Highlights of the Status of Activities
Under the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the
Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA)
(As of December 31, 2009)

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STRATEGIC AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT ZONES (SAFDZ)

The following activities were completed:

• Preparation of the list and composition of the Network of Protected Areas for Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Development (NPAAAD);

• Identification of SAFDZ areas;

• Completion of the NPAAAD and SAFDZ  maps for the whole country. The maps are available to the public;

• Issuance of guidelines to local government units (LGUs) on the incorporation of the SAFDZ in the enactment and updating of LGU land use and zoning plans and ordinances; and

• Issuance of guidelines on premature conversion of agricultural lands to non-agricultural areas through Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Administrative Order No. 1 series of 1999, which was issued on March 30, 1999.

AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES MODERNIZATION PLAN (AFMP)

• The AFMP 2001-2004 of DA has been formulated and disseminated. The DA-Planning Service in collaboration with NAFC shall engage a consulting entity for the formulation of an updated AFMP 2010-2015.

• A plan for the participatory planning and capability building activities under the AFMP was completed.

• Reading and other information materials for planning activities had been prepared.

• The Plan Performance Monitoring Indicator System (PPMIS) has been finalized and is being implemented in the DA regional offices and some attached agencies.

CREDIT

• The design and the operating policies and procedures of the Agro-Industry Modernization Credit and Financing Program (AMCFP) had been approved and issued.

• Dialogue sessions among stakeholders in rural, agricultural and fisheries financing are continuously being conducted.

• The joint circular between the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Finance (DOF) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM), which established the rules and regulations on the transfer of the Directed Credit Program (DCP) funds into the AMCFP was approved on March 11, 2003.

• Implementation of the AMCFP is on-going. The following activities were undertaken:

The following programs/projects under the Innovative Financing Schemes developed by ACPC are on-going:

• Rural Household Business Financing (RHBF)
• Direct Market Linkage (DML) Program

The following institution-building programs for rural financial institutions are being implemented:

• ACPC Institutional Capacity-Building Program
• Special ACPC-ICB programs in partnership with various institutions/organizations
  • Central Cordillera Institutional Building Program Trust Fund (CCIBPTF)
  • Upland Southern Mindanao Credit and Institution Building Program

The following research projects are being undertaken:

• Quick Assessment of the Agricultural Guarantee Fund Pool (AGFP)
• Credit in the Supply and Value Chain of Selected Agricultural Commodities
• Regional Study on Value Chain Financing Plus Six Component Case Studies
• Regional Study on the Status of the Rural Finance Policy

• An inventory of all DA-DCPs and an accounting of the funds were completed. The results of the inventory were submitted to DBM.

• The Review Steering Committee had accepted the results of the review of the mandates, charters andprograms of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), Guarantee Fund for Small and Medium Enterprises (GFSME), Quedan Rural Credit and Guarantee Corporation (Quedancor), and Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC). The report had been submitted to the DA Secretary, the Congress and the DA-Policy Research Service (DA-PRS).

• The implementing guidelines for the setting of variable grace periods on the repayments of loans to long-gestating agriculture and fisheries projects were issued.

• The rationalization plan for credit guarantee schemes and funds has been prepared.

• The membership of Quedancor Board was expanded to include the coop sector, presidents of the League of Provincial Governors and the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines.

IRRIGATION

• The Magna Carta of Small Farmers (RA 7607) provides for farmer-group representation in the BOD of corporations like NIA. The intention of including a national official of the National Confederation of Irrigators' Associations was raised in the "Completed and On-going Policy Researches/Studies and Policy Recommendations/Agenda for 2005-2010" submitted to the Department of Agriculture.

• The rehabilitation programs for existing irrigation systems of both locally-funded and foreign-assisted projects were incorporated into the NIA's medium term irrigation development plan.

• Research and Development activities were conducted to improve the management, and to determinethe effectivity and efficiency of irrigation systems.

