THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
~~ 
~ 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The principle of decentralization has been proven to be solid and 
efficacious in the quest for development. It has given flesh to the idea of 
empowerment and efficiency. It has, in its promise, effects that are far-reaching 
and thoroughly felt throughout the nation. 
This is precisely what mandated the enactment of RA 7160 or the Local 
Government Code of 1991 where functions are devolved from the national to the 
local government units. 
Through a landmark body of legislation, the Code is not exempt from 
shortcomings and is therefore subject to amendments. 
One such provision involves the devolution of Department of Agriculture 
(DA) personnel to respective LGUs. It is an unfortunate fact that the devolved 
positions of the Municipal Agriculturist's Office are only optional, and not 
mandatory as recognized by the Code. 
It is because of this that the delivery of basic agriculture services, the 
implementation of GATT safety nets to the countryside and rural areas and the 
morale and welfare of the devolved agriculture offices and employees are 
compromised. 
This bill seeks to make mandatory the creation and establishment of the 
Municipal Agriculturist's Office and provides DA field personnel with the basic 
salary increases they rightfully deserved. 
Agriculture is the engine which will propel the country to an industrialized 
nation. Our farmers and agricultural workers are the backbone of the country. If 
we are to realize our collective dreams in this context, we must accord proper 
deference and recognition to the role our agricultural personnel play in our 
nation's journey to development. 
In view of the above considerations, the immediate passage of this bill is 
recommended. 
MANNY VIL AR 
a 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA OF AGRICULTURAL OFFICERS AND 
EMPLOYEES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title.--This 
Act shall be known as the "MAGNA CARTA OF 
AGRICULTURAL OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES." 
SECTION. 2. Definition of Terms. -- As used in this Act, the following 
terms shall be construed to mean as follows: 
(a) Agricultural Officer-is 
a person who is a graduate of agriculture or 
any related course from a recognized college or university and a holder of a first 
grade civil service eligibility or its equivalent, currently holding a supervisory 
position at the Department of Agriculture or devolved to the local government 
units for at least three (3) years for a municipal agricultural officer and at least 
five (5) years for a city agricultural officer and must be a citizen of the Philippines 
with good moral character. 
(b) Agricultural €mployee---is 
a person who is a graduate of agriculture 
of any recognized college or university or any related course in agriculture and a 
holder of an appropriate civil service eligibility and is employed at the Department 
of Agriculture or devolved to the local government units whose function and 
duties are related to agriculture and must be a citizen of the Philippines with good 
moral character. 
(c) Agricultural Extension Work-refers 
to the profession which helps 
farmers and fishermen in the promotion of agricultural development plans, 
programs and projects in agriculture through the use of extension methodologies, 
concepts and principles. 
(d) Practitioner-is 
a citizen of the Philippines with good moral character 
who is a graduate in agriculture employed in a government or non-government 
agency as well as in the private institution whose actual duties and functions are 
related to agriculture. 
(e) CSC-refers 
to the Civil Service Commission. 
(9 DOLE-refers 
to the Department of Labor and Employment, 


(9) NLRC-refers 
to the National Labor Relations Commission. 
(h) DA-refers 
to the Department of Agriculture 
(i) LGU-refers 
to the Local Government Unit. 
SECTION. 3. Declaration of Po/icy,-- 
The State shall promote the 
agricultural sector being the backbone of the country and likewise improve the 
economic and social well-being 
of the agricultural officers and employees, their 
standard of living as well as elevate their working conditions and employment 
status. The State shall likewise develop the agricultural officers and employees 
skills, knowledge, orientations and capabilities in order that they will be more 
responsive to the needs of the farmers and fishermen as well as better equipped 
them to deliver their basic service and programs to their clientele. Lastly, the 
State shall encourage those with proper qualifications and excellent abilities to 
remain in agricultural extension work either in government or non-government 
service. 
