REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HB.No__4011

Introduced by REP. ANGELO B. PALMON!

AN A
PRESCRIBING THE STRENGTHENING OF THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURE &
FISHERIES EXTENSION SYSTEM TO ACCELERATE AGRICULTURE AND
FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Extension activities to transfer technologies are important in developing technology-based
industries, This is equally important in the agriculture and fisheries sectors. Agriculture and
fisheries extension work is essentially a communication and educational activity designed to
capacitate stakeholders, particularly farmers and fishers, to use new knowledge and technologies to
improve the productivity and income of their livelihood enterprises. To accomplish this objective,
extension work involves improving the ability of stakeholders to access information and knowledge
through mass media, training, seminars/workshops, farmers’ cross-visits, market and credit
encounters, exhibits and fairs. Extension, along with R&D, has the highest return of investment
(ROD among policy instruments. Therefore it’s worth investing on it

Technology transfer in agriculture and fisheries was being undertaken by the Department of
Bureau of Agricultural Extension (BAEX) prior to its abolition with the enactment of Republic Act
No. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code which devolved extension services for
agriculture and fisheries to the local government units at the municipal level. The extension
personnel were decentralized but not the resources that should go with the operations of these
people. In other countries, the national government continues to pay for the salaries of devolved
personnel until such time that the recipient agencies are able to pay for the salaries themselves.
Because of the inadequate financial resources of the LGUs the salaries of the devolved personnel
were reduced. This has been a major cause of a highly demoralized staff at the earlier part of
decentralization.

The greatest problems in agricultural development are in the fourth, fifth and sixth class
municipalities, And it is in these areas, where the best expertise are needed, this is where the most
demoralized extension agents are located because their salary level is lower than that of their
counterparts in higher income municipalities. In a survey conducted by the Visayas State
University, it was revealed that most of the funds of these classes of municipal governments are
spent for personal services. As a consequence, the extension workers stayed mostly in their offices
because they have no funds for extension services.

Decentralizing extension at the municipal level has greatly fragmented techno-transfer
efforts and made it very difficult to coordinate. Provincial authorities do not have power and


authority over municipal agriculture development and planning officers. Therefore many provinces
do not have integrated or coherent agriculture development programs.

To address the current problems of extension is not to re-centralize or re-nationalize it. This
would be a step backward. All the agriculturally successful countries in the world (¢.g,, India,
China, Indonesia, USA, Japan, Vietnam, etc.), with the exception of Thailand, have a decentralized
extension system. The reason decentralization is not working in Philippines is because it was not
done right and needs to be corrected.

‘The proposed AF Extension bill addresses the current problems and more. The bill seeks to:

1. Strengthen the country’s extension system by decentralizing it to the appropriate level of
political unit that provides a viable economic unit for agriculture development i.e., the
province;

2, Making the national government pay for the salaries and wages of extension personnel
under the administrative direction of the provincial government;

3. Professionalizing & standardizing the salaries and wages of the LGU extension personnel to
that of equivalent positions in the national government,

4. Creating a national agency, the Philippine Agriculture & Fisheries Extension Agency
(PAFEA) to orchestrate, provide national directions, set standards of performance, and
provide institutionalized financial and technical support to the LGUs.

With the above premises it is urgently recommended that the bill be approved.

ANGELD B. PALMONES
Representative, AGHAM Party List


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

w.p.No__ 4011

Introduced by REP. ANGELO B. PALMONES

AN ACT
PRESCRIBING THE STRENGTHENING OF THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURE &
FISHERIES EXTENSION SYSTEM TO ACCELERATE AGRICULTURE AND
FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

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

ARTICLE L.
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1, Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Act of
2010.”

Section. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The goals of national economy are a more equitable
distribution of opportunities, income and wealth; a sustained increase in the amount of goods and
services produced by the nation for the benefit of the people; and expanding productivity as the key
to raising the quality of life of all, especially the underprivileged.

