Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

478

House Bill No.

Introduced by Hon, Rodolfo G. Biazon

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Filipino farmers benefit from the assistance that government extends to them through
agricultural 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, LGUs 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. At the provincial level, the positions of
Provincial/City/Municipal Agricultural Engineer, and Provincial Fishery Officer were not
even created.

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 passage of this bill is eamestly requested.

 BIAZON
Representative
Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGR!

First Regular Session

House Bill No. 478

Introduced by Hon. Rodolfo G. Biazon

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPME
WORKERS

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the
Philippines in Congress assembled.

ARTICLE I
TITLE OF THE ACT AND D!

[NITION OF

MS

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Magna Carta of Agricultural
Development Workers.”

Sec, 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared a policy of the State to
rate the development and modemization 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 sei for countryside development.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms

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.

b) Agriculturist — 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 a



d)

8)

h)

as agronomy horticulture, animal husbandry, entomology, plant pathology, plant
breeding, agricultural economics, agricultural extension and marketing,

Veterinarian — 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.

Agricultural Engineer — shall refer to a person re; red with the Professional
Regulation Commission performing engineering activities in agriculture,
particularly on areas of farm power and machinery, irrigation and drainage, soil
and 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 — shall refer to a trained or skilled agricultural worker but
not necessarily a college graduate, performing activities such as plant/nursery
propagator, plant breeder, farm mechani, ete

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 and fisheries development
plans, programs and projects through the use of extension methodologies.
concepts and principles.

CSC ~ refers to the Civil Service Commission.

DOLE ~refer to the Department of Labor and Employment.

NLRC — refers to the National Labor Relations Commission.

DA ~ refers to the Department of Agriculture.

m) LGU ~ refers to the Local Government Unit.

See. 4. Professional
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,

ARTICLE I
AGRICULTURAL SERVICE CAREER DEVELOPMENT.

uion of Agricultural Services. ~ The State shall support the

2


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
salary grades shall be used

Posi ide
Agricultural Technician I ul
Agriculturist | 12
Aquaculturist | 12
Nutritionist 1 12
Veterinarian | 13
Agricultural Engineer | 13
Agricultural Technologist 15
City Agricultural Engineer 24
City Veterinarian 4
City Agriculturist 24
City Fishery Officer m4
Municipal Agriculturist 24
Municipal Veterinarian 24
Municipal Agricultural Engineer 24
Municipal Fisheries Officer 4
Provincial Agricultural Engineer 26
Provincial Agriculturist 26
Provincial Veterinarian 26
Provincial Fisheries Officer 26

Sec, 5. Mandatory Positions of Agricultural Development Workers in the Local
Government Units. ~ The creation of the following positions is hereby made mandatory in
addition to the prescribed position under the Local Government Code of 1991:


a. Provincial Agricultural Engineer;
b. Provincial Fisheries and Aquacultural Officer;
c. City Agriculturist;

d. City Agricultural Engineer;

City Veterinarian;

f. City

Risheries and Aquacultural Officer;

g. Municipal Agriculturist;

h. Municipal Agricultural Engineer;

i, Municipal Veterinarian;

j. Municipal Fisheries and Aquacultural Officer:

Provided, That in the case of fourth (4") 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.

ee. 6, Recruitment and Qualifications. ~ The selection and appointment of
agricultural development workers shall be in accordance with the merit and fitness principle:
Provided, ‘That he/she has the appropriate civil service cligibilities and/or professional
license, educational qualification, skills and experiences.

See. 7. Performance Evaluation and Merit 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. 8. Transfer of Geographical Reassignment of Agricultural Officers and
Employees. ~ No transfer or geographical reassignment shall be made or effected without a
written notice to the agricultural 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, finally, That the necessary expenses
of the transfer and/or reassignment of the agricultural worker or employee and his/her
immediate family shall be paid by the Government.



Sec. 9. Security of Tenure. — 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 Service Commission,
he/she shall be entitled to reinstatement without loss of seniority rights and back wages with
twenty per centum (20%) interest to be computed from the time compensation is withheld up
to the reinstatement,

However, if the agricultural worker does not desire to be reinstated, he/she shall be
entitled to back wages and separation pay with twenty per centum interest.

10. Discrimination Prohibited. - An agricultural worker shall not be
iscriminated by reason of creed, sex, political belief, civil status, and ethnic grouping in the
exercise of his/her profession.

See. 11. No Understaffing and/or Overloading of Agricultural Workers. — There shall
be no understafling 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 cases of over-loading of personnel in specific areas of assignment

Safeguards in Administrative Proceedings. In every administrative

proceeding, an Agricultural Worker shall have:

a) the right to be informed of the charges;

b) the right to full access

(0 evidence against him/her;

c) the right to defend himself/herself through counsel of his/her choi

4d) the right to be given adequate time to prepare his/her case, which shall in no case

exceed twenty (20) days:

€) the right to appeal to designated authorities;

f) the right to cross-examine witnes:
witnesses;

and to processes for the production of

g) the right to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in his/her defense in
case of exoneration or dismissal of the charges; and

h) such other rights provided by other national agencies and local goverment units
to their respective officers and employees to ensure fairness and impartially in
prosecution.


