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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18TH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1012

Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In pursuant to SECTION 38 of RA No.10601 otherwise known as the
“Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization (AFMech) Law” that reads:

“Funding ~ The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the DA’s
program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall
be included in the annual Gener! Appropriations Act (GAA)”.

The DA shall likewise set aside funds from the Agricultural Competitiveness
Enhancement Fund (ACEF) for grants to upgrade the Agricultural Machinery
Testing and Evaluation Center (AMTEC) and to establish one (1) testing center
in Visayas and one (1) testing center in Mindanao.

This House Bill seeks to allocate funds annually from the Bureau of Agricultural
Research (BAR) its regular R&D funds to support research programs, processing
of patent applications, and testing and certification of locally designed agri-
fisheries equipment and machineries.

Earnest approval this bill is hereby requested.

‘L L. ROMERO Ph.D.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18TH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 1012

Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero

AN ACT

MANDATING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (DA)
TO SET ASIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM TEE AGRICULTURAL
COMPETITIVENESS ENHANCEMENT FUND (ACEF) FOR GRANTS
TO UPGRADE THE AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY TESTING AND
EVALUATION CENTER (AMTEC), INCREASING ITS FUND
ALLOTMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION i. Declaration of Policy

The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall provice an additionai funding of Five
hundred million pesos (P500,000,000.00) to establish Two (2) AMTEC testing
centers in Visayas and Two (2) AMTEC testing centers in Mindanao in pursuant
to the mandate of RA No.10601 in enhancing and the mechanization of the

state’s agricultural equipments and other infrastructures.

SECTION 2. Supplemental Funding


a. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall allocate funds
from the Higher Education Development Fund necessary for the
upgrading of agri-fisheries mechanization and engineering
laboratory facilities of concerned SCUs, faculty training program
and scholarships.

b. The Technical Educational Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
shall likewise allocate funds from its annual appropriations
necessary for the skills certification and training program for agri-
fishery machinery technicians and operators

¢. The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) shall therefore allocate
funds annually from its regular R&D funds to support research
programs, processing of patent applications, and testing and
certification of locally designed agri-fisheries equipment and

machineries.

All LGUs shall include in their investment plans, as part of the priority
appropriations for local development fund, the funding support for the
implementation of their respective provincial, city, municipal and barangay
agricultural and fisheries mechanization programs in accordance with Republic
Act No. 7160 “Local Government Code of 1991” and its implementing rules and
regulations and the Department of the interior and Local Government-
Department of Budget and Management (DILG-DBM) Joint Memorandum
Circular No. 1, Series of 2005.

SECTION 3. Appropriation - There is hereby authorized to appropriate
the necessary funds to carry-out into effect the provisions of this act. This
funding shall be included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, issuances,
rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed
or modified accordingly.


SECTION 5. 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 6. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take @ffect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,