• NIA will further review and reformulate the criteria for the selection and prioritization of irrigation projects.

• The guidelines on simplified public bidding of irrigation projects were approved by the Board of Directors last September 27, 1999 but were not implemented yet. The bidding process prescribed under RA 9184 is being followed in the procurement of civil works contracts of irrigation projects.    The system for electronic bidding is being adopted.

• The turnover of secondary canals and on-farm structures of national irrigation systems to the Irrigators Associations (IAs) is on-going. 

• A capability building program for IAs and LGUs is an on-going program. For LGUs, activities are limited to technology transfer in communal irrigation development and management.

• The NIA Board of Directors approved the ISF rates for annual crops and fishponds effective crop year2005.

INFORMATION AND MARKETING SUPPORT SERVICE

• The DA-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service' (DA-AMAS) organizational structure is being implemented. Appropriate personnel in the RFUs were organized into the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD).

• DA-AMAS provided services on marketing related concerns, which included the conduct of investment missions, agribusiness information generation and dissemination, and networking for enterprise development and investment.

• The National Marketing Assistance Program (NMAP) has yet to be formulated.

• The inventory and assessment of the utilization levels of all post-harvest facilities owned by the National Food Authority (NFA), Food Terminal, Inc. (FTI), Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) and other government agencies had been prepared.

• The National Marketing Umbrella (NMU) Board of Directors was organized.  It conducts regular meetings and market-related consultations with concerned entities. The Regional Marketing Umbrellas likewise conduct market-related consultations.

• Domestic fairs and exhibits, international fairs/selling missions and exhibits, congresses/fora, seminars and conferences were assisted and participated in by DA-AMAS to promote the marketing of various agricultural and fishery commodities and products.

• The mobilization plan for the design and operationalization of the National Information Network (NIN) was completed.

• The DA-ITCAF had undertaken the following activities for the operationalization of the NIN:

• Establishment and operationalization of the Local Area Network (LAN) of the DA Central Office, Bureaus and Attached Agencies; and
• Operationalization of the DA Wide Area Network (DA WAN), which include the following activities:
  • Installation of the DA-OSEC Wi-Fi and DA Metro Manila Offices Wireless Backhaul;
  • Provision of Internet services to DA Quarantine Ports and leased line services for BOC and BPI;
  • Provision of DSL Internet connection for DA-RFUs;
  • Deployment of more than 600 PCs/workstations within the network;
  • Operationalization of e-messaging system at the DA Central Office;
  • Provision of Internet access to all DA agencies through the DA WAN;
  • Development and installation of the Computerized Information Tracking Organizer (CITO), a document tracking system at the DA Office of the Secretary;
  • Procurement of additional 85 units of PC workstations to expand the NIN network coverage and for deployment to ECPCS Project priority agencies, quarantine ports and stations;
  • Pilot implementation of Voice-over-IP (VoIP) in selected DA-RFUs and offices; and
  • Completion of wireless interconnection with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR

• The special order defining/adapting organizational strategy to operationalize the NIN was approved and distributed.  Likewise, the memorandum circular establishing the guidelines in the acquisition of ITequipment/infrastructure was approved and disseminated to all concerned DA units.

• The DA website as well as the following applications and information systems were developed:
  • Plant Variety Registry System of BPI
  • Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards Information System
  • Computerized Information Tracking Organizer (CITO)

• A continuing training program for computer operators and other users is being implemented by the DA-ITCAF.

• The transfer of supervision of the DA-Office of the Secretary (DA-OSEC) Library from the Administrative Service to the DA-ITCAF was completed.

OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE

• The following activities for the strengthening of the agricultural and fisheries engineering capacities were undertaken:

• reallocation of agriculturist positions and other positions performing agricultural engineering work to the existing engineer positions
• conduct of trainings and skills development programs
• strengthening of the Postharvest Specialist Network

• Farm-to-market roads amounting to P24.96B were constructed/rehabilitated. These involved a total of 18,211.83 kilometers, for the period 2001 - 2009.

• A total of 40,752  barangays out of the total 42,190 were provided electricity under the Barangay Energization Project. This means a 96.59%  energization level for the country.

• The installation of the DA-Private VSAT System in Quezon City and the 15 remote sites has been completed. This has provisions for voice, data, internet and video conferencing.

• The Postharvest Facility Program and the Postharvest Development and Promotion Plan for 1998 had been developed. Succeeding plans were developed at the GMA program level.

• Administrative Order No. 11 Series of 2001 had been issued for the implementation of the National Agriculture and Fisheries Mechanization Program.

CREATION OF THE BUREAU OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES PRODUCT STANDARD (BAFPS)

• The creation of BAFPS was completed. The appointment of new OIC Director of BAFPS was approved on July 16, 2001.  Seventeen plantilla positions were approved by President Arroyo.

• The enactment of Republic Act No. 8550 known also as Fisheries Code of the Philippines dated February 25, 1998 spellled out the delineation of functions between BAFPS and BFAR.

• BAFPS had been involved in a number of international standards such as Codex, OIE, ISO, UNECE, IPPC, etc. It had recommended and endorsed the participation of organizations and experts on Codex Committee sessions and other standards-related organizations.

• BAFPS has completed the following standards with PNS number:


• fresh fruit - pineapple - specification PNS/BAFPS 08:2004;
• fresh fruit - "saba" banana and cardaba - specification PNS/BAFPS 09:2004;
• fresh fruit - durian - specification PNS/BAFPS 12:2004
• fresh fruit - mangoes - specification PNS/BAFPS 13:2004
• cereals - shelled corn PNS/BAFPS 08:2004;
• cereals - corn grits PNS/BAFPS 15:2004; and
• spice - bulb onions PNS/BAFPS 10:2004.

• The Guidelines on Accreditation of Organic Agriculture has been prepared and approved.

• BAFPS involved the participation of government organizations (GOs), academic institutions, professional organizations, industry representatives and consumer organization in the drafting of standards.  It had completed the standards for ornamentals, green coffee beans and organic agriculture.

• The DA-Policy Research Service acts as the SPS notification while BAFPS serves as enquiry point on food safety.

• The BAFPS Task Force was already created and had formulated the design of the BAFPS.

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

• The National Agriculture and Fisheries Education System (NAFES) Committee headed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Ester Garcia, approved the NAFES Plan on June 23, 2000.  The plan included: (a) preparation of curricula that tackles agriculture and fisheries; (b) the network of National Centers of Excellence (NCEs);  and the (c) formulation and implementation of the National Integrated Human Resource Development Plan (NIHRDP).

• The implementation of the Expanded Human Resource Development Program (EHRDP) is on-going. The following are the scholarship programs implemented:


• Local Scholarship Programs - Master in Public Management - Rural and Agricultural Development at the Ateneo de Manila University and at Xavier University; Master in Public Management - Rural Development at the UP Visayas; Master in Food Systems Management at the University of Asia and the Pacific; and Diploma in Development Economics at UP Diliman; and Master in Development Economics at UP Diliman; and
  
• Foreign Scholarship Program - Fullbright-Philippine Agriculture Scholarship Program

• Two (2) separate boards, the Board of Agriculture and the Board of Fisheries, were created under the supervision and control of Professional Regulation  Commission (PRC).

• The Licensure Examinations for BS Agriculture and BS Fisheries graduates are now classified as regular examinations of the PRC.

• The National Pluralistic Extension Agenda and Programs for Modernizing Philippine Agriculture 2005-2010 had been finalized.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

• The Council for Extension, Research and Development in Agriculture and Fisheries (CERDAF) was created through Executive Order No. 127.  DA Administrative Order No. 24 designated an Undersecretary and Regional Technical Directors for Research and Development.