See. 13. Code of Conduct. — All agricultural workers 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, 14. Normal Hours 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:

a) the time the agricultural workers is required to be on active duty or to be at a
prescribed workplace:

b) the time which an agricultural worker is permitted to work; and

©) the time which an agricultural worker is required to work in a place other than the
prescribed workplace.

Sec. 15. Overtime Work. ~ Where the exigencies of the service so require, any
agricultural development worker, whether 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 matter.

ec. 16. Training and Scholarship Program. ~ 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 by the Government.

See. 17. Married Agricultural Worker. ~ Whenever possible, the proper authorities
shall take steps to enable married couples both of whom are public agricultural development
workers, to be employed or assigned in the same municipality.

ARTICLE HI
INCENTIVES AND REWARDS SYSTEM

Sec. 18. Criteria for Incentives and Rewards System. ~ The reward and incentive
system for agricultural development workers 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:

a) 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
innovativenes

b) Incentive pay — form of remuneration given to individuals whose services in
management, administration, policy making and support contribute to the eff



d)

and effective implementation of the agricultural and fisheries programs of the
government;

Performance Bonus ~ form of remuneration given to agricultural development
workers for performance that exceeds established targets; and

Other incentives that the Department of Agricultural and Local Government may
establish.

Sec. 19. Other Compensation and Benefits. ~ All agricultural development workers
shall be entitled to the following additional compensation and benefits:

a)

b)

d)

e)

Representation Allowance and Traveling Allowance - All
Provineial/City/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 LGUs.

Hazard Allowance ~ All agricultural development workers assigned in difficult
areas, strife-torn or embattled areas, distressed or isolated stations,
animal/planvfisheries breeding station, plant nurseries, plantations and
demonstration farms, laboratories especially those handling x-rays,
radioisotopes, chemicals, etc., sea-borne patrols, construction and installation of
agricultural infrastructure projects, and other areas declared under a state of
calamity or emergency which exposes them to great danger, occupational risks
or perils of life shall be compensated with hazard allowance equivalent to at
least twenty per centum (20%) of the monthly bas

sea

je salary.

Subsistence Allowance ~ All agricultural development workers who are 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 Agriculture 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 Pay — 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 rendered.

Clothing Allowance ~ All agricultural development workers shall be entitled to a
clothing allowance in accordance with 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 quarters for free:
Provided, That if such living quarters are not available, the workers shall receive
housing allowances: Provided, further, Vhat said allowance shall be reviewed
periodically and adjusted for inflation.



8) Compensation for injuries ~ Agricultural development workers shall be
protected against work-related injuries in accordance with the Labor Code or the
Civil Code as the case may be.

h) 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 agricultural 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.

ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

. 20. Right to Join Organizations. ~ Agricultural development workers shall have
the right to freely join organizations or unions for purposes not contrary to law, in order to
protect their mutual interest and to seek redress of grievances through peaceful concerted
activities.

. 21. Freedom from Interference or Coercion. ~ It shall be unlawful for any person
to commit any of the following acts of interference or coercion.

a) to require as a condition of employment that the agricultural development worker
shall not join an organization or union;

b) to discriminate in order to encourage or discourage membership in any
agricultural development workers organization or union;

©) to prevent an agricultural development worker from carrying out his duties and
functions in his/her organization or union or to penalize him/her for any lawful
action performed in that capacity

) to harass or intimidate an agricultural development worker or prevent hinvher
from performing duties and functions; and

€) to perform acts that will diminish the independence and freedom of the union or
organization to direct its own affairs.

Sec. 22. Consultation. — The Department of Agriculture shall consult professional and
agricultural workers organizations or unions in formulating policies to govern the welfare and
security of the agricultural development workers.

See. 23. Human Resource Development. ~ The Government and non-government
agencies shall conduct human resource development and management studies in the
following areas


a) Types and amount of facilities and resources to render quality agricultural service
to the clientele;

b) Venue and opportunities for the agricultural development workers to grow and
develop their potentials and develop a sense of self-worth and dignity in their
work;

¢) Mechanisms for democratic consultation;

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,

Sec. 24. Rules and Regulations. ~ The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture in
consultation with DOLE, CSC, NLRC, DILG and the national organizations of agricultural
development workers shall formulate and prepare necessary rules and regulations in
implementing the provisions of this Magna Carta.

See, 25. Monitoring of Implementation. ~ The Secretary of Agriculture shall create a
Monitoring Committee which shall 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 Agriculture 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.

Sec. 26. Penal Provisions. — Any person who shall willfully interfere with, restrain ot
coerce any agricultural development worker in the exercise of his/her rights or shall violate
any of the provisions of this Act shall upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than
‘Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) but not more than Forty Thousand Pesos (P40,000.00)
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 additional to the penalties provided in
the preceding paragraph, shall impose the additional penalty of disqualification from office of
such offending public official.

Sec. 27. 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.

See, 28, Separability Clause. 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. 29. Repealing 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.


See. 30. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
two (2) newspapers of general circulation

s publication in

Approved,