NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 466
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of t'ii’ 
■ TUtry
•22 JUL13 A10 :14 
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RECEIVED B'__M
Introduced by SENATOR JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE AGRICULTURE INFORMATION SYSTEM IN ALL CITIES 
AND MUNICIPALITIES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines is a primarily an agricultural country. The implementation of 
projects and programs for the promotion and development of this industry should 
always be based on reliable statistics to make them appropriate, responsive and 
inclusive.
The Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), which used to be under the 
Department of Agriculture handling agricultural and fishery statistics, was abolished 
by virtue of Republic Act No. 10625, otherwise known as the "Philippine Statistical Act 
of 2013". The personnel and functions of BAS, together with other major statistical 
agencies, constituted the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) which now serves as the 
central statistical authority of the Philippine government on primary data collection.
Among the functions of the PSA Is to "coordinate with government departments 
and local government units (LGUs) on the promotion and adoption of statistical 
standards Involving techniques, methodologies, concepts, definitions and 
classifications, and on the avoidance of duplication in the collection of statistical 
Information."


The "Agriculture Information System /Id’" aims to establish an integrated, 
computerized, and web-based agricultural commodity supply Inventory and registry 
system which will provide the national government access to real-time agricultural 
information which are useful In rationalizing the objectives and policy directives In the 
agricultural sector. This measure links the data from cities and municipalities to the 
PSA. Such mechanism will enhance the data gathering and monitoring of data in the 
local and national levels.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is highly 
recommended.
NGGOY E3ERCITO ESTRADA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
01 ili? S' "rr
72 JUL 13 A10 :l 4
SENATE
466
S. No.
RnCEIVtD E:'
Introduced by SENATOR JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE AGRICULTURE INFORMATION SYSTEM IN ALL CITIES 
AND MUNICIPALITIES
Be ft enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the ^Agriculture Information
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System Act."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to uplift the
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socioeconomic conditions of farmers and farming communities nationwide in order to
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promote their welfare and empower their sector in the overall development and
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progress of the country. Pursuant to this, an integrated, computerized, web-based
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agricultural commodity supply inventory and registry system linking farmers and
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organized communities all over the country needs to be established to provide an
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easy-to-access local and global real time Information for agricultural commodities, with
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an end view of creating a wider range of market linkages among other farmers and
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agricultural buyers. Furthermore, through synchronized agriculture information
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system, the National Government shall have access to real-time agricultural
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information which can rationalize the objectives and policy directives in the agricultural
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sector.
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Sec. 3. Objectives. - This Act aims to attain the following objectives:
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a) Provide an up-to-date database of agricultural and fisheries products in a
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locality;


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b) Foster information sharing between farmers and potential buyers of 
agricultural and fisheries products;
c) Secure a market for agricultural and fisheries products and ensure 
appropriate return of investment for farmers and fisheries stakeholders;
d) Allow local government units to manage a secure and independent platform 
that creates linkages for farmers and fisheries stakeholders;
e) Provide data on specific commodities that are readily available in a particular 
locality for purposes of production monitoring in order to meet the demands 
of the market;
f) Provide a secure, transparent and independent modern web application that 
may be accessed anytime by the public through a multi-platform support or 
cross-platform support devices which can be linked to existing systems in 
the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);
g) Streamline training and seminars In the management of the operations;
h) Monitor the use of Inputs given by producers, buyers and other segments 
the value-chain including information during post-harvest and processing; 
and
i) Ensure that all forms of assistance given to local government units (LGUs), 
registered cooperatives and other qualified individuals and organizations are 
monitored.
Sec. 4. Agriculture Information System. - All cities and municipalities are hereby 
mandated to establish an Agriculture Information System (AIS), hereinafter referred 
to as Information System. The AIS shall serve as a dynamic online computer database 
where information on the demand for specific agricultural and fisheries commodities 
is gathered and uploaded simultaneously with the production data from farmers in 
every barangay. The AIS shall merge and synchronize agricultural data from different 
sources Into a cohesive database designed to facilitate linkages from place of origin 
or the farm to local, and ultimately, global markets. The AIS shall also be Integrated
with the existing systems of the PSA.
The Information System shall have the following features and contents:


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a) Municipal and city-wide identification of individual farmers, fish breeders,
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and fisherfolk as well as qualified organizations which produce specific farm
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and fisheries products, regardless of quantity;
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b) Crop harvest, volume and type forecasting;
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c) Inventory of specific classification of crop varieties planted, livestock and
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type offish raised in a particular LGU;
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d) Farmers and fisherfolk demographics, including age group, gender, ethnic
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group, income, seminars and trainings attended, and assistance received;
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e) Selected reports presented in both tabular and graphical form;
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f) Registry of farmers' contact details and farm location to facilitate market
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linkages;
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g) Search engine which allows farmers, fish breeders, and fisherfolk to look for
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potential and actual buyers and for such buyers to search for farms,
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farmers, and available agricultural and fisheries products; and
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h) Customizable dashboard which is accessible only to registered farmers and
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fisherfolk clients and contains the farmers' and fisherfolk's profile such as
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the area of the farm or fishpond, crops planted, livestock and type of fish
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raised.
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Sec. 5. Registration. - All cities and municipalities shall encourage and facilitate
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the free registration of all farmers, fisherfolk, as well as buyers transacting within their
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respective areas in the Information System.
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Sec. 6. Functions and Responsibiiities of Cities and Municipaiities. - The LGU
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shall exercise the following functions and responsibilities:
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a) The Municipal Agriculture Office, In coordination with the Municipal Agrarian
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Reform Office, shall gather, encode, and consolidate all pertinent data on
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the profile and demographics of farmers, fisherfolk as well as buyers;
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b) Monitor and control farm inputs Including machineries and equipment;
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c) For municipalities and component cities, prepare and submit real-time data
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under (a) and (b) to the provincial agricultural office and to the Sectoral
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Statistics Office of the PSA;
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d) For highly urbanized cities, submit real-time data to the Sectoral Statistics
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Office of the PSA;


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e) Establish farmer and buyer linkages and act as a gatekeeper at the city or 
municipal level in the nationwide marketing of agricultural products; and
f) Serve as the web administrator at the municipal or city level and be 
responsible for integrating farm and fisheries locations Into the geographic 
Integration system map.
Sec. 7. Functions and Responsibilities of the Province. - The provincial 
government shall have the following functions and responsibilities:
a) The Provincial Planning and Development Office (PDDO) is the web 
administrator at the provincial level and Is responsible for integrating farm 
and fisheries data Into the geographic integration system maps for 
agriculture and fisheries;
b) The Local Economic and Investment Promotion Office (LEIPO) acts as the 
lead administrator of the AIS in the provincial level and ensures the balance 
between supply and demand;
c) The Provincial Agricultural Office monitors the submission of reports from 
municipalities and component cities, and ensures the completeness, 
accuracy and validity of data submitted by the Municipal Agricultural Offices 
and the Municipal Agrarian Reform Offices; and
d) Except for highly urbanized cities, prepare and submit such data to the 
Sectoral Statistics Office of the PSA.
Sec. 8. Functions and Responsibilities of the Regional Office of the DA. - The 
regional office of the DA shall have the following functions and responsibilities:
a) Integrate the data provided by the provinces in the existing information 
system of the DA such as the National Farmers and Fisheries Information 
System (NFFIS) which is a web-based data collection system that serves as 
a platform for updating the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture
(RSBSA);
b) Collaborate with the regional offices of the Department of Trade and 
Industry (DTI) in order to facilitate the avallment of the various programs 
of the DTI as well as strengthen market linkages through such programs;
c) Recommend to the central office of the DA appropriate interventions in the 
form of marketing, importation, and training assistance, as may be needed.


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d) Validate the data from the LGUs acting as the system administrator at the 
regional level and provide real-time report to the Sectoral Statistics Office 
of the PSA; and
e) Endorse for financial assistance the qualified fifth and sixth class 
municipalities that can be given assistance in establishing and maintaining 
their respective AIS.
Sec. 9. Functions and Responsibilities of the Central Office of the Philippine 
Statistics Office. - The PSA shall have the following functions and responsibilities:
a) Allocate funding for the integration of the AIS with existing information
systems;
b) Coordinate with the Department of Information and Communications 
Technology (DICT) to upgrade, expand, and integrate its information 
systems;
c) Ensure that the implementation, appropriate verification processes and 
information safeguards are in place pursuant to existing laws and 
regulations, in coordination with the DICT, National Privacy Commission 
(NPC), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the 
Department of Science and Technology (DOST); and,
d) Approve the prioritized interventions by the regional offices and allocate
corresponding funding.
Sec. 10. Duties of the National Statistician. - The National Statistician shall 
monitor and ensure the compliance of all cities and municipalities as provided for 
under this Act and shall, as soon as practicable, establish a centralized AIS that shall 
Integrate and link all existing Information systems in the country.
Sec. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after 
the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall promulgate the necessaiy 
rules and regulations for the effective Implementation of this Act.
Sec. 12. Appropriations. — The National Statistician shall include in the PSAs 
programs the establishment of the integrated and centralized AIS, the funding of 
which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The LGUs shall 
provide the necessary funds for the establishment of an AIS in their respective annual
budgets.


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Sec. 13. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held Invalid or
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
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affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
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Sec. 14. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
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order, letter of Instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended
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accordingly.
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Sec. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or In a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,