FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
) 
) 
:1 
1 
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612 
_____________________ 
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7 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Filipino farmers and the agricultural development workers are the key 
players in the agricultural sector, which require government support and 
assistance. In particular, the agricultural development workers (agriculturists, 
veterinarians, technologists and other agricultural engineers, aquaculturists 
extension workers, home extentionists, nutritionists, agricultural technologists and 
other agricultural technicians) provide the service in the countryside necessary for 
modernizing Philippine agriculture. 
At present, the weak and fragmented agricultural service delivery operating 
within the Department of Agriculture and Local Government Units hampers the 
implementation of government agricultural development programs. One of the 
causes of this problem is that LGUs are financially constrained to hire the needed 
agricultural development workers and provide them with the necessary support. It 
is also unfortunate that the Local Government Code of 1991 makes the agricultural 
positions in the city and the municipal levels optional and not mandatory. 
Moreover, the position of Provincial I City I Municipal Agricultural Engineer and 
Provincial Fishery Officer were not even created although these services are 
essential in accelerating agricultural modernization. 
Furthermore, agricultural development workers in the government deserve 
appropriate position titles, adequate remuneration and other incentives to ensure 
the responsive and effective delivery of services to the agricultural and fisheries 
sector. The bill seeks to address these concerns. Its immediate passage is 
therefore earnestly requested. 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 612 
10 
JUL -7 An :UfS 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA OF AGRICULTURAL 
DEVELOPMENT WORKERS 
7 k. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
ARTICLE 1 
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 State to 
accelerate the development and modernization of Philippine agriculture and 
improve tbe 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 more responsive and effective in providing the necessary services 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 agriculturists, veterinarians, 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 and 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. 
c. Veterinarian - shall refer to a person registered with the Professional 
Regulatory 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 Regulatory Commission performing engineering activities in 
agriculture, particularly in area of farm power and machinery, irrigation and 


drainage, 
soil 
and 
water conservation, 
agricultural 
buildings 
and 
infrastructure, agricultural processing and post harvest facilities. 
e. Aquaculturist - shall refer to a person who is a graduate of a four year 
course in fishery and aquaculture and fishery and processing. 
, 
f. Nutritionist- shall refer to a person registered with the professional 
Regulation Commission performing activities related to dietry and proper 
nutrition. 
g. 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 mechanics, etc. 
h. Agricultural Extension Worker -
shall refer to an agriculturist, 
veterinarian, agricultural engineer, aquaculturist or home extensionist who 
helps farmers and fishermen in the promotion of agricultural and fishery 
development plan, programs and projects through the use of extension 
methodologies, concepts and principles. 
i. CSC - refers to the Civil Service Commission. 
j. DOLE - refers to the Department of Labor and Employment. 
k. NLRC - refers to the National Labor Relations Commission. 
I. DA - refers to the Department of Agriculture. 
m. LGU - refers to the Local Government Unit. 
ARTICLE II 
AGRICULTURAL SERVICES CAREER DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 4. Professionalization of Agricultural Services 
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 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 agricl;lltural 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 and agricultural development workers with 
corresponding salary grades shall be used. 
Position 
Agricultural Technician I 
Agriculturist I 
Aquaculturist I 
Agricultural Engineer I 
Nutritionist I 
Salary Grade 
10 
12 
12 
13 
12 