• The AFRDIS program of BAR established the interconnectivity backbone across strategic hubs across the country with a total of twenty (20) partner institutions.

• The following are the on-going ICT support activities:

• e-Pinoy Farms (Electronic Farm Resource Management Systems)
• OPREMS (Onion Production Resource Management Systems)
• e-Learning Program
• Agritech Online
• e-Agritek

• The Research, Development and Extension Agenda and Programs (RDEAP) 2006-2010 serves as the basis for prioritizing R&D programs and projects of the NaRDSAF

• ATI's capability enhancement program to establish the National Extension System for Agriculture and Fisheries (NESAF) is on-going.

• BAR adopted the R & D networking system of Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).

• DA A.O. No. 9 on the new modality in agenda setting, planning, and formulation for research, development and extension (RDE) in agriculture and fisheries was issued on March 18, 1999.

• The NaRDSAF Degree/Non-Degree Scholarship Program and Institutional Development Grant (IDG) Programs are operational but implementation is modest in scope due to budget constraint.

• Submission of R&D budget proposals to BAR is on-going.

• Completed researches and on-going research projects from DA and other R & D implementing units were inputted into the Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E) systems of BAR. 

• Financial support was provided to professional societies and organizations.

EXTENSION

• Guidelines for the planning and implementation of agriculture and fishery extension were distributed to DA extension agencies.

• The Agriculture and Fishery Participatory Planning Manual for LGUs and other information materials on local agriculture and fisheries development planning had been issued.

• DILG Memo Circulars No. 97-271, 98-200 and 2000-63 on LGU participation in the AFC and representation of the AFCs in the LDCs were issued. In addition, DILG Memo Circular No. 2001-121 was also issued for the inclusion of the AFCs' budget in the LGUs' annual appropriation.

• Reading and other information materials on local agriculture and fisheries development planning had been prepared.

• Granting of development communication support through tri-media for nationwide extension system continues.

• Conduct of skills training programs on livelihood continues.

RURAL NON-FARM EMPLOYMENT

• The Basic Needs Program (BNP) was submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture on August 13, 1999 and was approved by the Congressional Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization (COCAFM) on March 30, 2000.  However, based on review of the AFMA IRR, the BNP design was renamed "Safety Net Provisions of AFMA". The implementation of the BNP has been approved but subject to fund availability.

• The Rural Non-farm Employment - Basic Needs Program (RNFE-BNP) Core Group was organized to develop pilot programs in selected locales to establish the planning, implementation and evaluation processes.

• Farmers Information Technology Service (FITS)/Techno Pinoy one-stop shop had been set up across all regions in collaboration with the Philippine Council for Agriculture Resources Research and Development (PCARRD)-assisted research consortia.

TRADE AND FISCAL INCENTIVES

• E.O. No. 133, which modified the rates of import duty on certain imported articles under Section 104 of the Tariff and Customs Code of 1978 was passed in 1998. It has been amended by E.O. No. 127 and its effectivity had already expired on February 8, 2003.

• Republic Act No. 9281 was signed into law on March 30, 2004. Section 1 of which reinstates the duty-free privileges up to year 2015. Pursuant to this, Executive Order No. 376 was issued by President Arroyo on October 22, 2004. It prescribes the implementing rules and regulations for the reinstatement of the duty-free privileges up to year 2015.

APPROPRIATIONS

• DA's budget was realigned based on the different AFMA components.

• The guidelines for the implementation of the salary supplement of extension workers under the LGUs was formulated.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

• In compliance with the requirement of Section 117 of the AFMA, the COCAFM Secretariat and the NAFC Secretariat spearheaded the groundwork and shared in the funding and management of the review/assessment of policies and programs in the AFMA.

• The independent review panel of experts appointed by President Arroyo submitted the following:
  
  
  • Inception Report in August 2005;
  • Progress Report in September 2005;
  • Draft Final Report in July 2006; and
  • Final Report in May 2007