The State shall promote economic modernization and full employment based on sound
agricultural development and agrarian reform, through industries that make full and efficient use of
human and natural resources, and which are competitive in both domestic and foreign markets. In
pursuit of these goals, all sectors of the economy and all regions of the country shall be given
optimum opportunity to develop.

Thus, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to enable those who belong to the
agriculture and fisheries sector to participate and share in the fruits of development and growth in a
manner that utilizes the nation’s resources in the most efficient and sustainable way possible by
establishing a more equitable access to assets, income, basic and support services and
infrastructure.

‘The State shall give priority to promote science, technology and human resource
development as essentials for national development and progress. The State shall utilize research
results through information, education, extension and communication services. It shall support the
development of a national extension system that will help accelerate the transformation of
agriculture and fisheries sectors of the Country from a resource-based industry to a knowledge-
based and market-oriented industry.

‘The State shall adopt a the market approach as the in enabling framework for assisting the
agriculture and fisheries sector to attain while recognizing the contribution of these sectors to food
security, poverty alleviation , sustainable development environmentaland environmental protection,


and balanced urban and rural development while addressing , without neglecting the welfare of the
consumers, for more affordable nutritious food especially among the lower income groups, The
State shall promote market-oriented policiesoriented policies in its agricultural development
program production to enable agriculture producers encourage farmers to transform shift their to
more profitable enterprises into technologically advanced profitable ventures.

‘The State shall empower the agriculture and fisheries sector to develop and sustain itself to
meet present and future needs of the country. Towards this end, the State shall ensure the
establishment and development of the agriculture and fisheries extension system that increases and
sustains its contributions to the achievement of the goals of agriculture modernization as mandated
by Republic Act 8435: a) Poverty Alleviation and Social Equity; b) Food Security; c) Rational Use
of Resources and Sustainable Development, d) Global Competitiveness; and c) People
Empowerment

Section 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act, the term:

1. “Agriculture development worker” refers to a person who is a graduate of at least a
bachelor’s degree in agriculture, agriculture engineering, agriculture economics, or any related
course registered and licensed with the Professional Regulation Commission or Civil Service
Commission; who perform communication, curriculum development, agricultural/coastal
community organizing, econometrics, water management, veterinary work, statistical work,
training and extension work in agriculture production, trade, and processing including crop and
animal protection, food safety, agriculture and natural resource economics, and marketing, For the
purposes of this Act, “Agriculture Development Worker (ADW) is interchangeably used with
“Agriculture Extension Worker (AEW).”

2. “Agricultural Engineering” refers to a person registered with the Profession Regulation
Commission or Civil Service Commission performing training and extension work in agricultural
and fisheries mechanization, irrigation, drainage, soil and water conservation, agricultural buildings
and structures, agricultural processing and post harvest facility;

3. Agroforester refers to a person who is a graduate of a four-year course in forestry, or
agroforestry, or related fields and licensed with the Professional Regulation Commission or Civil
Service Commission performing training and extension on forestry/community forestry.

4. “Barangay Technician” refers to a successful agriculture/fishery producer who volunteers
and is assigned to assists farmers and other agriculture producers in their respective barangays
towards the modernization of their respective AF enterprises.

‘The barangay agricultural technician works closely with the barangay agriculture committee
for the planning of projects to be implemented at the barangay level

5. “Catalytic Financing” the provision of financial assistance by a National Government as
counterpart grant to the resources provided by the Local Government Units to achieve increased
investment by the private sector in the implementation of agriculture and fisheries extension
services to accelerate the achievement of national goals,

6. “Civil Society” refers to the group of organizations whose voluntary collective action
revolves around shared interests, purposes and values. Civil societies are organizations composed
‘of community groups, women’s organizations, faith-based organizations, professional associations,
trade unions, self-help groups, social movements, business associations, coalitions and advocacy
groups,

7. “Consumers” are those that acquire goods or services for direct use or ownership rather
than for resale or use in production and manufacturing,