Veterinarian I 
Agricultural Technologist 
City Agricultural Engineer 
City ,Veterinarian 
City Agriculturist 
City Fishery Officer 
Municipal Agriculturist 
Municipal Veterinarian 
Municipal Agricultural Engineer 
Municij5al Fishery Officer 
Provincial Agricultural Engineer 
Provincial Agriculturist 
Provincial veterinarian 
Provincial Fisher Officer 
13 
13 
24 
24 
24 
24 
24 
24 
24 
24 
26 
26 
26 
26 
SEC. 5. Mandatory Positions of Agricultural Development - The 
creation of the following positions is hereby made mandatory in addition to the 
prescribed positions under the Local Government Code of 1991: 
Provincial Agricultural Engineer 
Provincial Agriculturist 
City Agriculturist 
City Agricultural Engineer 
City Veterinarian 
City Fishery and Aquacultural Officer 
Municipal Agriculturist 
Municipal Agricultural Engineer 
Municipal Veterinarian 
Municipal Fishery and Aquacultural Officer 
Provided, that in the case of fourth (4th) class LGUs, financial subsidy shall 
be provided by the National Government for the personnel services needed in the 
hiring of the above mentioned mandatory positions: Provided, further That the 
funding requirement shall be incorporated in the subsequent annual appropriations 
of the Department of Agriculture. 
SEC. 6. Recruitment and Qualifications.- The selection and appointment 
of agricultural development workers shall be in accordance with the merit and 
fitness principles: Provided, That he/she has the appropriate civil eligibility and/or 
professional license, educational qualification, skills and experiences. 
SEC 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, a(:ld in service training 
grants, job rotation and incentive awards system. 
SEC. 8 Transfer or Geographical Reassignment of Agricultural 
Officers and Employees. - No transfer of geographical reassignment shall be 
made or effected without a written notice to the agricultural development workers 
concerned stating therein the reasons the reasons: Provided, That the said written 
notice shall be made thirty (30) days prior to the date of transfer or reassignment: 
Provided, further, That if the employees 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 shall be 
held in abeyance: Provided, furthermore, That no transfer and/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. Hours of Work shall include: 
a. the time the agricultural worker is required to be in active duty or to be at 
a prescribe workplace: 
b. the time which an agricultural worker is permitted to work; 
c. the time, which an agricultural worker is required to work in place than, 
prescribed workplace. 
SEC. 9. 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 normal eight (8) hours a day, 
inclusive of Saturdays and Sundays and non- working holidays. In such, cases, 
the agricultural development worker shall be given additional compensation in 
accordance with existing laws on the matter. 
SEC. 10. Training and Scholarship Program. - The Department of 
Agriculture through its scholarship committee and the Agricultural Training Institute 
shall undertake training and scholarship program for the agricultural development 
workers, which shall be given adequate budgetary support by the government. 
SEC. 11. 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 III 
INCENTIVES AND REWARDS SYSTEM 
SEC. 12. Criteria for Incentives and Rewards. - The reward and 
incentives 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 given by the governed by the 
following criteria: 
, 
a .. Innovativeness and creativity resulting in productive activities; 
b: Actual performance and accomplishment of established targets; 
·c. Extraordinary performance and exemplary quality of Achievements in 
agriculture, giving rise to new or innovative techniques and productive 
results; 
d. 
Quality 
of work 
and 
consistency 
of performance 
which 
is 
satisfactory for at least two (2) consecutive rating periods, and 
e. Risks faced by nature of work area or place of assignment. 
SEC. 13. Forms of Incentives. - Incentive and rewards for agricultural 
development workers shall be in the form of, but not limited to, the following: 
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 
innovativeness; 


b. 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 fishery 
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 Agriculture and Local 
Government may established. 
SEC. 
14. 
Other Compensation and Benefits. 
-
All 
agricultural 
development workers shall be entitled to the following additional compensation 
and benefits: 
, 
a . . Representation Allowance and Traveling Allowance - All Provincial I 
City / Municipal Agriculturists, Veterinarians, Agricultural Engineers, and 
Fishery Officers shall be entitled to Representation Allowance and Traveling 
Allowance (RATA) equivalent to the Department Heads of the Local 
Government Units. 
b. Hazard Allowance - All agricultural development workers assigned in 
difficult areas, stife-torn or embattled areas, distressed or isolated stations, 
animal/plant/fisher breeding stations, plant nurseries, plantations 
and 
demonstration farms, laboratories specifically those 
handling 
x-ray, 
radioisotopes, chemicals, etc. , sea- bored 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 of perils of life shall be compensated with hazard 
allowance equivalent to at least twenty percent (20%) of the monthly basic 
salary. 
c. Subsistence Allowance. - All agricultural development workers who are 
required to a render services in the communities, institutions, animal 
and plant breeding nurseries, plantations and demonstration farms and 
other banner 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) meats, which shall be 
computed in accordance with the prevailing circumstances. 
d. Longevity Pay - A longevity pay equivalent to five percent (5%) of the 
monthly basic pay equivalent to five percent (5%) of the monthly basic 
pay shall be paid to an agricultural worker for every three (3) years of 
continuous efficient and meritorious services rendered. 
e. 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. 
f. Housing- All agricultural development workers who are on tour of duty 
and those who, because of unavoidable circumstances, are forced to stay 
in the institution or community with living quarters for free: 
Provided, that 
if such living quarters are not available; the workers 
shall 
housing 
allowance: Provided, further, That said allowance 
shall 
be 
reviewed 
periodically and adjusted for inflation. 