SECTION. 4. Coverage.- 
This Act shall cover all eligible Agricultural 
Officers and Employees as well as all agricultural practitioners in the government 
or non-government service. 
SECTION. 5. Recruitment and Qualifications. - The selection and 
appointment of agricultural officers and employees shall be in accordance with 
the merit and fitness principle: Provided, That he/she be an eligible agricultural 
officers 
and 
employees: 
Provided, further, That the Civil Service Commission or the Department of Labor 
and Employment, as the case may be, develop and administer specialized 
examination for purposes of providing appropriate eligibilities to positions. 
SECTION. 6. Performance Evaluation and Merit Promofion.-The 
Management Agricultural Consultative Council shall prepare a uniform career 
and personnel development plan applicable to all agricultural officers and 
employees. Such career and personnel development shall include provisions on 
merit promotion, performance evaluation, in-service 
training grants, job rotation 
and incentive awards system. 
SECTION. 7. Composition.- The composition of the Agricultural Officers 
and Employees Consultative Council shall be determined from the list submitted 
by the Regional Association of MunicipaWCity Agricultural Officers, Provincial 
Agriculturists throughout the country as well as the lists submitted by the 
Municipal Agriculture and Fishery Council Chairmen, provincial Agriculture and 
Fishery Council Chairmen, Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council Chairmen 
and the National Agriculture and Fishery Council Chairman of the country. 
SECTION. 8. Transfer of Geographical Reassignment of Agricultural 
Officers and Employees.-- No transfer or geographical reassignment shall be 
made or effected without a written notice to the agricultural officers and 
employees concerned stating therein the reasons 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 for such transfer or reassignment 
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 
andlor reassignment of the agricultural officers andlor employees and his/her 
immediate family shall be paid for by the government. 
SECTION. 9. Security of Tenure..- No agricultural officer and employee 
holding a permanent position shall not be terminated except for a cause: 
Provided, in the event the Agricultural Officer or Employee is found to be unjustly 
dismissed by the Civil Service Commission or the National Labor Relations 
Commission as the case may be, helshe shall be entitled to reinstatement 
without loss of seniority rights and backwages with twenty (20%) per centum 
interest to be computed from the time hidher compensation is withheld from 
himlher 
to 
the 
time 
of 
reinstatement. 
However, if the agricultural officer or employee does not desire to be reinstated, 
he/she shall be entitled to backwages and separation pay with twenty (20%) per 
centum interest. 
SECTION. 10. Discrimination Prohibited.- 
An agricultural officer and 
employee shall not be discriminated by reason of creed, sex, political beliefs, civil 
status, and ethnic groupings in the exercise of hislher profession. 
SECTION. 11. No Understanding and/or Overloading of Agricultural 
Officers and €mp/oyees.- 
There shall be no understaffing andlor overloading of 
agricultural officers and employees. The ratio of staff to clientele shall be such as 
to reasonable effect a sustained quality agricultural service at all times without 
overworking the agricultural officers and employees and over- extending hislher 
services. Only professional and eligible agricultural officers and employees shall 
occupy the agricultural positions in all agricultural agencies and institutions of the 
government agencies and/or government-owned and controlled corporations. 
SECTION. 12. Safequards in Administrative Proceedings.-- In every 
administrative proceeding, an Agricultural Officer and employee shalt have: 
(a) the right to be informed of the charges; 
(b) the right to full access on evidences against himlher; 
(c) the right to defend himselflherself or by a counsel of hislher choice; 
(d) the right to be given adequate time to prepare his/her case, which shall 
(e) the right to appeal to designated authorities; 
(9 the right to cross-examine witnesses and to processes for production 
of witnesses; 
(9) the right 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 the other national agencies and local 
government units to its respective officers and employees so as to 
ensure fairness and impartiality in the proceedings. 
in no case exceed twenty (20) days; 
SECTION. 13. Code of Conducf.- 
All agricultural officer and employee 
must be guided by its code of ethics not contrary to law, moral, safety, health, 
public policy and public order. 