8. “Empowerment” is the expansion of assets and capabilities of people to participate in,
negotiate with, influence, control and hold accountable institutions that affect their lives; it involves
providing authority, responsibility, and information to people directly engaged on agriculture and



fishery production, primarily at the level of the farmers, fisher folk and those engaged in food and
non-food production and production, in order to give them enhanced economics rights,

9. is an educational and information service aimed at the
transformation of the behavioral traits or characteristics of agriculture and fishery producers,
consumers, or traders as a consequence of on “new knowledge” or research results. Agriculture
extension These services include those services include all those provided by both national and
local governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.

10, “Extension System for Agriculture and Fisheries” refers to the extension service delivery
system of the country that includes all services provided by national, local, non-governmental
organizations and the private sector

11, “Farmer-to-Farmer or Fisher-to-Fisher Extension Approach” refers to the modality of
extension where a farmer or fishers systematically learned from their successful peers new
knowledge or skills to improve the productivity and income of their enterprises.

12, “Fisheries” refers to all interrelated activities which include the production, growing,
harvesting, processing, marketing, developing, conserving and managing of all aquatic and
fisheries areas;

13, “Fisheries Technologist” refers to a person who is a graduate of a four year course in
Fisheries and registered and licensed with the Professional Regulation Commission or Civil Service
Commission performing training and extension on fisheries, marine resources and aquaculture;

14, “Food Security” refers to the national policy objective of meeting the food requirements of
the present and the future generations of Filipinos in substantial quantity, ensuring the availability
and affordability of safe and nutritious food to all, either through local production or importation,
or both, based on the country’s existing and potential resource endowment and related production
advantages, and consistent with the overall national development objectives and policies;

15. “Formula grants” these are national government financial transfers to the local
governments to enable them to meet national standards in the provision of Agriculture and
Fisheries Extension Services (AFES) especially among the poor. The funding formula takes into
consideration, among others, the financial capacity of a municipality or a province;

16, “Knowledge Management” is a systematic approach which invents, understands, shares,
creates and utilizes knowledge in order to create values such as producers value, customer's value,
employee's value, stockholder’s value, business partner’s value and social value to achieve the
vision and goal of the organization;

17. “Partnership” a relationship between and among agencies that is characterized by mutual
cooperation and responsibility towards the achievement of shared goals

18. “RBOs” are rural based organizations or people’s organizations composed of various
sectors of the rural community such as farmers, fisherfolk, growers, seed producers, women and
youth;

19. “Targeted Financial Transfer” is a financial support provided by the national government
to the LGUs to enable them to plan and implement projects in agriculture extension aimed at
helping the poor and economically disadvantaged rural beneficiaries;

20. The value chain, also known as value chain analysis, is a concept from business
management that was first described and popularized by in his 1985. “Value
Chain”, is a process of increasing value of products. Products pass through all activities of the
chain in order, and at each activity the product gains some value. The chain of activities gives the
products more added value than the sum of added values of all activities.

21. “Veterinarians” refers to a person registered with the Professional Regulation
Commission performing professional services related to the practice of veterinary medicine
including training and extension on disease prevention control and animal health



Section 4. Statement of Goals. — Agricultural Extension is a policy instrument for agriculture and
fisheries development aimed at empowering individuals and organizations; public agriculture
extension shall contribute towards the achievement of the national goals of agriculture
development

Section 5. Statement of Objectives. — Agriculture and Fisheries extension shall contribute to the
following objectives:

a) To enhance the economic right of producers, especially the poor, to use the most
appropriate technologies they feel will give them the best profit and to choose the most affordable
loans in producing the quality and quantity of products and to sell their products freely; traders, 10
move goods in the expectation of profits unconstrained by serious lack of knowledge and
information; and consumers, regardless of their geographic location, to buy safe and nutritious
foods at the lowest prices possible.

b) To manage knowledge in strengthening the individual and organizational capabilities of
producers, traders and consumers; and

