Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

4477

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable 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 General Appropriations Act”.

The DA shall likewise set aside funds from the Agricultural Competitiveness
Enhancement Fund (ACEF) for grants fo 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 fo 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 of this bill is hereby requested.

MICH, L. ROMERO Ph.D


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon Cily

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4477

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Michael L. Romero

AN ACT

MANDATING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (DA) TO
SET ASIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM THE 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 1. Declaration of Policy

The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall provide an additional 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-isheties mechanization and engineering
laboratory facilities of concemed SCUs, faculty training program
and scholarships,

b. The Technical Educational skills Development Authorily (TESDA) shall
likewise allocate funds from its annual appropriations necessary for
the skills cerlification 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 Departmen! 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.


SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. All jaws, execulive 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 effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in any newspaper of general circulation

Approved,