Congressional Commission on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Security (Agricom) Act

Senate Office of the ro ecretarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session AUG 18 A10:35 SENATE RECEIVED BY: 1199 S. No. _ Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN AN ACT CREATING A CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION ON AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD SECURITY TO REVIEW, ASSESS, AND EVALUATE THE STATE OF PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE AND RECOMMEND INNOVATIVE AND TARGETED POLICY REFORMS IN AGRICULTURE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE This legislative measure seeks to establish a Congressional Commission on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Security, or the AGRICOM, to address the long- standing issues plaguing the Philippines' agricultural sector, which is hindered by a fragmented and uncoordinated system despite numerous existing laws and policies. While there are various oversight committees such as the Congressional Oversight Committee on Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization (COCAFM) and the Congressional Oversight Committee on Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage (COCAAES), the core problem is the disjoined implementation approach. Government agencies operate in "silos", leading to conflicting mandates, redundant programs, and inefficient budget allocation. Despite a quarter of the country's workforce being in agriculture and fisheries, labor continues to decline, and the sector's contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) remains low. Our agricultural exports also lag behind our ASEAN neighbors. The

persistent issues of post-harvest losses, weak supply chain integration, limited access to credit, and vulnerability to climate-related shocks further hinder the sector's performance. Additionally, the overlapping responsibilities between national agencies and local government units (LGUs), following the devolution of agricultural services, require coordinated action for improvement. The AGRICOM is designed to provide a cohesive solution by acting as a central, independent body that will: (1) Conduct a comprehensive review and assessment of all existing agricultural and fisheries programs and policies, and projects across all national agencies; (2) Identify policy conflicts and program redundancies to create a more efficient and integrated framework; (3) Develop targeted, measurable, and time- bound policy recommendations aimed at increasing productivity, global competitiveness, and capacity building for the sector; and (4) Report its findings and recommendations to the public, fostering transparency and prompting swift action from implementing agencies. The creation of the AGRICOM will help streamline government efforts, assist agencies in balancing their mandates, and ensure that support for the agricultural sector is targeted and effective. This will ultimately address the foundational issues that have long hindered the sector's growth and stability. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought. FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN Senatog

Schate Offier of the secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 AUG 18 AIO :35 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1199 Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN AN ACT CREATING A CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION ON AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES, AND FOOD SECURITY TO REVIEW, ASSESS, AND EVALUATE THE STATE OF PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE AND RECOMMEND INNOVATIVE AND TARGETED POLICY REFORMS IN AGRICULTURE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Congressional

2 Commission on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Security" (AGRICOM) Act.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall reaffirm the promotion of a just

4 and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the 5 nation that frees the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social 6 services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality 7 of life for all. The State shall affirm labor as a primary social economic force, shall develop a 9 self-reliant and independent national economy effectively controlled by Filipinos, and 10 shall promote comprehensive rural development and agrarian reform. To such ends, the State shall take the appropriate steps to ensure that the national agriculture and fisheries sector shall be a robust, dynamic and sustainable means to economic security on participants on the production side of the sector, and shall be a driver for human capital development, human liberation and development, and overall well-being and welfare on the part of Filipino consumers.

Sec. 3. Objectives of AGRICOM. - The Commission shall, among other things,

2 critically review and assess agricuiture and fisheries policies, strategies and programs 3 to attain the following objectives: a. Re-examine public sector goals and objectives with respect to agriculture and fisheries; b. Modify agriculture and fisheries policies and public expenditures to integrate modern technologies and climate change adaption with the ultimate goal of raising the productivity and global competitiveness of our local agriculture and fisheries subsectors, and to employ long-term policy instruments for raising productivity, protecting the environment and improving market efficiency and ensure equity and social justice, particularly for the benefit of small farmers and families; c. Refocus and re-prioritize support programs for agriculture and fisheries to ensure food security in basic staples for all Filipino communities; d. Restructure and streamline agriculture and fisheries-related bureaucracies to address their institutional weaknesses and shortcomings, including the relationship between and among national, provincial and local stakeholders, in order to effectively implement agriculture and fisheries policies and programs, including the transfer of information and technology, particularly at the grassroots level; and e. Encourage the active involvement of producers, cooperatives, media, banks, financial institutions and other members of the private sector in the development of agri-business.

Sec. 4. Creation of AGRICOM.- There is hereby created a Congressional

25 Commission on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Security, hereinafter referred to as the 26 Commission, to undertake a comprehensive national assessment and evaluation of the 27 performance of the Philippine agriculture and fisheries sector for the purpose of recommending transformative, concrete and targeted reforms in the sector with the end in view of ensuring food security in the Philippines.

