THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
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s. No. 
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Introduced by Senator S. R. OsmeAa 111 
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 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. 
S E ~ G I O  
OSMENA 111 
Senator 


P3 :OR 
p ,  I il 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE RE 
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First Regular Session 
1 
OF THE PWlhlPPlNES 
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Lilj4 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator S. R. OsmeAa 111 
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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 “Magna Carta of 
Agricultural Development Workers.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared a policy of he 
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 Terms. - 
a) Agricultural Development Workers - shall mean all persons who are 
engaged in agricultural development activities and all persons 
employed in the Department of Agriculture including its bureaus and 
attached agencies. Local Government Units (LGUs) and concerned 
government and private institutions, and shall include aquaculturists, 


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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 
performing 
professional 
activities 
on 
veterinary services such as disease prevention control, animal health 
care, etc. 
d) Agricultural Engineer - shall refer to a person registered with the 
Professional Regulation Commission 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) Aquaculturist - 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. 
9 Nutritionist - shall refer to a person registered with the Professional 
Regulation Commission performing activities related to dietary and 
proper nutrition. 
g) Agricultural Technician - shall refer to a trained or skilled agricultural 
worker but not necessarily a college graduate, performing activities 
such as planthursery propagator, plant breeder, farm mechanic, etc. 
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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 II 
AGRICULTURAL SERVICE CAREER DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 4. Professionalizafion of Agricultural Services. - The State shall 
support the development 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 the 
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 the with appropriate position 
titles and compensation. Provided, That the following benchmark position titles 
of agricultural development workers with corresponding salary grades shall be 
used. 
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Position 
Salary Grade 
Agricultural Technician I 
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Agriculturist I 
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Aquaculturist I 
Nutritionist I 
Veterinarian I 
Agricultural Engineer I 
Agricultural Technologist 
City Ag ricu Itu ral Engineer 
City Ve te ri n a ria n 
City Agriculturist 
City Fishery Officer 
M u n ici p a I Ag r i cu I t u rist 
Municipal Veterinarian 
M u n i ci pa I Ag r i cu It u ral Eng i neer 
Municipal Fisheries Officer 
'Provincial Agricultural Engineer 
Provincial Agriculturist 
P rov i n ci a I Veterinarian 
Provincial Fisheries Officer 
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S EC. 5. Mandatory Positions of Agricultural Development Workers 
in the Local Government Units. - The creation of the following position is 
hereby made mandatory in addition to the prescribed position under the Local 
Government Code of 1991 : 
Provincial Agricultural Engineer 
Provincial Fisheries and Aquacultural Officer 
City Agriculturist 
C ity Ag ricu I t u ra I E ng i neer 
C it y Veterinarian 
City Fisheries and Aquacultural Officer 
Municipal Agriculturist 
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Municipal Agricultural Engineer 
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Mu n ici p a I Veterinarian 
Municipal Fisheries and Aquacultural Officer 
Provided, That in the case of fourth (4'h) 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, furfher, That 
the funding requirement shall be incorporated in the annual appropriations of the 
Department of Agriculture. 
SEC. 6. Recruitment and Qualifications. - 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. 
SEC. 7. Petformance Evaluation and Merit Promotion. - 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. .%. 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 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, furfher, That pending appeal, such transfer or reassignment shall be 
held in abeyance: Provided, furthermore, That no transfer or reassignment 
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whatsoever shall be made three (3) months prior to any local or national 
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elections: Provided, finally, That the necessary expenses of the transfer andlor 
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reassignment of the agricultural worker or employee and hidher immediate 1 
family shall be paid by the Government. 
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SEC. 9. Securify of Tenure. - An agricultural worker holding a 
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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. I O .  Discriminafion Prohibited. -.An agricultural worker shall not 
be discriminated by reason of creed sec, political belief, civil status, and ethnic 
grouping in the exercise of hisher profession. 
SEC. 1 1. No Undersfaffing and/or Overloading of Agricultural 
Workers. - 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 over- 
loading of personnel in specific areas of assignment. 
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SEC. 12. Safeguards in Adminisfrafive Proceedings. - In every 
administrative proceeding, an Agricultural Worker shall have: 
a) the right to be informed of the charges; 
b) the right to full access to evidence against himlher; 
c) the right to defend himself/herself through counsel of hidher choice; 
d) the right to be given adequate time to prepare hidher case, which 
shall in no case exceed twenty (20) days; 
e) the right to appeal to designated authorities; 
9 the right to cross-examine witnesses and to processes for the 
production of witnesses; 
g) the right to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in 
hidher defense in case of exoneration or dismissal of the 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 Conduct. - 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 
Hours of work shall include: 
a) the time the agricultural workers is required to be on active duty or to 
be at a prescribe workplace; 
b) the time which an agricultural worker is permitted to work; 


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c) the time which an agricultural worker is required to work in a place 
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 non-working 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 111 
INCENTIVES AND REWARDS SYSTEM 
SEC. 18. Criteria for lncenfives 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 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; 
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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) Performance 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 Loca 
Government may establish. 
SEC. 20. Other Compensation and Benefits. - All agricultura 
development workers shall be entitled to the following additional compensation 
and benefits: ' 
a) 
Representation Allowance 
and 
Traveling Allowance - 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. 
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. 
Subsistence Allowance - All agricultural development worker who 
b) 
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are required to render services in the communities, institutions, 
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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. 
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 
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renders. 
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 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. 
Compensation 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. 
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g) 
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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 
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hidher time for personal needs: Provided. That no agricultural 
worker shall be placed in an “On-Call” status beyond seven (7) days. 
Motor and Vehicle Loan - All 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. 
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ARTICLE IV 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
SEC. 21. 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. 22. Freedom from lnterference 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 hidher 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 petforming 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. 23. 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 
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SEC. 24. 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. 25. 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. 26. Monitoring of Implementation. - 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: Provided, further, 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. 27. Penal Provisions. - Any person who shall willfully interfere 
with, restrain or coerce any agricultural development worker in the exercise of 
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hidher rights or shall violate any of the provisions of this Act shall upon 
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conviction, be punished by a fine of not less that Twenty Thousand Pesos 
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(P20,OOO.OO) but not more than Forty Thousand Pesos (P40,OOO.OO) or 
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imprisonment’of not more than one (I) 
year, or both, at the discretion of the 
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court. 
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If the offender is a public official, the court, in additional to the penalties 
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provided in the preceding paragraph, shall impose the additional penalty of 
disqualification from office of such offending public official. 
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SEC. 28. Funding. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of 
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this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following 
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its enactment into law and every year thereafter. 
SEC. 29. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared 
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unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions thereof affected thereby shall 
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continue to be in full force and effect 
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SEC. 30. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
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orders, rules and issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of 
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this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 4. Effecfivify. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
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Approved,