Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4856

Introduced by REP. Michael L. Romero

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Agriculturists, veterinarians, aqua-culturists, nutritionists, extension workers,
agricultural engineers, agricultural technicians/technologists maintain the states
linkages to farmers all over the country in improving and modernization of the
agricultural sector.

Last 2008, agriculture accounted for twenty five percent (25%) of the
country’s Gross national Product (GNP) and forty two and a half percent (42.5%)
of employment. They are the key players in the industry. They obtain
government assistance and support mainly through agricultural development
workers.

The immediate delivery of services to our farmers have been left at a
weakened and staggered state by certain government functions to the local
level, thus creating coordination problems between the Department of
Agriculture (DA) and the Local Government Units (LGUs).

This seeks to make beneficial positions mandatory in all cities and
municipalities. This Bill also seeks the creation of slots for agricultural engineers,
fisheries, and aqua-cultural officer in all provinces, cities and municipal
governments.

This House Bill seeks to affirm the rights of agricultural workers with the
provisions for their career development as a means of acknowledging their
importance in agricultural modernization.


Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

ICH. L. ROMERO Ph.D


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4356

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. Michael L. Romero

AN ACT CREATING A SERVICE CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
FOR AGRICULTURAL WORKERS, IMPROVING THEIR SOCIAL WELL-BEING,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the
Philippines in congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the “Service Career
Development Program for Agricultural Workers Act of 2016."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - it is hereby declared that the state shall
accelerate the development of the Philippine Agriculture and improve the
conditions and employment status.

The state shall likewise enhance their skill, intellectual capacity necessary
for providing services for our countryside development

The state shall develop their knowledge and capabilities to become more

responsive and effective.


SECTION 3. Professionalization of Developmental Services - for this purpose,
the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in coordination with the Department of
Budget and management (DBM), Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG) and Department of Agriculture (DA) shalll review the existing
functions, qualifications, responsibilities, and plantilla if the agricultural
development workers employed at the DA, Local Government Units and all

other government concemed agencies.

SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of
Agriculture (DA) in collaboration with the Civil Service Commission (CSC),
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), National Labor Relations Council
(NLRC), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall issue and
formulate the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act.

SECTION 5. Recruitment Standards and Qualifications — the appointment
of all agricultural development workers shall be in accordance with the
respective merits and fitness principles.

He or she must have the appropriate:

¢ civil service eligibilities and professional licenses;
© skill sets and competencies;
* educational qualification; and

+ experiences


SECTION 6. Performance Evaluation Procedures and Succession Planning
1, This career development plans shalll include the provisions on:

«In-service training grants;

Job rotation;

© Metit promotion:

* Performance evaluation; and

* Incentive awards system

The Department of Agriculture with consultation with the Civil Service
Commission and the national associations of agricultural development workers
shall prepare a uniform career and personal development plan applicable to all
concemed agricultural development workers.

SECTION 7. Powers and Functions — for this purpose, the Department of
Agriculture with the Civil Service Commission and the national associations of
agricultural development workers shall create and promulgate the necessary

provisions for the following:

* Geographical Reassignment of Agricultural Officers;

© Security of Tenure:

© Discrimination Prohibitations;

* No Overloading of Agricultural workers;
* Code of Conduct;

© Standard Work Hours;

* Overtime Work Hours; and

* Training and Scholarship Programs


SECTION 8. Incentives and Rewards ~ the incentives and rewards system
under this act, which shall encourage them to stay in the service, promote
productivity and reward their extraordinary performance shall be governed by

the following:

a. Performance based bonus - remuneration given to agricultural workers
for performances that will exceed their targets;

b. Honorarium - remuneration given to services rendered beyond the
required workload of agricultural workers;

c. Incentive pay - remuneration given to those whose services contribute
to the efficient and effective implementation of agricultural and
fisheries programs; and

d. Other incentives that the Department of Agriculture and Local

Government may establish

All these cover's the administration, management, policy making and support

services.

SECTION 9. Other Compensations and Benefits - all agricultural
development workers shall be entitled to the following additional compensation
and benefits:

* Housing;

Clothing allowance;

* Representation allowance and travelling allowance;
« Hazard allowance;

«© On-call pay;

« Subsistence allowance;

¢ Motor vehicle loan:


* Longevity pay; and

+ Compensation for inquiries

All these cover's the administration, management, policy making and support

services,

SECTION 10. Miscellaneous Provisions — all government and non-
government agencies shall conduct the following human resources

management and developmental studies in the areas of:

a. Staffing patterns and standards of well-being to ensure that they
receive quality care;

b. Mechanisms for democratic consultations;

c. Adequate equipment and facilities to render quality agricultural
services to all;

d. Ways and Means of granting rank and file agricultural development
workers viable opportunities for education; personal growth and
development; and

e. Opportunity for all agricultural development workers to develop and

maximize their potentials.

SECTION 11. Monitoring and Implementation - the department of
Agriculture shall create a monitoring Committee which shall track the

implementation of the provisions of this Act.
The committee shall be composed of the representatives of the:

* Department of Agriculture (DA);


* Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG);
© Civil Service Commission (CSC); and
* The recognized national organizations of agricultural development

workers.

The department of Agriculture shall submit bi-annual reports on the progress
tracking and status of implementation of this Act to the committee on

Agriculture and Food of the House of Representatives (HOR) and Senate.

SECTION 12. Sanctions and Penalties - anyone who shall interfere with,
restrain any agricultural development worker in the exercise of his/her rights or
therefore violate any provisions of this Act shall upon his/her conviction, be
punished by a fine of not less than Twenty Five Thousand Pesos (Php 25,000.00)
but not more than Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 50,000.00) or imprisonment of not
more than one (1) year, or both, at the discretion and prerogative of the court.

If the offender is a public official, the designated court, in addition to the
penalties provided in the preceding paragraph, shall impose additional penalty
of disqualification from office.

SECTION 13. Appropriation - There is hereby authorized to appropriate the
necessary funds to carry-out into effect the provisions of this act. Therefore the
budget shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.


SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, issuances, rules
and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed or

modified accordingly.

SECTION 15. Separability Clause. If, for any reason or reasons, any portion
or provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining

provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 16. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,