SECTION. 14. Normal Hours of Work.- The normal hours of work of any 
agricultural officer and employee shall not exceed eight (8) hours a day or forty 
(40) hours a week. 
Hours of work shall include: (a) the time the agricultural office and 
employee is required to be in active duty or to be at a prescribed workplace; (b) 
the time which an agricultural oficer 
and employee is permitted to work; and (c) 
the time which an agricultural officer and employee is required to work in a place 
other than the prescribed workplace. 
SECTION. 15. Overtime Work- Where the exigencies of the service so 
require, any agricultural officer and employee, whether in the government or 
non-government service, may be required to render service beyond the normal 
eight (8) hours a day, inclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and non-working 
holidays. In such case, the agricultural officer and employee shall be paid an 
additional compensation in accordance with existing laws on the matter. 
SECTION. 16. On-call 
Pay.-- In cases of “On-Call’ 
status, the 
agricultural officer and employee shall be entitled to an “On- 
Call” pay 
equivalent to fifty (50%) per centum of hislher regular wage. “On-Call” 
status 
refers to a condition when an agricultural officer and employee are called upon to 
respond to urgent or immediate need or relief work during emergencies such that 
the agricultural officer or employee cannot utilize hislher time for personal needs: 
Provided, That no agricultural officer and employee shall be placed in ”On-Call’’ 
status beyond seven (7) days. 
SECTION. 17. Married Agricultural Officer and Employee. -- Whenever 
possible, the proper authorities shall take steps to enable married couple or 
couples, both of whom are public workers to be employed or assigned in the 
same municipality. 
SECTION. 18. Basic Compensation.- After the effectivity of this Act, the 
salaries of the Agricultural Officer and Employee shall be: 
For the Municipallcity Agricultural Officers-Their 
salaries 
shall be equated to the salaries of the Department Heads of the 
Local Government Units where they are devolved or assigned 
but not lower than Salary Grade 24; 
For Agricultural Technologists (AT5)-Their 
salary grades 
shall be upgraded to Salary Grade 18; and 
For Agricultural Development Specialists (ADS)-Their 
salary 
grades slal I be upgraded to Salary Grade 20. 
SECTION. 
19. 
Representation 
Allowance 
and 
Traveling 
Allowance..-- 
All 
Municipallcity 
Agricultural 
Officers 
shall 
be 
entitled 
to 
Representation 
Allowance 
and 
Traveling 
Allowance 
(RATA) 
equivalent 
to 
the 
Department 
Heads 
of 
the 
Local 
Government Units where they are devolvedlassigned. 
SECTION. 20. Hazard Allowance..- Any agricultural officer and employee 
assigned in difficult areas, strife-torn 
or embattled areas, distressed or isolated 
stations, animallplanVfishery breeding stations, plant nurseries, plantations and 
demonstration farms, 
laboratories specifically those 
handling x-rays, 
radioisotopes, chemical etc., sea-borne 
patrols and other areas declared under 
a state of calamity or emergency which exposes them to great danger, volcanic 
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 


activity/eruption, occupational risks oif perils of life shall be compensated with 
hazard allowance equivalent to at least tGYentY (20%) per centum or the monthly 
basic salary. 
SECTION. 21. Subsistence A//owance.- 
Any agricultural officer and 
employee who are required to render services in the communities, institutions, 
animal and plant breeding stations, fish sanctuaries/fishery nurseries, plant 
nurseries, plantations and demonstration farlms and other banner programs and 
projects of the Department of Agriculture in order to make their services available 
at all times, should be entitled to full subsistence allowance of three (3) meals 
which shall be computed in accordance with prevailing circumstances. 
SECTION. 22. Longevity Pay.-- A longevity pay equivalent to five (5%) per 
centum of the monthly basic pay shall be paid to an agricultural officer and 
employee for every three (3) years of continuous, efficient and meritorious 
services rendered. 