¢) To help create an enabling environment that strengthens the linkage between knowledge
generation and knowledge use and encourages increased investment in agriculture extension by the
private sector, civil society, and local governments,

Section 6. Clients. - The clients of Philippine agricultural and fisheries extension system are the
producers (farmers, fisherfolk, and agricultural processors), traders and consumers along the value
chain, Public extension shall focus on the delivery of public goods. The priority clients shall be the
economically and socially disadvantaged groups in agriculture and fisheries. Local Government
Units shall put primary attention to these groups in the provision of extension services

ARTICLE IL.
STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATIONS

Section 7. Creation of the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Agency (PAFEA). ~ The
Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) is hereby strengthened and transformed into the Philippine
Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Agency (PAFEA). It shall serve as the national apex
organization for a unified and efficient agriculture and fisheries extension system of the country. It
shall ensure that public extension services meet the national standards of performance and
effectively contribute towards the achievement of the national goals of agriculture and fisheries
modernization and sustainable development.

Section 8, Powers and Functions
a) Provide direction in the development of national extension policies in agriculture and
fisheries;
b) Orchestrate the development of extension strategic plan including its financing in
coordination with the Department of Budget and Management and otherstakeholders;
<) Develop and implement national policies and programs aimed at the continuous
improvement of the quality of extension methods, products, and services towards a more
efficient and client-responsive national agriculture and fisheries knowledge management
system;
d) Develop a system towards the management of the country’s extension resources for
agriculture and fisheries to ensure a sustainable, participatory and efficient system of funding
of information, education, and communication materials (IEC);
¢) to help achieve optimal efficiency along the value chain;


1) Provide leadership in the development and implementation of the National Agriculture and
Fisheries Knowledge Network (NAFKN) in agriculture and fisheries of the Department through a
system of partnership that may include, but not be limited to the LGUs (Local Government Units),
the regional development council (RDC), the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council (RAFCs),
the academe especially the state universities and colleges (SUCs) of agriculture and fisheries, the
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), producers, rural- based organizations (RBOs) and the private
sector;

'g) Provide national leadership in developing extension partnerships towards increased
investment and robust private sector participation in consultation with agriculture and fisheries
councils (AFCs);

h) Harness centers of research excellence specially state universities and colleges (SUCs) of
agriculture and fisheries in the implementation of the national programs especially in the areas of
extension innovations, national training, impact assessment, and monitoring and evaluation of
extension institutions, programs, and projects;

i) Provide leadership in developing and implementing a national system of strengthening
institutional extension capacities at all levels of implementation; and

j) In coordination with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Local
Government Units, The Department of Local Governments, and other stakeholders, the PAFEA
shall set up a review mechanism for all agriculture and fisheries extension programs and budgets of
national agencies to determine cost-effectiveness of operations and impacts to national and local
goals

Section 9. Structure of PAFEA. ~ The Agency shall be headed by a Director General (DG) with a
rank of Assistant Secretary who shall be assisted by two Deputy Directors General (DDG); they
shall be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture. The
appointed officials shall come from a list submitted by an Independent Search Committee
organized by the Secretary of Agriculture through the Council of Extension Research Development
in Agriculture and Fisheries (CERDAF). These officials shall have a fixed tenure of six (6) years
and may be re-appointed for an additional term of four (4) years based on very satisfactory
performance.

Section 10. The Council of Extension Research Development in Agriculture and Fisheries
(CERDAE) — The Council of Extension Research Development in Agriculture and Fisheries
(CERDAF) is hereby strengthened. It shall ensure that the agriculture and fisheries research,
development and extension policies and programs of the Department are consistent with national
policies and priorities

a) Functions and duties of the Council of Extension Research Development in Agriculture and
Fisheries (CERDAF).

