
match them with appropriate position titles and compensation: Provided, That the 
following benchmark position titles of agricultural development workers with 
corresponding saiary grades shall be used. 
Position 
Salary Grade 
Agricultural Technician I 
10 
Agriculturist I 
12 
Aquaculturist I 
12 
Nutritionist I 
12 
Veterinarian I 
13 
Agricultural Engineer I 
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Agricultural Technologist 
City Agricultural Engineer 
City veterinarian 
City Agriculturist 
City Fishery Officer 
Municipal Agriculturist 
Municipal Veterinarian 
Municipal Agricultural Engineer 
Municipal Fisheries Officer 
Provincial Agricultural Engineer 
Provincial Agriculturist 
Provincial Veterinarian 
Provincial Fisheries Officer 
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SEC. 5. 
~~~~~~o~ Podtiom oP A
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the Lmaj Govempnmt llnits - The Creation of the foollowing position is hereby made 
mandatory in addition to the prescribed position under the Local Government Code of 
1991: 
Provincial Agricultural Engineer 
Provincial Fisheries and Aquacultural Officer 
City Agriculturist 
City Agricultural Engineer 
City Veterinarian 
City Fisheries and Aquacultural Officer 
Municipal Agriculturist 
Municipal Agricultural Engineer 
Municipal Veterinarian 
Municipal Fisheries and Aquacultural Officer 
Provided, That in the case of fourth (4'h) class LGUs, financial subsidy shall be 
provided by the national government for the personnel services needed in the hiring of 
the above mentioned mandatory position: Provided, further, That the funding 
requirement shall be incorporated in the annual appropriations of the Department of 
Agriculture. 
Recruitment and Qualifications. - The selection and appointment 
of agricultural development workers shall be in accordance with the merit and fitness 
principle: Provided, That helshe has the appropriate civil service eligibilities andlor 
professional license, educational qualification, skills and experiences. 
SEC. 7. 
Psrformmce EvaIualion and 
Promotion. - The Secretary 
of Agriculture upon consultation with the Civil Service Commission and the recognized 
national associations of agricultural development workers shall prepare a uniform career 
and personnel development plan applicable to all agricultural development workers. 
Such career and personnel development plan shall include provisions on merit 
promotion, performance evaluation, in-service training grants, job rotation and 
incentives awards system. 
SEC. 6. 
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SE6. 8. 
Transfer or 
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Bfficers and Empby@@s, - No iransfer or geographical reassignment shall be made or 
effected without a written notice to the agricuRural development worker concerned 
stating therein the reason 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, he/she 
may appeal said order with the Civil Service Commission or the Department of Labor 
and Employment, 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 whatsoever shall be made three (3) months prior to any local 
or national elections: Provided, final/y, That the necessary expenses of tho transfer 
andlor reassignment of the agricultural worker or employee and hislher immediate 
family shall be paid by the Government. 
Securh'y of Tenurn. - An agricultural worker holding a permanent 
position shall not be terminated except for cause: Provided, That in the event the 
agricultural development worker is found to be unjustly dismissed by the Civil Senrice 
Commission, helshe shall be entitled to reinstatement without loss of seniority rights 
and backwages. 
However, if the agricultural worker does not desire to be reinstated, he/she shall 
be entitled to backwages and separation pay. 
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- An agricultural worker shall not be 
discriminated by reason of creed, sect, political belief, civil status, and ethnic grouping in 
the exercise of hislher profession. 
There shall no understaffing and/or overloading of agricultural workers. The ratio of staff 
to clientele shall be such as to reasonably effect a sustained quality of agricultural 
service at all times without overworking the agricultural development workers and over- 
extending their services. 
Only qualified professional and eligible agricultural workers shall occupy the 
agriculturist and other agriculture-related positions in all government agricultural 
agencies and institutions and/or government-owned and controlled corporations: 
Provided, That the government shall allocate the necessary funds for the hiring of 
additional agricultural development workers in case of overloading of personnel in 
specific areas of assignment. 
Code of Conduct - All agricultural worker must be guided by a 
code of ethics not contrary to law, morals, safety, health, public policy and public order. 
The code of conduct of agricultural development workers shall be prepared by the 
Secretary of Agriculture in consultation with the recognized national associations of 
agricultural development workers. 
SEC. 13. 
Normal k/ours of Work. - The normal hours of work of an 
agricultural development worker shall not exceed eight (8) hours a day or forty (40) 
hours a week Hours of work shall include: 
the time the agricultural workers is required to be on active duty or to be at 
a prescribe workplace; 
the time which an agricultural worker is permitted to work; 
SEC. 9, 
SEC. 10. 
SEC. 11. 
No Understa@ingr andor ~~~~~~~~~~ 
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wo&efs, - 
SEC. 12. 
a) 
b) 
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c) 
SEC. q4. 
the time which an agricultural worker is required to work in a place other 
than the prescribed workplace. 
Qw-@FBijlBPe Work. - Where tihe exigencies of the service so require, 
any agricultural development worker, wheiiier in Government or non-government 
service, may be required to render service beyond the normal eight (8) hours a day, 
inclusive of Saturday and Sunday and non-working holidays. In such cases, the 
agricultural development worker shall be given additional compensation in accordance 
with existing laws on the mailer. 
SEC. 15. 
Training and ~~~~~a~~~~~ ~~~~~~~. 
- The Department of 
Agriculture through its scholarship committee and the Agricultural Training Institute shall 
undertake trainings and scholarship programs for the agricultural development workers, 
which shall be given adequate budgetary support y the Government. 
SEC. a6. 
&'wried 
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- Whenever possible, the proper 
authorities shall take steps to enable married couples boih of whom are public 
agricultural development workers, to be employed or assigned in the same municipality. 
SEC. 14. 
