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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
.., i /'fi'/ '15) .i;: .: ,.,. 
SENATE 
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Senate Bill No. 
8 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippine archipelago is blessed with rich fishing grounds and abundant 
arable lands. This explains why a large majority of our population is dependent on 
fishery, farming and agriculture-related industries as a source of livelihood. Indeed, 
agriculture remains the linchpin for economic growth. 
Together with the infusion of the requisite capital investments, agricultural 
development is a function of the appropriate use of agricultural expertise. The 
agriculturists, 
veterinarians, 
aquaculturist, 
agricultural 
engineers, 
agricultural 
technologist and other agricultural technicians provide the needed assistance to the 
farmers and fisher folks. The intervention of these experts spells the difference between 
the success and failure of government agricultural policy and programs. 
This bill acknowledges the impedance of government agricultural workers by 
affirming their rights and providing a mechanism for career development. Needless to 
say, personal fulfillment allows for a better sense of responsibility. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT 
WORKERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House Representatives of the Republic of 
the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
TITLE OF THE ACT AND DEFINITION OF TERMS 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Magna Carta of Agricultural 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy - TI is hereby declared a policy of the State to 
accelerate the development and modernization 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 services for countryside development. 
Development Workers.” 
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 aqua 
culturists, veterinarians, agricultural engineers, nutritionist, 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 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 Regulation 
Commission performing professional activities -on veterinary services such as 
disease prevention, control and animal health. 
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d) Agricultural Engineer - shall to a person registered 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. 
e) 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. 
d) Nutritionist - shall refer to a person registered with the Professional Regulation 
Commission performing activities related to dietary 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 and firm mechanic. 
h) Agricultural Extension. Worker -shall refer to an agriculturist, veterinarian, and 
agricultural engineer. Aquaculture, 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 the theologies, concepts 
and principles. 
-ARTICLE II 
AGRICULTURAL SERVICE 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 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, position titles and qualifications or 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 folioing benchmark position titles of 
agricultural development workers with corresponding salary grades shall be used. 
Position 
Agricultural Technician I 
Agriculturist 
Aquaculturist I 
Nutritionist 
Veterinarian I 
Agricultural Engineer 1 
Agricultural Technologist 
City Agricultural Engineer 
City Veterinarian 
City Agriculturist 
City Fishery Officer 
Municipal Agriculturist 
Salary Grade 
10 
12 
12 
12 
13 
13 
15 
24 
24 
24 
24 
24 
3 


Municipal Veterinarian 
Municipal Agricultural Engineer 
Municipal Fisheries Officer 
Provincial Agricultural Engineer 
Provincial Agriculturist 
Provincial Veterinarian 
Provincial Fisheries Officer 
24 
24 
24 
26 
26 
26 
26 
SEC. 5. Mandatory Positions of Agricultural Development Workers in the Local 
Government Units. - The creation of the following position is hereby made mandatory in 
addition to the prescribed position under the Local Government Code of 
1991 : 
Provincial Agricultural Engineer 
Provincial Fisheries and Aqua cultural Officer 
City Agriculturist 
City Agricultural Engineer 
City Veterinarian 
City Fisheries and Aqua cultural Officer 
Municipal Agriculturist 
Municipal Agricultural Engineer 
Municipal Veterinarian 
Municipal Fisheries and Aqua cultural 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 position: Provided, further, That the funding 
requirement shall be incorporated in the annual appropriations of the Department of 
Agriculture. 
SEC. 6. 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 alt 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. 7. Transfer or 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, helshe 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 hislher immediate family have 
be paid by the Government. 
SEC. 8. Security of Tenure. - An agricultural worker, holding a permanent 
position shall not be terminated except for cause: Provided, That in the event the 
4 