(1) Recommend to the DA Secretary policies covering program priorities and resource
allocation in in agriculture and fisheries research and extension of all agencies of the Department;

(2) Enhance coordination and linkage of government institutions involved in agriculture
and fisheries research, development and extension,

(3) Strengthen the participation of various stakeholders, especially the civil society,
local government units, and private sector in the development of National Research Development
and Extension (NRDE) agenda and programs;

(4) Strengthen the institutional efficiency of the NRDE system, including the setting up
of a monitoring and evaluation system on the effectiveness and efficiency of its various
components; and

(5) Set guidelines in the use of services and facilities, collection of fees and in the
utilization of income



Section 11. Composition of the Council for Extension Research Development in Agriculture and
Fisheries (CERDAF). The Undersecretary for Policy and Planning of the DA shall be the Chair of
the Council, There shall be a Vice Chair to be selected from among the other members of the
Board. The Executive Director of the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Agency
(PAFEA) and the Director of the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) shall be officio members,
and the Chair shall appoint the Executive Director of PAFEA as Secretary of the Council. The
CERDAF shall have the following members:
(1) Designated Undersecretary for Policy and Planning of the following Departments
i, Department of Science and Technology;
ii, Department of Environment and Natural Resources;
iii, Department of Interior and Local Government;
(2) Presidents of the following LGU organizations:
i, League of Provinces,
ii. Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP),

(3) Four (4) CSO representatives or one each from the rural youth, rural women, and
farmer, and. fisherfolk sectors as identified and selected by the Department of Agriculture;

(4) One (1) private sector representative appointed by the DA Secretary,

(5) One representative each from the following national professional scientific
societies/organizations as recommended by the Secretary of the Department of Science &
‘Technology:

i) crops,

ii) agriculture economics/economics;,

) fisheries & aquatic science,
iv)livestock/animal science,

v)plant protection;

vi) sociology/anthropology/communications

Section 12. Offices under the PAFEA — To carry out the functions of Agency, PAFEA shall have
four technical offices as follows: (1) Policy Development; (2) Extension Innovations & National
Training; (3) Knowledge Products and Services Development; and (4) Extension Governance and
Partnerships
The PAFEA shall maintain a small regional office to:

(1) liaise with Department Regional Field Units (RFUs), the principal arm of the
Department in the implementation of extension policies and programs in the regions

(2) provide technical assistance in the efficient implementation of PAFEA policies and
programs and

(3) monitor and evaluate extension offices and programs and projects funded by the DA
that are being undertaken in the regionby government agencies. The PAFEA is authorized to
utilize existing Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) plantilla and to convert them into positions
most appropriate to the Agency to provide national technical and managerial leadershipmanagerial
leadership.

ARTICLE U1
Organization of the Local Government Extension Services

Section 13. Province as the LGU Unit of Operation for Agriculture and Fisheries Extension. ~ To
achieve efficiency and to provide more responsive services, the planning and implementation unit
of the extension services at the Level of Local Government Units is the province through a


Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Services under the office of the Governor. Towards
this end, all technical and financial assistance from the national government to local government
units on agriculture and fisheries development shall be coursed through and coordinated by the
province. The Provincial Agriculture and Extension Services shall be headed by a technically-
qualified career Provincial Agriculturist & Fisheries Officer (PAFO). The PAFO shall have two
deputies or Assistant PAFOs; one for fisheries and one for agriculture development. These officers
shall be appointed by the Director General of PAFEA chosen from three qualified nominees per
position submitted by the Governor. Its staff shall be composed of technically qualified career
agriculturists, economists, statisticians, agricultural engineers, fishery technologist, agroforester
and veterinarians appointed by the Provincial Governor. The position of fishery technologist and
agroforester shall be provided only in coastal municipalities and non-chartered cities and in
municipalities and non-chartered cities where there are community-based forest management areas.