Sec. 5. Composition of AGRICOM.- The Commission shall be composed of

twelve (12) members, with six (6) members from the Senate and six (6) members from the House of Representatives: Provided that one of the six (6) members from

1 each House shall represent the Minority as designated by the Minority Leader of each 2 House. The Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian * Reform, the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, and the Senate Committee on 5 Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change shall be members of the 6 Commission on the part of the Senate. The Chairpersons of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food, the House 8 Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources, the House Committee on Agrarian 9 Reform, and the House Committee on Climate Change shall be members of the 10 Commission on the art of the House of Representatives. The members of the Commission shall receive no compensation, but travelling, communications, and other necessary expenses shall be allowed, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.

Sec. 6. Executive Director. - The Executive Director (ED) to be appointed by

the Commission must be a recognized expert in the fields of agriculture and fisheries. The Executive Director shall work full-time and shall have the rank, privileges, and emoluments of an Executive Director IV (Salary Grade 29).

Sec. 7. Technical Secretariat. - A Technical Secretariat, to be headed by the

Executive Director, shall be organized to provide technical and administrative support to the Commission in the exercise of its powers and performance of its functions under

Section 11 of this Act.

The Executive Director shall organize its staff and technical panel, and hire and appoint such employees and personnel, whether temporary, contractual, or on consultancy, and determine their compensation subject to applicable civil service laws, rules and regulations, with a view to ensuring a competent and efficient secretariat. The Technical Secretariat shall co-exist with the Commission.

Sec. 8. Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) as Research Arm. -

The PIDS shall serve as the research arm of the Commission. During the course of the 29 Commission's existence, it shall produce data-based research and provide analysis to 30 contribute to the formulation of agriculture and fisheries policy recommendations. It may coordinate with existing advisory and consultative bodies on agriculture and

1 fisheries policies under the Department of Agriculture and Department of Science and 2 Technology.

Sec. 9. Agriculture and Fisheries Legislation and Policy Advisory Council. - An

* Agriculture and Fisheries Legislation and Policy Advisory Council is hereby created to 5 provide the Commission with expert assistance and advice. The members of the 6 Advisory Council shall always be present in all meetings of the Commission. The 7 Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, upon the 8 recommendation of the members of the Commission, shall choose recognized experts 9 from the following sectors to form part of the Advisory Council: three (3) members 10 from state university academia with equal representation from Luzon, Visayas, and 11 Mindanao, two (2) members from the business sector, two (2) members from government agriculture and fisheries agencies, two (2) members who are heads of 13 local government units (LGUs), and two (2) members from civil society organizations and development partners engaged in agriculture and fisheries.

Sec. 10. Duration of AGRICOM. - The Commission shall accomplish its mandate

within three (3) years from its organization. It shall organize itself and commence its mandate upon the effectivity of this Act.

Sec. 11. Powers and Functions of AGRICOM. - The Commission shall have the

following powers and functions: a. Formulate short-term and long-term policy and program recommendations relating to agriculture and fisheries consisting specific, targeted, measurable and time-bound solutions to the following: i) Sectoral plan and targets; ii) Physical and digital infrastructure; ili) Trainings and programs; iv) Financing; and v) Coordination among departments and sectors concerned. b. Approve the workplan, guidelines and overall framework for the conduct of the national review, assessment and harmonization tasks and the budget for the programs of the Commission and all disbursements therefrom, including compensation of all personnel;

c) Hold hearings and receive testimonies, reports and expert advice on the status of the Philippine agriculture and fisheries sector and its subsectors, exhaust available options to identify problems, and consolidate coherent courses of action as remedies; d) Summon by subpoena any public official or private person to testify before it, or require by subpoena duces tecum the production of necessary documents, as may be deemed necessary by the Commission; e) Secure from any department, bureau, office or instrumentality of the government technical information, preparation and production of reports, and the submission of recommendations or plans, as may be required; f) Conduct multi-stakeholder consultations, using proper mechanisms and guidance; g) Collaborate with emerging and innovative industries and services for the sharing of important information relative to their practice in the development of the agriculture and fisheries sectors; h) Review and act upon the recommendations of the Technical Secretariat or Standing Committees, or both, as it may deem appropriate; i) Report to Congress biannually its accomplishments, findings and recommendations on actions to be taken by Congress, the departments, and other government agencies concerned with the implementation of policies and programs related to agriculture and fisheries sector; j) Submit a final report of its findings and recommendations with a program of implementation to the President and Congress at the end of its term; k) Recommend the adoption of legislation and other executive measures pursuant to its findings; 1) Review and prioritize pending legislation before both Houses pursuant to the findings contained in the report of the Commission; and m) Perform such other duties and functions as may be necessary to attain its objectives.

Sec. 12. Standing Committees. - The members of the Commission shall

31 establish from among its members standing committees, to be chaired by such

members or experts from multisectoral groups and engage resource persons from the public and private sectors as may be needed.

Sec. 13. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation

4 of this Act shall be charged against available appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continuous 6 implementation, including any deficiency in the current year, shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act subject to existing budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

Sec. 14. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared

invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts not affected shall remain in full force 11 and effect.

Sec. 15. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,

13 administrative orders, rules and regulations, issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent 14 with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended 15 accordingly.

Sec. 16. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

17 publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,