Congressional Commission on Agriculture (Agricom) Act

Senate Olice of the retary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session ) SEP -4 P1:11 SENAT 3 45 S.B. No. Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS AN ACT CREATING A CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION ON AGRICULTURE TO REVIEW, ASSESS, EVALUATE, AND RECOMMEND REFORMS IN THE PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE SECTOR, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Article II, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution states that "The State shall promote industrialization and full employment based on sound agricultural development." From this constitutional provision, Congress enacted Republic Act No. 8435 otherwise known as the "Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997" (AFMA). The AFMA emphasized the welfare of small farmers and fisherfolk (SFF) in its push toward agriculture modernization. The AFMA aims to: i. To modernize the agriculture and fisheries sectors by transforming these sectors from a resource-based to a technology-based industry; i. To enhance profits and incomes in the agriculture and fisheries sectors; il. To ensure the accessibility, availability, and stable supply of food at all times; iv. To encourage horizontal and vertical integration, consolidation, and expansion of agriculture and fisheries activities; V. To promote people empowerment by strengthening people's organizations (POs), cooperatives, and nongovernment organizations (NGOs); vi. To pursue a market-driven approach to enhance the comparative advantage of the agriculture and fisheries sectors in the world market; vii. To induce the agriculture and fisheries sectors to ascend continuously on the value-added ladder; vili. To adopt policies that will promote industry dispersal and rural industrialization;

ix. To provide social and economic adjustment measures that increase productivity and improve market efficiency while ensuring the protection and preservation of the environment and equity for SFF Twenty-eight years after its passage, the agricultural and fisheries sector remains hampered by various challenges. According to the 2023 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES), farmers and fisherfolk continues to record among the highest poverty rates on the 11 basic sectors identified under Republic Act No. 8425 or the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act, with poverty rates of 27.0% and 27.4%, respectively, compared to the national rate of 15.5%. Rice importation continues to increase year on year, with total rice imports reaching 4.68 million metric tons. The share of agriculture in the GDP remains stagnant, with agricultural output contracting by a record 2.2% in 2024. Given these various challenges, it is imperative that the country follows the example of the Education Commission or EdCom and form a high-level Agriculture Commission or AgriCom. This bill aims to create an Agriculture Commission to thoroughly examine the agriculture bureaucracy and recommend institutional reforms to enable the modernization of the sector. For the abovementioned reasons, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. IMEE R. MARCOS

Senate Offier of 1;e Scerrtarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session ) SEP -4 P1:18 SENATE 345 S.B. No. Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS AN ACT CREATING A CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION ON AGRICULTURE TO REVIEW, ASSESS, EVALUATE, AND RECOMMEND REFORMS IN THE PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE SECTOR, 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

Commission on Agriculture (AGRICOM) Act".

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to protect

and promote the right of all farmers, farmworkers, and landowners, as well as cooperatives, and other independent farmers' organizations. Further, the State shall provide support to the agriculture sector through appropriate technology and research, and adequate financial, production, marketing, and other support services.

SEC. 3. Objectives of the AGRICOM. - The AGRICOM shall have the following

objectives: a) Develop and recommend policies that promote innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness in agriculture; b) Set specific, targeted, measurable and time-bound solutions that are products of a comprehensive assessment and evaluation, effective planning, and strategic investments in agriculture; c) Develop medium and long-term development plans for the agriculture sector with specific goals for productivity, export growth, irrigation, infrastructure, market access, research and development, and rural development; d) Promote agricultural research, innovation, and technology adoption, in coordination with the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), to increase agricultural productivity and climate resilience;

e) Develop and implement programs that shall further educate and train farmers, farmworkers, cooperatives, and agri-entrepreneurs in modern and sustainable practices to increase and improve production; f) Recommend the improvement in the harmonization of the policies and programs of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), and other government agencies in charge of agriculture; g) Identify domestic and international markets for the agricultural products in order to support farmers and agri-businesses and assist them in complying with global market standards; h) Encourage and facilitate public-private partnerships (PPPs) to boost value- adding, agro-industrialization, and export readiness; i) Coordinate efforts and coordinate with the concerned departments and agencies, local government units (LGUs), private sector, and other stakeholders to implement national and local agricultural plans and strategies; = Prioritize the adoption use of science, technology and innovation through the promotion of digital farming; k) Institutionalize policy and structural reforms necessary to meet the new challenges to agriculture; 1) Recommend the adoption and institutionalization of relevant and meaningful assessment tools, such as satellite information, yield analysis, sustainable land management and other assessment tools, based on the best global practices which shall be used by relevant agencies and institutions for their continued monitoring, evaluation, and development. m) Conduct multi-stakeholder consultations, using proper mechanisms and guidance; and n) Report to Congress its accomplishments on a quarterly basis, its findings and recommendations on actions to be taken by Congress, the departments, and other government agencies concerned with agriculture, and provide a final report at the end of the existence of the AGRICOM;

SEC. 4. Creation of the AGRICOM. — There is hereby created a Congressional

Commission on Agriculture hereinafter referred to as the "AGRICOM", to undertake a comprehensive national assessment and evaluation of the performance of the Philippine agriculture sector for the purpose of recommending reforms in the sector with the end in view of making the Philippines globally competitive in the agriculture sector.