agricultural development worker is found to be unjustly dismissed by the Civil Service 
Commission, helshe hall be entitled to restatement 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. Provided, however, that if the 
agricultural worker does not desire to be reinstated, helshe shall be entitled to back 
wages and separation pay with twenty per Centrum (20%) interest. 
SEC. 9. Discrimination Prohibited. - An agricultural worker shall not be 
discriminated by reason of creed, sect, political belief, civil, status, and ethnic grouping 
in the exercise of hislher profession. 
SEC. I O .  No understaffing andlor Overloading of Agricultural Workers. - There 
shall no understaffing andlor 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: Provided, That the government shall allocate the necessary 
funds for the hiring of additional agricultural development workers in cases of 
overloading of personnel in specific areas of assignment. 
proceeding, an Agricultural Worker shall have the following rights: 
SEC. 11. Safeguards in Administrative Proceedings. In every administrative 
a) to be informed of the charges; 
b) to full access to evidence against himlher; 
c) to defend himselflherself through counsel of hidher choice; 
d) to be given adequate time to prepare hislher case, which shall in no case 
exceed twenty (20) days; 
e) to appeal to designated authorities; 
f) to cross-examine witnesses and to processes for the production of witnesses; 
g) to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in hislher defense in case of 
exoneration or dismissal of the charges; and 
h) such other rights provided by other national agencies and local government units 
to their respective officers and employees to ensure fairness and impartially in 
prosecution. 
SEC. 12. 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 
prescribe workplace; 
b) The time which an agricultural worker is permitted to work; and 
c) the time which an agricultural worker is required to work in a place other than the 
prescribed workplace. 
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SEC. 13. Overtime Work - Where the exigencies of the service so require, any 
agricultural development worker, whether in Government or nongovernmental 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. 
SEC. 14. 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. 
SEC. 15. 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 assigned in the same municipality. 
ARTICLE 111 
INCENTIVES AND REWARDS SYSTEM 
SEC. 16. Criteria for Incentives and Rewards System - The Incentives and 
Reward 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 who’s 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 fisheries 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 Agricultural and the local government 
units may establish. 
SEC. 17. 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/City/Municipal agriculturist, Veterinarians, Agricultural Engineers, and 
Fisheries Officers shall be entitled to Representation Allowance and Traveling 
Allowance (RATA) equivalent to that received by the Department Head of the local 
government units concerned. 
b) Hazard Allowance All agricultural development workers assigned in difficult 
areas, 
strife-torn 
or 
embattled 
area 
distressed 
or 
isolated 
stations, 
animal/plant/fisheries 
breeding 
station, 
plant 
nurseries, 
plantations 
and 
demonstration farms, laboratories especially those handling c-rays, radioisotopes 
chemicals, sea-borne patrols, construction and installation of agricultural 
infrastructure projects; and other areas declared under a state of calamity or 
6 


emergency which exposes them to great danger, occupational risks or perils of life 
shall be entitled ix>hazard allowance, equivalent to at least twenty per centum 
(20%) of their respective monthly basic salary. 
c) Subsistence Allowance - All agricultural development workers who are required 
to. render services in the communities, institutions, animal and plant breeding 
nurseries, plantation and demonstration farms and other bather programs and 
projects of the Department of Agricultural in order to make their services available 
at all times shall be entitled to daily subsistence allowance of three (3) meals, which 
shall be computed in. accordance with the prevailing circumstances. 
d) 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. 
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 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 quarter for free: 
Provided, that if such living quarters are not available, the workers shall 
receive housing allowances: 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 and other existing 
laws: 
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 hidher 
regular wage. “On-Call’’ status refer 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 hislher time for 
personal needs: 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. 
ART TCLE IV 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
SEC. 1.8. Right to Join Organizations. - Agricultural development workers shall 
have the right to freely join organizations or unions for purposes not contrary to laws in 
order to protect their mutual interest and to seek redress of grievances through peaceful 
concerted activities. 
SEC. 19. Freedom from interference or Coercion. - It shall be unlawful for any 
person to commit any of the following acts: 
7 


a) to require as a condition for 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 worked organization or union; 
e) to prevent an agricultural development worker from carrying out his duties and 
functions in hisslher organization or union or to penalize himlher for any lawful 
action performed in that capacity; 
4) to harass or intimidate an agricultural development worker or prevent hislher 
from performing hislher duties and functions: and 
e) to perform acts that will diminish the independence and freedom of the union or 
organization to direct its own affairs. 
SEC. 20. 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. 
SEC. 21. Human Resource Development - The Government and non- government 
agencies shall conduct human resource development and management studies 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) 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 
e) Staffing patterns and standards of welfare for agricultural development workers 
to ensure that they receive quality care. 
SEC. 22. Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of the Department of 
Agriculture (DA) in consultation with Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), 
Civil Service Commission (CSC), National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), 
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the national organizations 
of agricultural development workers shall formulate and prepare necessary rules and 
I 
regulations in implementing the provisions of this Magna Carta. 
SEC. 23. Monitoring of Implementation. - The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
create a Monitoring Committee that shall monitor the implementation of the provisions of 
this Act. The committee shall be composed of representatives of the DA, DRAG, 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. 24. Penal Provisions - Any person who shall willfully interfere with, restrain 
or coerce any agricultural development worker in the exercise of hislher rights or shall 
8 


violate any of the provisions of this Act shall upon conviction, be punished by a fine of 
not less that 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 paragr4ph, shall impose the penalty of 
disqualification from office of such offending public official. 
SEC. 25. 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. 
SEC. 26. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions thereof not affected thereby shall 
continue to be in full force and effect 
SEC. 27. 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. 
SEC. 28. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
Approved, 
MANNY VILLAR 
Senator 
9