Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, _ 1001

Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Agriculturists, veterinarians, aqua-culturists, nutritionists, extension
workers, agricultural engineers, agricultural technicians/technologists maintain
the states linkages to farmers all over the country in improving and
modernization of the agricultural sector.

Last 2008, agriculture accounted for twenty-five percent (25%) of the
country’s Gross National Product (GNP) and forty-two and a half percent (42.5%)
of employment. They are the key players in the industry. They obtain government
assistance and support mainly through agricultural development workers. The
immediate delivery of services to our farmers have been left at a weakened and
staggered state by certain government functions to the local level, thus creating
coordination problems between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Local
Government Units (LGUs).

This House Bill seeks to make beneficial positions mandatory in all cities
and municipalities. This Bill also seeks the creation of slots for agricultural
engineers, fisheries, and aqua-cultural officer in all provinces, cities and
municipal governments. This House Bill also seeks to affirm the rights of
agricultural workers with the provisions for their career development as a means
of acknowledging their jgfportance in agricultural modernization.

Thus, the early paSeAge of this bill is earnestly requested.

ROMERO Ph.D.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 2001

Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero

AN ACT
CREATING 4 SERVICE CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
FOR AGRICULTURAL WORKERS, IMPROVING THEIR SOCIAL
WELL-BEING, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines
in congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the “Service Career
Development Program for Agricultural Workers Act of 2019.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared that the state
shall accelerate the development of the Philippine Agriculture and improve the
condit.ons and employment status.

The state shall likewise enhance their skills, intellectual capacity
necessary for providing services for our countryside development.

The state shall develop their knowledge and capabilities to become more

responsive and effective.

SECTION 3. Professionalization of Developmental Services - for this

purpose, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in coordination with the


Department of Budget and management (DBM), Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG) and Department of Agriculture (DA) shall review the existing
functions, qualifications, responsibilities, and plantilla if the agricultural
development workers employed at the DA, Local Government Units and all other

government concerned agencies.

SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations.

The Department of
Agriculture (DA) in collaboration with the Civil Service Commission (CSC),
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), National Labor Relations Council
(NLRC), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall issue and
formulate the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act.

SECTION 5. Recruitment Standards and Qualifications -— the
appointment of all agricultural development workers shall be in accordance with
the respective merits and fitness principles.

He or she must have the appropriate:

«civil service eligibilities and professional licenses;
* skill sets and competencies;
* educational qualification; and

+ experiences

SECTION 6. Performance Evaluation Procedures and Succession
Planning

1. This career development plans shall include the provisions on:

In-service training grants;

* Job rotation;

* Merit promotion;

¢ Performance evaluation; and

* Incentive awards system


The Department of Agriculture with consultation with the Civil Service
Commission and the national associations of agricultural development workers
shall prepare a uniform career and personal development plan applicable to all

concerned agricultural development workers.

SECTION 7. Powers and Functions ~ for this purpose, the Department of
Agriculture with the Civil Service Commission and the national associations of
agricultural development workers shall create and promulgate the necessary

provisions for the following:

* Geographical Reassignment of Agricultural Officers;
* Security of Tenure;

* Discrimination Prohibitations;

* No Overloading of Agricultural workers;

* Code of Conduct;

* Standard Work Hours;

* Overtime Work Hours; and

* Training and Scholarship Programs

SECTION 8. Incentives and Rewards - the incentives and rewards
system under this act, which shall encourage them to stay in the service,
promote productivity and reward their extraordinary performance shall be
governed by the following:

a. Performance based bonus - remuneration given to agricultural vorkers
for performances that will exceed their targets;

b. Honorarium - remuneration given to services rendered beyond the
required workload of agricultural workers;

c. Incentive pay ~ remuneration given to those whose services contribute
to the efficient and effective implementation of agricultural and
fisheries programs; and


d. Other incentives that the Department of Agriculture and Local
Government may establish.

All these cover’s the administration, management, policy making and support

services.

SECTION 9. Other Compensations and Benefits - all agricultural
development workers shall be entitled to the following additional compensation
and benefits:

* Housing;

* Clothing allowance;

+ Representatior. allowance and travelling allowance;
« Hazard allowance;

* On-call pay;

* Suwsistence allowance;

* Motor vehicle loan;

* Longevity pay; and

* Compensation for inquiries

All these cover's the administration, management, policy making and support

services.

SECTION 10. Miscellaneous Provisions - all government and non-
government agencies shall conduct the follov:ing human resources management

_-and developmental studies in the areas of:

a. Staffing patterns and standards of well-being to ensure that they
receive quality care;

b. Mechanisms for democratic consultations;

c. Adequate equipment and facilities to render quality agricultural
services to all;


d. Ways and Means of granting rank and file agricultural development
workers viable opportunities for education; personal growth and
development; and

e. Opportunity for all agricultural development workers to develop and

maximize their potentials.

SECTION 11. Monitoring and Implementation — the department of
Agriculture shall create a monitoring Committee which shall track the

implementation of the provisions of this Act.
The committee shall be composed of the representatives of the:

* Department of Agriculture (DA);

* Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG);

* Civil Service Commission (CSC); and

© The recognized national organizations of agricultural development
workers.

The department of Agriculture shall submit bi-annual reports on the progress
tracking and status of implementation of this Act to the committee on Agriculture
and Food of the House of Representatives (HOR) and Senate.

SECTION 12. Sanctions and Penalties — anyone who shall interfere with,
restrain any agricultural development worker in the exercise of his/her rights or
therefore violate any provisions of this Act shall upon his/her conviction, be
punished by a fine of not less than Twenty Five Thousand Pesos (Php 25,000.40)
but not more than Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 50,000.00) or imprisonment «* not

more than one (1) year, or both, at the discretion and prerogative of the court.

If the offender is a public official, the designated court, in addition to the
penalties provided in the preceding paragraph, shall impose additional penalty
of disqualification from office.


SECTION 13. Appropriation - There is hereby authorized to appropriate
the necessary funds to carry-out into effect the provisions of this act. Therefore
the budget shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 14. Repealing Ciause. All laws, executive orders, issuances,
rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed
or modified accordingly.

SECTION 15. Separability Clause. If, for any reason or reasons, any
portion or provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the
remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and
effect.

SECTION 16. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,