Criteria f0sa ~
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and 
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System. - The reward and 
incentive system for agricultural .development worlws provided under this Act, which 
will encourage them to stay in the service, promote their productivity and reward them 
for extraordinary performance shall be governed by the following criteria: 
Honorarium - form of remuneration for services rendered beyond the 
established workload of agricultural development workers whose broad and superior 
knowledge and expertise contribute to agricultural productivity and innovativeness; 
Incentive pay - form of remuneration given to individuals whose services in 
management, administration, policy making and support contribute to the efficient and 
effective implementation of the agricultural and fisheries programs of the government; 
c) 
Performance Bonus - form of remuneration given to agricultural 
development workers for performance that exceeds established targets; and 
d) 
Other incentives that the Department of Agricultural and Local 
Government may establish. 
Other CompensatI0n and B@nefi&. - All agricultural development 
workers shall be entitled to the following additional compensation and benefits: 
a) 
b) 
SEC. 18. 
a) 
Representation Allowance and Traveling Allowance - All Provincial I City I 
Municipal Agriculturist, Veterinarians, Agricultural Engineers, and Fisheries Officers 
shall be entitled to Representation Allowance and Travelling Allowance (RATA) 
equivalent to the Department Head of the Local Government Units. 
Hazard Allowance - All agricultural development workers assigned in 
difficult areas, strife-torn or embattled areas, distressed or isolated stations, 
animallplantlfisheries breeding station, plant nurseries, plantations and demonstration 
farms, laboratories especially those handling x-rays, radio-isotopes, chemicals, etc. , 
sea-borne patrols, construction and installation of agricultural infrastructure projects, 
and other areas declared under a state of calamity or emergency which expose them to 
b) 
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great danger and occupational risks shall be compensated with hazard allowance 
equivalent to at least twenty per centurn (20%) af the monthly basic salary. 
Subsisfence ANowance - All agricultural development workers who a E  
required to render services in the communities, institutions, animal and plant breeding 
nurseries, plantations and demonstration farms and other barrier programs and projects 
of the Department of Agricuktural 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. 
Longevity fay - A longevity pay equivalent to five per centum (5%) of the 
monthly basic pay shall be paid to an agricultural worker for every (3) years of 
continuous, efficient and meritorious services renders. 
Clothing Allowance - All agricultural development workers shall be entitled 
to a clothing allowance in accordance with the approved laws and regulations or as 
mandated by law. 
Housing - All agricultural workers who are in tour of duty and those who, 
because of unavoidable circumstances, are forced to stay in the institution or 
community with living quarters shall be entitled to such quarter for free: Provided, That if 
such living quarters are not available, the workers shall receive housing allowances: 
Provided, further, That said allowance shall be reviewed periodically and adjusted for 
inflation. 
g) 
Compensation for Inquiries - Agricultural development workers shali be 
protected against work-related injuries in accordance with the Labor Code or the Civil 
Code as the case may be. 
On-Call Pay - In cases of “On-Call” status, the agricultural development 
worker shall be entitled to an “On-Call” pay equivalent to fifty per centum (50%) of 
his/her regular wage. “On-Call” status refers to a condition when an agricultural officer 
or employee is called upon to respond to an urgent or immediate need or relief work 
during emergencies such that the agricuiturai worker cannot utilize his/her time for 
personal needs: Provided, That no agricultural worker shall be placed in an “On-Call” 
status beyond seven (7) days. 
Motor and Vehicle Loan - All agricultural development 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. 
c) 
d) 
e) 
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h) 
i) 
SEC. 19. 
Human Resource Development - The Government and non- 
government agencies shall conduct human resource development and management 
studies in the following areas: 
Adequate facilities and resources to render quality agricultural service to 
the clientele; 
Opportunity for the agricultural development workers to grow and develop 
their potentials and develop a sense of self-worth and dignity in their work; 
a) 
b) 
c) 
Mechanisms for democratic consultation; 
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d) 
Ways and means of giving rank-and-file agricultural development workers 
viable opportunities for education, personal growth and development; and 
Staffing patterns and standards of welfare for agricultural development 
workers welfare to ensure that they receive quality care. 
e) 
SEC. 20. 
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(IRR]. - The Secreta y of 
the Department of Agriculture in consultation with DOLE, CSC, NLRC, DlLG and the 
national organizations of agricultural development workers shall formulate and prepare 
necessary rules and regulations in implementing the provisions of this Act. 
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- The Secretary of Agriculture 
shall create a Monitoring Committee which shell monitor the implementation of the 
provisions of this Act. The committee shall be composed of representatives of the DA, 
DILG, CSC and the recognized national associations of agricultural development 
workers: Provided, further, That the Secretary of Agricu!ture shall submit semi-annual 
reports on the status of the implementation of this Act to the Committee on Agriculture 
and Food of the House of Representatives and the Senate. 
Penel Pm~is~oopps. - Any person who shall willfully interfere with, 
restrain or coerce any agricultural development worker in the exercise of hislher rights 
or shall violate any of the provisions of this Act shall upon conviction, be punished by a 
fine of not less that Twenty Thousand Pesos (Php 20,000.00) but not more than Forty 
Thousand Pesos (Php 40,000.00) or imprisonment of not more than one (1) year, or 
both, at the discretion of the court. 
If the offender is a public official, the court, in addition to the penalties provided in 
the preceding paragraph, shall impose the additional penalty of disqualification from 
office of such offending public official. 
Funding. -The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its 
enactment into law and every year thereafter. 
Separability C!euse. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions thereof affected thereby shall continue to 
be in full force and effect. 
SEC. 25. 
Repearing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, rules and issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
after its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
SEC. 2-l. 
SEC. 22. 
SEC. 23. 
SEC. 24. 
SEC. 26. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
Approved,