Section 14, Extension Personnel in the Municipalities & Non-chartered Cities. - Upon the
affectivity of this Act, all municipal and non-chartered cities agriculture and fisheries extension
personnel shall become provincial employees unless the LGU concerned choose to retain these
personnel under their own plantilla and budget. Municipal and city extension employees
transferred to the province shall be issued a new appointment by the Governor as organic
personnel of the Provincial Agriculturist & Fisheries Office (PAFO), Transferred extension
personnel may shall continue to serve their respective municipalities and non-chartered cities as
detailed employees of the province based on a rationalized organizational structure submitted by
the LGUs and approved by the PAFEA and the DBM. Existing employees of municipalities or
cities that opt to retain their personnel do not need to issue new appointments to staff of the same
positions, The Municipal/City Agriculture and Extension Services shall be headed by a
technically-qualified career Municipal/City Agriculturist & Fisheries Officer (M/CAFO) based on
the criteria set by the PAFEA. They shall be appointed by the PAFEA chosen from three qualified
nominees submitted by the mayors and endorsed by the governors. Existing MAOs or CAOs who
fail to get reappointed for various reasons except for cause shall serve as Supervising Agriculturists
with salaries equal to that of their existing positions. M/CAFO whether under the plantilla of the
province or the municipalities/cities shall have direct day-to-day supervision of all extension
municipal/city personnel whether organic or detailed to the municipalities, On the other hand, the
PAFO shall have direct technical supervision of all M/CAFOs in the province regardless of their
sources of salaries. As such, M/CAFOs and their personnel are obligated to attend meetings,
workshops, seminars, and other activities organized by the province that require their participation
In addition, they shall, on a periodic basis, submit, submit data and reports required by the
province or the national government. In cooperation with the PAFEA and the state colleges and
universities of agriculture, all provinces are required to design and implement a periodic external or
third party evaluation of all municipal and city extension programs and services

Section 15, Salaries and Wages of Extension Personnel. ~ The salaries and wages of all agriculture
and fisheries technical extension personnel under the payroll of the provincial government shall be
paid by the National Government through an annual grant-in-aid to be paid out of the regular
appropriation of the PAFEA of the Department of Agriculture; provided, however, that during the
first year of the affectivity of this Act, the local government concerned shall reallocate its savings
from the personal services for agriculture personnel to its agriculture and fisheries extension;
Provided, further, that every year thereafter, the concerned LGU shall appropriate the equivalent
funds paid by the national government as the minimum amount for its agriculture and fisheries
operation or counterparts to national grant-in-aid in agriculture and fisheries, without prejudice to
the provision of additional funds that may be allocated by the LGUs for this purpose.


Section 16, The salaries and wages of technical extension personnel for both agriculture and
fisheries shall be standardized so that these are equal or comparable to similar that of positions of
national employees. This provision is without prejudice to the provision of additional stafT benefits
by concerned LGUs where their finances warrant. The provision of grants in aid to pay for the
salaries and wages of the technical personnel of the LGU extension services shall be subject to
external review and evaluation every five years to determine its impact to the quality of services,
its cost-effectiveness, and impact on the goals of AFMA. A copy of the report shall be provided to
Congress and serve as the basis for the continuation or modification of the grant-in-aid.

Section 17. Structure of the Provincial Extension Services. - The provincial and municipal
agriculture and fisheries extension services shall organize and structure its services based on the
agricultural and extension needs of the province and on the standards set by the PAFEA. The
technical positions of the PAFEA, and the Provincial & Municipal Extension Services shall be
rationalized to provide the appropriate number of positions for agriculturist, mixed crop-
livestock/tree specialist, communication and curriculum specialist, community organizers/rural
anthropologists, economists/agribusiness economists, agricultural engineers, fishery technologists,
agroforester and veterinarians. The position of fishery technologist and agroforester shall be
provided only in coastal provinces and where there are community-based forest management areas.

