Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXEENTH (16™) CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House BILL No. _ 1079

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE NANCY A. CATAMCO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is undeniable that the Philippines remains primarily an agricultural nation
inspite of efforts at industrialization. Of the 30 million hectares of the country,
47% is agricultural land. Thus, agriculture remains to be a principal source of
income and employment of the Philippine economy. As of July, 2006, almost
35.6% of the labor force, roughly almost 12 million people, is employed in the
agriculture industry.

Meanwhile, it is acknowledged globally that the Philippines is one of the
pioneering nations in the field of agriculture industry. For instance, it is
recognized that the College of Agriculture at the University of the Philippines at
Los Bafios, Laguna is a premiere institution for higher learning in agriculture in
Asia. The IRRI, for instance, which is the frontliner in the field of rice production,
housed in Los Banos, Laguna and is run predominantly by Filipino scientists.

Regrettably, while there is much available agricultural know-how in the
country, their potential is not maximized because such agricultural technologies
and techniques are not amply spread and shared throughout the whole country.
It will be observed that various agriculture-based provinces are successful in their
respective fields of agriculture while others are not.

For instance, having hamessed its potential in rubber production and
processing, North Cotabato, is one of the country's leading producers of raw and
semi-processed rubber, with markets in Asia and Europe. Likewise, North
Cotabato, where an annual festival called the “Timpupo” (a Manobo word for
harvest), is a known authority in growing high-value, export - quality fruits such
as the pomelo, mangosteen, durian and marang.


In South Cotabato, multi-cropping techniques have been developed in its
farming towns whereby farmers grow high-value crops such as coffee,
pineapples and papayas between rows of coconut trees, thus raising their
incomes above the poverty threshold, Kablon Farms, a private-owned local farm
which practices multi-cropping system of high value crops and organic farming is
frequently visited by students and researchers.

Also noteworthy are the fishpond technologies of Bulacan and Malabon,
Metro Manila.

It is believed that the development experience of the above mentioned
provinces, towns and other localities should be shared with, and transferred to,
other areas in the country particularly in the depressed ones.

This bill, therefore, seeks to establish a countrywide agricultural
technology sharing program to be known as "COUNTRYSIDE DEVELOPMENT
SHARING PROGRAM", to be jointly implemented by the Department of
Agriculture (DA); Department of Science and Technology (DOST); and the
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The Program is envisioned to encourage and promote agricultural
technology transfer between and among the different municipalities, cities and
provinces throughout the country in order that the innovative techniques and
experiences in agriculture, fishery and livestock production development and
successfully implemented in certain localities can be shared with other areas in
the country to enable incomes and productivity to increase significantly.

The Program shall involve, among others, the conduct of a nationwide
‘survey on farming, fishery and livestock technologies successfully developed and
utilized in specific localities, and the provision by the government of necessary
funding and services in order that such technologies, to the extent feasible and
appropriate, are transferred to, and replicated in, other areas in the country.

Immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

JANCY A. ‘AMCO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘SIXTEENTH (16") CONGRESS

First Regular Session

107

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE NANCY A. CATAMCO

AN ACT TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURAL TECHONOLOGY SHARING AMONG.
PROVINCES, CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO
ATTAIN THEIR FULLEST DEVELOPMENT AS SELF-RELIANT COMMUNITIES,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSE

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is a declared policy of the House of
the Representatives to promote agricultural development by providing the policy
framework, public investments and support services needed to enhance the well-
being of farmers, fishermen, livestock producers and other agricultural workers in
order to increase their income, improve their living conditions, and maximized
their contributions to the national economy.

SEC. 2. Technology Sharing Program, - To carry out the above policy,
there is hereby established a countrywide agricultural technology sharing
program to be known as "COUNTRYSIDE DEVELOPMENT SHARING
PROGRAM", hereinafter referred to as the "Program

The Program shall encourage and promote agricultural technology
transfer between and among the different provinces, cities and municipalities
throughout the country in order that the innovative techniques and experiences in
agriculture, and fishery and livestock production developed and successfully
implemented in specific localities, can be shared with other areas in the country,
particularly in the depressed localities.

SEC. 3. Implementing Agencies. - The Program shall be jointly
implemented by the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and
Technology (DOST), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG).


SEC. 4. Program Components; Responsibilities of Agencies. - The
Department of Agriculture as lead agency shall, with the active collaboration of
the DOST and the DILG, discharge the following functions and responsibilities:

a) Conduct, coordinate, and disseminate research studies on appropriate
technologies for the improvement and development of agricultural crops,
fisheries, livestock, and other allied commodities by optimizing the use of
resource;

b) Promote the development of indigenous techniques and adaption in
farming, fishing and livestock production;

c) Provide extension services and assistance in agricultural development
as may be needed by local government units; and

d) Conduct a nationwide survey on farming, fishery and livestock
technologies successfully developed and utilized in specific localities and provide
the necessary funding and services in order that such technologies, to the extent
applicable and appropriate, are shared with, and transferred to, other areas in
the country in order to increase incomes and productivity of the farmers and the
economy.

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The rules and regulations

necessary for the effective implementation of this Act shall be promulgated by the
agencies mentioned in Section 3 hereof within thirty (30) days from effectivity of
the Act.

SEC 6. Appropriation, - To finance the initial implementation of the
Program, the sum of FIFTY MILLION PESOS (P50,000,000.00) is hereby
allocated to be charged equally against the current appropriations of the
Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology and the
Contingent Fund, as provided in the General Appropriations Act for 2010.
Thereafter, such amount as may be determined and necessary for the continued
operation of the Program establish under this Act shall be included in the annual
budget of the Department of Agriculture under the General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules
and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly

SEC. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved.