Republic of the Philippines 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS 
} 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In the year 2000, agriculture accounted for 19% of the Philippines' Gross 
National Product (GNP) and 36.5% of employment. Filipino farmers who are the 
key players in this important industry obtain government assistance and support 
mainly 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 (DA) 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 earnestly requested. 


Republic of the Philippines 
1 
First Regular Session 
} 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS 
} 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA FOR AGRICULTURAL 
DEVELOPMENT 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 DEFINITION OF TERMS 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Mngna Cartn of Agriculfiirnl 
Development Workers. " 
SEC. 2. Declnration of Policy. - It 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. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Tarns. 
a) Agrictilttiral Developnzent Wmhers - shall mean all persons who are 
engaged in agricultural development activities and all persons employed in the 
Department of Agriculture (DA) including its bureaus and attached agencies. 
Local Government Units (LGUs) and concerned government and private 
institutions 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 
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 (PRC) performing professional activities on veterinary 
services such as disease prevention control, animal health care, etc. 
d) Agrictilturul Engineer - shall refer to a person registered with the PRC 
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) Aquncultnrist - 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. 
f) Nutritionist - shall refer to a person registered with the PRC performing 
activities related to dietary and proper nutrition. 
g) Apicultural Teclzltician - 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 mechanic, etc. 
h) 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. 
i) CSC - refers to the Civil Service Commission. 
j) DOLE -refer 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 I1 
AGRICULTURAL SERVICE CAREER DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 4. Professionalizizfion of Agricultiiral Services. - The State shall support the 
developnient 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 &e 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 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 
2 


agricultural development workers with corresponding salary grades shall be 
used. 
Position 
Salary Grade 
Agricultural Technician I 
Agriculturist I 
Aquaculturist I 
Nutritionist I 
Veterinarian I 
Agricultural Engineer I 
Agricultural Technologist 
City Agricultural Engineer 
City Veterinarian 
City Agriculturist 
City Fishery Officer 
Municipal Agriculturist 
Municipal Veterinarian 
Municipal Agricultural Engineer 
Municipal Fisheries Officer 
Provincial Agricultural Engineer 
Provincial Agriculturist 
Provincial Veterinarian 
Provincial Fisheries Officer 
10 
12 
12 
12 
13 
13 
15 
24 
24 
24 
24 
24 
24 
24 
24 
26 
26 
26 
26 
SEC. 5. Mandatory Positions of Agricultural Development Wwkers in the Local 
Government Units. - The creation of the following positions is hereby made 
mandatory in addition to the prescribed position under the Local Governnient 
Code of 1991: 
Provincial Agricultural Engineer 
Provincial Fisheries and Aquacultural Officer 
City Agriculturist 
City Agricultural Engineer 
City Veterinarian 
City Fisheries and Aquacultural Officer 
Municipal Agriculturist 
Municipal Agricultural Engineer 
Municipal Veterinarian 
Municipal Fisheries and Aquacultural Officer 
Provided, that in the case of fourth (49 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, jiwther, that the 
funding requirement shall be incorporated in the annual appropriations of the 
Department of Agriculture. 
SEC. 6. Recruitment and Qual$cations. - 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 
eligibilities and/or professional license, educational qualification, skills and 
experiences. 
3 


SEC. 7. 
Perfmmnnce Evizluntim and Merit Promohon. - 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 Geographicnl Reassignmerit 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, FnalZy, That the 
necessary expenses of the transfer and/or reassignment of the agricultural 
worker or employee and hisjher immediate family shall be paid by the 
Government. 
SEC. 9. Security ofTenure. - 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 backwages 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 backwages and separation pay with twenty per 
centum interest. 
SEC. 10. 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 his/her profession. 
SEC. 11. No Understafsing anflar Overloading ofAgricultura1 Warkers. - There shall 
no understaffing 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 overloading of personnel in specific areas of 
assignment. 
SEC. 12. Safeguards in Administrative Proceedings. - In every administrative 
proceeding, an Agricultural Worker shall have: 
4 


a) the right to be informed of the charges; 
b) the right to full access to evidence against him/her; 
c) the right to defend himself/herself through counsel of his/her choice; 
d) the right to be given adequate time to prepare his/her case, which shall 
e) the right to appeal to designated authorities; 
f )  the right to cross-examine witnesses and to processes for the production 
of witnesses; 
g) the right to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in his/her 
defense in case of exoneration or dismissal ofthe 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. 13. Code of Cmducf. - All agricultural worker 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. 
in no case exceed twenty (20) days; 
Hours of work shall include: 
a) the time the agricultural workers is required to be on active duty or to 
b) the time which an agricultural worker is permitted to work; 
c) the time which an agricultural worker is required to work in a place 
be at a prescribe workplace; 
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 nonworking holidays. In such cases, 
the agricultural development worker shall be given additional compensation in 
accordance with existing laws on the matter. 
SEC. 16. Training and Scholarship Program. - The Department of Agriculture 
through its scholarship committee and the Agricultural Training Institute shall 
undertake trainings and scholarship program for the agricultural development 
workers, which shall be given adequate budgetary support y the Government. 
SEC. 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 I11 
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 
5 


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 
innovativeness; 
b) Incentive pay - form of remuneration given to individuals who 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) Perfurmame 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 Local 
Government may establish. 
SEC. 19. Other Conipensation and Benefits. - All agricultural development workers 
shall be entitled to the following additional compensation and benefits: ' 
a) 
Representation 
Allowance 
and 
Trauelilag 
Allmnnce 
- 
All 
ProvinciaI/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 Local 
Government Units. 
b) Hazard Allowance - All agricultural development workers assigned in 
difficult areas, strife-torn or embattled areas, distressed or isolated stations, 
animal/plant/fisheries 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 of 
perils of life shall be compensated with hazard allowance equivalent to at least 
twenty per centum (20%) of the monthly basic salary. 
c) Subsistence Alluzuance - All agricultural development worker 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 Agricultural in order to make their 
services available at all times, shall be entitled to full daily subsistence aIIowance 
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. 
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 - AU 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. 
e) 
6 


g) Cornpensafion for inquiries - 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 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 his/her 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 - AEI 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. 
ARTICXE IV 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
SEC. 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. 
SEC. 21. Freedornfom Ir&rfmmce 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; 
c) 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; 
d) to harass or intimidate an agricultural development worker or prevent 
him/her from performing 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. 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 . 
SEC. 23. 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 resources 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 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. 
SEC. 25. Monituring ofInrpZernentation. -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: Pruuided, $rthw, 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. P e d  Provisions. - Any person who shall willfully interfere with, 
restrain or 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 that Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,OOO.OO) but 
not more than Forty Thousand Pesos (P40,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not 
more than one (l)year, or both, at the discretion of the court. If the offender is a 
public official, fhe 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. 
SEC. 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. 
SEC. 30. Efectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
Approved, 
8