SEC. 5. Composition of the AGRICOM. - The AGRICOM shall be composed of

ten (10) members, with five (5) members from the Senate and five (5) members from the House of Representatives. The Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and the Chairperson of the House Committee on Agriculture shall serve as Co-Chairpersons of the Commission. The other four (4) members each from the Senate and the House of Representatives shall be designated by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. The members of the Commission shall receive no compensation, but travelling, communications, and other necessary expenses shall be allowed, subject to existing laws, and rules and regulations.

SEC. 6. Duration of AGRICOM. - The AGRICOM 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. 7. Powers and Functions of AGRICOM. — The AGRICOM shall have the

following powers and functions: a) Review, assess, and evaluate the agriculture bureaucracy and recommended institutional reforms; b) Recommend the improvement in the harmonization of the policies and programs of the DA, DAR, DENR and other government agencies in charge of agriculture; c) Formulate and approve the workplan for the conduct of the national review, assessment and harmonization tasks and the budget for the programs of the government agencies concerned with agriculture and all disbursements therefrom, including compensation of all necessary personnel. Provided that, the AGRICOM may hire and appoint employees and personnel on temporary, contractual, or on consultancy basis; d) Formulate short-term and long-term policy and program recommendations that consist of specific, targeted, measurable and time-bound solutions to include, but not limited to, the following: 1) sectoral plans and targets; 2) value chain governance and management; 3) physical and digital infrastructure; 4) farmer and fisherfolk trainings and programs; 5) financing; and 6) coordination among departments and sectors concerned with human resource management and development.

e) Hold hearings and receive testimonies, reports and expert advice on the status of Philippine education, exhaust available options to identify problems, and consolidate coherent courses of action as remedies; f) 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 necessary, 9) Secure from any department, bureau, office or instrumentality of the government such assistance, including technical information, preparation and production of reports, and the submission of recommendations or plans, as may be required; h) Review and act upon the recommendations of the Technical Secretariat or Standing Committees, or both, as it may deem appropriate; i) Recommend additional legislation to further the objectives of this Act; and Exercise all other powers necessary to achieve the purposes of this Act.

SEC. 8. National Assessment and Evaluation. - Pursuant to Section 4 of this

Act, the national assessment and evaluation shall include the following: (a) Review of the observance of the mandates of the laws that created the DA, DAR, DENR and other government agencies in charge of agriculture; (b) Determination of factors that have contributed to the continuing failure in performance of the three agencies in modernizing agriculture; identified subject areas to meet the desired international and local standards; (c) Recommendation of specific, targeted and time-bound solutions to enable the three agencies to improve their performance vis-r-vis measurable indicators; (d) Identification of best practices of various national and international agricultural institutions that can be adopted across the entire agricultural system; (e) Proposal for a monitoring and evaluation plan to ensure the timely achievement of set targets; and (f) Determination of the role of local government units (LGUs) in the delivery of basic agricultural services.

SEC. 9. Standing Committees. - The members of the Commission shall

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. The standing committees shall include the DAR and the DENR in their respective consultations to ensure that arts and sports education are integrated into the education system.

SEC. 10. Technica/ Secretariat. - A Technical Secretariat, to be headed by an

Executive Director (ED), shall be organized to provide technical and administrative support to the AGRICOM in the exercise of its powers and performance of its functions under Section 7 of this Act. The Technical Secretariat shall co-exist with the AGRICOM,

SEC. 11. Executive Director. - The ED to be appointed by the AGRICOM must

be a recognized expert with experience both in the fields of agriculture and management. The ED shall work full-time and shall have the rank, privileges, and emoluments of an Executive Director IV (Salary Grade 29).

SEC. 12. Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) as Research Arm

of the AGRICOM, — The PIDS shall serve as the research arm of the AGRICOM. During the course of the AGRICOM's existence, it shall produce data-based research and provide analysis to contribute to the formulation of policy recommendations that will benefit the agriculture sector.

SEC. 13. Periodic Review. - The Department of Agriculture (DA), in coordination

with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), and the Department of Economic Planning and Development (DEPDEV), shall conduct periodic reviews every three (3) years or, as may be necessary, of the implementation and accomplishments of the AGRICOM. Thereafter, after the conduct of such periodic review, the DA shall submit to Congress a report containing their evaluation and recommendation.

SEC. 14. Agriculture Advisory Council. - An Agriculture, Legislation and Policy

Advisory Council (Advisory Council) is hereby created to provide the AGRICOM with expert assistance and advice. The members of the Advisory Council shall always be present in all meetings of the AGRICOM. The Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall choose recognized experts from the following sectors to form part of the Advisory Council: two (2) members from agriculture sector, two (2) members from the business sector, two (2) members from the government agriculture agencies, two (2) members who are heads of LGUs, and two (2) members from organizations and development partners engaged in agriculture.

SEC. 15. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. - There is hereby created

a Congressional Oversight Committee on the National Assessment and Evaluation of the Philippine Agriculture Sector which shall be composed of seven (7) members from the Senate and seven (7) members from the House of Representatives, with the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform and the chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture and Food, as joint chairpersons. The six (6) other members from the Senate shall be composed

of three (3) members from Committee on Agriculture, two (2) from the Committee on Environment, and one (1) from the minority, while the six (6) members from the House of Representatives shall be composed of three (3) members from the Committee on Agriculture and Food, and two (2) from the Committee on Environment, and one (1) from the minority, to be designated respectively by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

SEC. 16. Appropriations. - The amount of two hundred million pesos (Php

200,000,000.00) shall be appropriated for the initial implementation of this Act which shall be charged against the available appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continuous 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. 17. 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 and effect.

SEC. 18. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,

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

SEC. 19. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

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