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Republic of the Philippines 23 JUN 2318 wh
House of Representatives BOY

Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Third Regular Session

House Bill No. 5893

Introduced by Honorable ERLPE JOHN “PING” M. AMANTE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to consolidate all farm-to-market road (FMR)
development programs of the government into one comprehensive,
time-bound program that will ensure the completion of priority road
infrastructure projects leading to key agricultural and fishery
production areas all over the country.

Currently, the implementation of FMR projects is beset by
various challenges. One of which is having a project identification and
prioritization process that is largely dependent on proposals
submitted by local government units - not on a strategic plan that
could have laid down an efficient infrastructure network for the
agriculture sector. This is the primary reason why FMR development
programs become very prone to political interventions. Another
troubling observation is the piecemeal implementation of such
projects that usually have limited impact to intended beneficiaries,
with some even ending up as abandoned, unfinished roads.

The Agricultural Road Infrastructure (AGRI) Network Program
aims to address two (2) main concerns regarding the implementation
of FMR projects as illustrated above: (1) lack of a strategic plan, and
(2) lack of funds. The proposed program shall strictly follow a ten (10)
year Agricultural Road Infrastructure Network Plan ~ to be crafted
through a nationwide consultation with various stakeholders - that
will contain all priority road projects nationwide and shall be allocated
a maximum of One Hundred Billion Pesos (P100,000,000,000.00) in
its first five (5) years to ensure its immediate and timely
implementation.



It is envisioned that after the implementation of the AGRI
Network Program all key agricultural and fishery production areas will
be efficiently linked to the market thus enhancing the productivity of
our farmers and fisher folks and furthermore contributing to the
government’s goal of food security.

In view of the forgoing, I hereby request for the approval of this

ERLPE J ude e) AMANTE

bill.


Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No._ 5893

Introduced by Honorable ERLPE JOHN “PING” M, AMANTE.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL
ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE (AGRI) NETWORK PROGRAM

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “AGRI
Network Act of 2015.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State shall develop a
comprehensive national road network that will support key
agricultural and fishery production areas to ensure that the transport
of produce and goods will be efficient, cost-effective, and convenient
with the aim of attaining food security goals and improving the lives of
farmers and fisher folks.

SECTION 3. Agricultural Road Infrastructure (AGRI) Network
Plan. — The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall submit to Congress
and to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) within six
(6) months from the effectivity of this Act a National Agricultural Road
Infrastructure Network Plan, hereinafter referred to as the Plan, that
will contain all priority road projects ~ to include repair, rehabilitation
and construction - that connect key agricultural, livestock, and
fishery production areas to national primary and secondary roads.
High priority will be given to road projects that will connect multiple
production areas and areas that are major producers of rice, corn,
coconut, livestock - primarily cows, swine, and poultry - and seafood.


Provided, that the DA shall ensure that a
nationwide consultation with various government agencies, local
government units, farmer and fisher folk groups, private sector, civil
society organizations, and other stakeholders will be conducted during
the preparation of the Plan.

Provided further, that the Plan shall be updated
every three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 4. Implementation. — The DPWH shall lead in the
implementation of the projects as contained in the Plan, The DPWH
shall formulate a strategy to ensure the timely implementation of
projects, such as, but not limited to the, clustering and geo-tagging of
projects for cost efficiency in the procurement thereof and effective
management and implementation of projects.

SECTION 5. Period of Implementation, — The AGRI Network
Program, hereinafter referred to as the Program, under this Act shall
be implemented within a period of ten (10) years.

SECTION 6. Appropriations. — Annual appropriations for the
AGRI Network Program shall include the amounts necessary to
support the funding requirements for all road infrastructure projects
included in the Plan.

Appropriations for the Program shall be lodged
under the Department of Agriculture (DA) but shall be released
directly to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for
implementation

‘The program shall be based on a ceiling, for the first
five (5) years, of One Hundred Billion Pesos (P100,000,000,000.00).
Provided, that hereafter this amount may be increased commensurate
to the increase in the Gross National Product (GNP).

SECTION 7. Right of Way and Road Maintenance. — All right-of-
way issues including the payment to property owners shall be
adequately addressed and settled by the concerned Local Government
Unit (LGU) where the road project is located. The LGU shall also
provide counterpart for the maintenance of the roads after completion
and turn-over.

SECTION 8. Incorporation of Existing Farm-to-Market Road
Projects. — Continuing appropriations for all FMR projects being
funded and implemented by the national government prior to the
effectivity of this Act, except those funded under the Grassroots
Participatory Budgeting (GPB) program or any other similar program,
and are included in the Plan shall be considered part of the Program’s
minimum appropriation as provided in Section 6.


New FMR programs and projects to be funded
through foreign assistance after the effectivity of this Act are
encouraged to be based on the Plan.

SECTION 9. Congressional Oversight Committee. — There is
hereby created a Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor and
oversee the implementation of the provisions of this Act. The
Committee shall be composed of six (6) members from the Senate and
six (6) members from the House of Representatives with the
Chairpersons of Agriculture and Food of both houses as Joint
Chairpersons. The five (5) members from each chamber shall be
designated by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives respectively. The minority shall have at least two (2)
representatives from both chambers.

SECTION 10. Monitoring and Evaluation. — The DA shall develop
a system to monitor the implementation of the Program. The
Department shall make periodic reports to the Congressional
Oversight Committee on Agricultural Road Infrastructure Network
Program.

SECTION 11. Sunset Review. — As the need arises, or within ten
(10) years after its effectivity, the Congressional Oversight Committee
shall conduct a sunset review of this Act. The term “sunset review”
shall mean a systematic evaluation of the accomplishments and
impact of this Act, as well as the performance and organizational
structure of its implementing agencies, for purposes of determining
remedial legislations.

SECTION 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The
Secretary of the Department of Agriculture shall issue rules and
regulations as he may deem necessary for the implementation of this
Act.

SECTION 13, Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive
orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts thereof
inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 14. — Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act
is held invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected
hereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 15. _Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,