Section 18. LGU Livestock Production Services. In recognition of the need to provide an integrated
extension approach to total farm development, the LGU livestock production services shall be part
and parcel of the Provincial Agricultural Office (PAO). In cases where these functions were earlier
integrated into the Provincial Veterinary Services, they shall be returned and re-integrated to the
rest of the PAO services. This is to prevent conflict of interest between regulatory functions and
livestock extension functions. with Veterinary Services

Section 19, Strategic Plan in Agriculture and Fisheries. To provide coherence of all government
plans in agriculture and fisheries and to achieve efficiency in the use of resources, all provincial
governments are required to develop a five-year strategic plan in agriculture and fisheries based on
the framework and principles provided by the Department of Agriculture (DA). The Strategic Plan
shall serve as the basis for the Provincial Annual Work Program & Budget and thefor the DA to
provide short-term and long-term assistance. The yearly program of work and budget shall be
derived from the strategic plan

ARTICLE IV
AGRICULTURAL SERVICE CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Section 20. Professionalization of Extension Services. - The State shall support the development
and professionalization of agricultural services by providing the necessary compensation and
benefits to various extension workers based on their duties, responsibilities and qualifications. For
this purpose, the PAFEA, in coordination with Civil Service Commi mn, shall develop
qualification standards beyond the minimum set by the Civil Service Commission for the various
managerial, technical and non-technical positions of the extension services of the country including
that of all local government units. The PAFEA shall also develop a career path of ail technical
extension personnel that will allow them , regardless of assignment or location in government, to
move vertically in the promotion system. Managerial positions shall be open to all qualified
personnel regardless of geographic or agency assignment. Towards this end, the PAFEA shall issue
guidelines for the creation of a merit promotion boards in all extension agencies/office to include
representatives of civil societies and the SUCs of agriculture and fisheries. for each extension

10


agency. In determining the salaries of agriculture and fishery development workers, the provisions
of Joint Resolution No. 4, series of 2009, entitled, “Joint Resolution Authorizing the President of
the Philippines to Modify the Compensation and Position Classification System of Civilian
Personnel and the Base Pay Schedule of Military and Uniformed Personnel in the Government, and
for Other Purposes, ” shall apply

Section 21. Mandatory Managerial Positions in the Provision of Agriculture Services in the Local
Government Units. - The creation of the following positions is hereby made mandatory in addition
to the prescribed position under the Local Government Code of 1991
a, Provincial Agriculture & Fisheries Officer (PAFO)
1) Asst. PAFO for Fisheries Development
2) Asst. PAFO for Agriculture Development
b. City Agriculturist & Fisheries Officer (CAFO)
¢. Municipal Agriculture & Fisheries Officer (MAFO)

Section 22. Transfer of Geographical Reassignment of Agricultural Officers and Employees of the
LGUs. No transfer or geographical reassignment shall be made or effected without a written notice
to personnel 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 AgricultureLabor 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 his/her
immediate family shall be paid by the Government.

Section 23. Security of Tenure. ~ Any agricultural services personnel 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 as verified by by the Civil Service
Commission, he/she shall be entitled to reinstatement without loss of seniority rights and back
wages with twenty per centum (20%) interest to be computed from the time compensation has
beenis withheld up to the reinstatement. In cases, however when the agricultural worker does not
desire to be reinstated, he/she shall be entitled to back wages and separation pay with twenty per
centum interest.

Section 24. Discrimination Prohibited. - An agricultural services worker shall not be discriminated
by reason of creed, sex, political belief, civil status, and ethnic grouping in the exercise of his/her
profession,

Section 25, Safeguards in Administrative Proceedings. - In every administrative proceeding, an
Agricultural Extension Worker shall have:

a) the right to be informed of the charges;

b) the right to full access to evidence against him/her,

) 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:

£) the right to cross-examine witnesses and to processes for the production of witnesses;

4) the right to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in his/her defense in case of
exoneration or dismissal of the charges; and


hh) 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.

Section 26, Code of Conduct. - All agricultural extension workers must be guided by a code of
cthics 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.