SECTION. 23. Clothing AI/owance.- 
All agricultural officers and 
employees shall be entitled for a clothing allowance in accordance with the 
approved laws and regulations or as mandated by law. 
SECTION. 24. Housing.- -All agricultural officer and employee who are in 
tour of duty and those who, because of unavoidable circumstances are forced to 
stay in the institution, community, etc. living quarters or such quarters are not 
available, he/she shall be entitled to free living quarters: provided, That if such 
living quarters are not available, the agricultural officer and employee shall 
receive housing allowances: Provided, further, That the rate of which shall be 
reviewed periodically in view of an increase. 
SECTION. 25. Compensation for Injuries.- Agricultural officer and 
employee shall be protected against work-related 
injuries in accordance with 
the Labor Code of the Civil Code Law as the case may be. 
SECTION. 26. Right to Join Organization.- 
Agricultural officer and 
employee shall have the right to freely join organizations or union for purposes 
not contrary to law, in order to defend and protect their mutual interest and to 
obtain redress of grievances through peaceful concerted activities: Provided, 
That under no circumstances shall government agricultural officer and employee 
be allowed to join, declare, stage, form any strike or cessation of services. 
SECTION. 27. Freedom from Interference or Coercion.-- 
It shall be 
unlawful for any person to commit any of the following acts interference or 
coercion: 
(a) 
to require as condition of employment that the agricultural 
officer and employee shall not join an agricultural organization 
or union; 
to discriminate in order to encourage or: discourage 
membership in any 
agricultural officer 
and employee 
organization or union; 
to prevent an agricultural officer and employee from carrying out 
his duties and functions in the agricultural work organization or 
union or to penalize the agricultural officer and employee for 
any lawful action performed in that capacity; 
(b) 
(c) 


(4 
to make calculated harassment an3d interference with the 
intention of intimidating or preventing the agricultural worker 
from performing hislher duties and functions; and 
(e) 
to perform acts calculated to diminish the independence and 
freedom of the union or organization to direct ifs own affajrs. 
SECTION. 28. Consultation.-The 
Department of Agriculture shall consult 
professional and agricultural work organizations or unions in formulating policies 
to govern the agricultural security of the agricultural officers and employees. 
SECTION. 29. Human Resource Deve/opment.- 
The government and 
non-government agencies shall conduct human resource development and 
management study in the following areas: 
(a) 
Adequate facilities and resources to render quality agricultural 
service to the clientele; 
Opportunity for the agricultural officer and employee to grow 
and develop their potentials and experience a sense of worth 
and diqnity in their work; 
(b) 
( 4  
Mechanisms for democratic consultations; 
Ways and means of enabling rank and file agricultural officer 
and employee viable educational opportunities for personal 
growth and development; and 
(e) 
Staffing patterns and standards of agricultural officer and 
employee welfare to ensure the people receive quality care. 
( 4  
SECTION. 30. Rules and Regulations.- 
The Management and 
Agricultural 
Officers 
and 
Employees 
Organization 
or 
Union 
Consultative 
Council 
shall 
formulate 
and 
prepare 
necessary 
rules 
and 
regulations 
in 
implementing 
the 
provisions 
of 
the 
Magna 
Carta, in coordination to the DOLE, CSC, NLRC, LGUs and the DA. 
SECTION. 31. Penal Provisions.- 
Any person who shall willfully 
interfere with, restrain or coerce any agricultural officer and employee in the 
exercise of hislher rights or shall in any manner commit any act in violation of any 
of the provisions of this Act, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not 
less than twenty thousand pesos (P20,OOO.OO) but not more than forty thousand 
pesos 
(P40,OOO.OO) 
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, may impose the additional penalty of disqualification 
from office of such offending public official. 
SECTION. 32. Separabilify Clause.-- If any provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder thereof not affected thereby 
shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION. 33. Repealing Clause.- 
All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations or other issuances inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 


SECTION. 34. Effecfivify.-This 
Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,