g. Compensation for injuries- Agricultural development workers shall be 
protected against work- related injuries in accordance with the Labor 
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 percent 
(50%) of higher regular wage. "On- Call" status refers to a condition 
When agricultural office 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 need: 
Provided, that no agricultural worker shall be placed in an "On-Call" 
Status beyond seven (7) days. 
i. 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 
SEC. 15. Right to Join an Organization - 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 interests and to seek redress of 
grievance through peaceful activities. 
SEC 16. Freedom from interference or Coercion - It shall be unlawful for 
a person to commit any of the following acts of interference or coercion: 
a. 
to require a condition of employment that the agricultural 
development worker shall join an organization or union; 
b. 
to discriminate in order to encourage or discourage membership in 
any agricultural development workers organization or union; 
c. : 
to prevent an agricultural development worker from carrying out 
his/her duties and functions in his/her organization or union or to 
penalize him/her for any lawful action performed in that capacity; 
d. 
to harass or intimidate an agricultural development worker or 
prevent him/her for performing duties and functions; and 
e. 
to perform acts that will dismiss the independence and freedom of 
the union or organization to direct its own affairs. 
SEC. 17. Consultation - T he Department of Agriculture shall consult 
professional and agricultural workers organization or unions in formulating policies 
to govern the welfare and security of the agricultural development workers 
SEC. 18. Human Resources Development - The government and non-
government 
agencies 
shall 
conduct 
human 
resource 
development and 
management study in the following areas: 
a. 
Adequate facilities and resource to render quality agricultural 
service to the clientele; 
b. 
Opportunity for the agricultural development workers to grow and 
develop their potentials and develop a sense of self-worth and 
dignity in their work; 


C. 
Mechanism for democratic consultations 
d. 
Ways and means of giving rank-and-file agricultural development 
workers viable opportunities for education, personal growth and 
development; and 
e. 
staffing patterns and standards welfare to ensure that they receive 
quality care. 
SEC. 19. Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of the Department of 
Agriculture in consultation with DOLE. CSC, NLRC, and 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. 
' 
SEC. 20. Monitoring and Implementation. - The Secretary of the 
Department of Agriculture shall create a Monitoring Committee, which shall 
monitor the implementation of the provision 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 on the 
implementation of this Act to the Committee of Agriculture and Food of the House 
of Representatives and the Senate. 
SEC. 21. Penal Provisions.- Any person who shall willfully interfere with, 
restrain or coerce any agricultural development worker in the exercises of his/her 
rights or shall violate any of the provisions of this Act shall upon conviction, be 
punished by a fine if 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 addition to the penalties 
provided in the preceding paragraph, shall impose the additional penalties of 
disqualification from office of such offending public official. 
SEC. 22 Funding. - The amount necessary to carry out the proVision of this 
Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its 
enactment into law and every year thereafter. 
SEC. 23 Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other proVision thereof shall not be affected thereby 
and shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SEC. 24. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and 
regulations or other issuances inconsistent with the provision of this Act are 
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 25. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Ap[)roved,