Section 27. Training and Scholarship Program. - The Department of Agriculture through the
PAFEA shall undertake trainings and scholarship program for the agricultural development
workers, which shall be provided with adequate budgetary support by the Government

Section 28. Married Agricultural Extension 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 V
INCENTIVES AND REWARDS SYSTEM

Section 29, Criteria for Incentives and Rewards System. ~ The PAFEA shall develop reward
and incentive system for agricultural extension workers provided under this Act, which will
encourage them to stay in the service, promote their productivity and reward them for extraordinary
performance

Section 30. Other Compensation and Benefits. - All agricultural extension workers shall be
entitled to the following additional compensation and benefits:

a) Representation Allowance and Traveling Allowance — All Provincial/City/Municipal AF
Officers shall be entitled to Representation Allowance and Traveling Allowance (RATA)
equivalent to the Department Head of the eqluivaqlent 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 Allowance - All agricultural extension 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
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 extension 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.

¢) Housing — All agriculture and fisheries extension workers who are oin tour of duty and
those who, because of unavoidable circumstances, are forced to stay in the institution or community

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shall receive housing allowances unless the government is able to provide free public
accommodation. Housing allowance shall be reviewed periodically and adjusted accordingly.

g) 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.

ARTICLE VI
‘The Farmer-to-Farmer Extension Approach

Section 34. The Farmer-to-Farmer Approach. The farmer-to-farmer approach in extension is
hereby institutionalized. The PAFEA, in cooperation with centers of research excellence and
interested LGUs, shall take leadership in developing a highly flexible and innovative system. It
shall pilot the approach until it becomes an integral part of the national system in no more than ten
years. For the initial implementation of this provision, an initial budget of twenty — million
(20,000,000) pesos is hereby allocated for the first year. Every year thereafter the budget shall be
adjusted accordingly depending on the needs and response of the LGUs and non-governmental
organizations subject to review by the CERDAF.

ARTICLE VII
Funding for Extension Services

Section 36. Initial Appropriation. — For the first year of implementation of this Act, the amount of
ten billion pesos (PHP10,000,000,000.00) shall be appropriated out of the total budget of the
Department of Agriculture (DA) for personal services, grants-in-aid to the LGUs, operation and
capital outlay requirements of the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Agency
(PAFEA).

‘The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is hereby mandated to include
annually in the President's program of expenditures for submission to Congress and release an
amount not less than ten billion pesos (PHP10,000,000,000.00) or one percent of the gross value
added in agriculture and fisheries, whichever is higher, for the implementation of this Act, Five
billion pesos (PhP5,000,000,000) of this amount shall be allocated to the salary grant to LGUs for
the local extension personnel and operation of the PAFE. The Department of Agriculture is
hereby tasked accordingly to rationalize its budget to meet the requirements of this Act.

‘The PAFEA is authorized to utilize part of its yearly appropriation to set up or upgrade
necessary facilities to improve the provision of national extension services. All assets, resources
both human and financial of Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), shall be transferred to the
PAFEA.

All revenues generated out of the use of services, facilities and equipment shall be utilized
by the Agency to augment its maintenance and operating expenditures subject to the approval of
the Governing Board.

ARTICLE VIL
Final Provisions

Section 37. Phased implementation. The implementation of this Act shall be phased over a period
of five (5) years.

Section 38. Oversight Committee. The Congressional Oversight Committee for Agriculture and
Fisheries Modernization (COCAFM) shall oversee the implementation of this Act for a period not
exceeding five (5) years from its affectivity.


Section 39. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~The Department of Agriculture in close
coordination with the Department of Local Government, the Leagues of Governors and Mayors and
relevant members of the civil society shall formulate an implementing rules and regulations (IRR)
that includes an implementation plan indicating a phased approach to provide smooth transition
from the present to the reformed extension system under this Act. Within ninety (90) days from the
affectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) shall furnish a copy of
the IRR. to the Committee of Agriculture of both Houses of Congress.

Section 40. Repealing Clause. - If any provisions of this Act are declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting

Section 41, Effectively Clause. — This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days from the date of its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least in two (2) national newspapers of general

APPROVED.