Declaration of Agricultural Development and Investment Objectives and Policies.
Section 1
SECTION 1. Declaration of Agricultural Development and Investment Objectives and Policies.— Objectives: It is the basic objective of the State to promote agricultural development on a sustainable basis utilizing indigenous materials whenever feasible, and in particular to achieve the following objectives: 1. To preserve, improve and put to their most productive use the land, water, forest, genetic materials and other agricultural resources of the country. 2. To manage and develop the land so that the land is put to its optimal uses, and the security of land tenure is guaranteed. In particular, it is the policy of the State to strengthen the capability for land classification; to complete the cadastral surveys and land titling as quickly as feasible; to regulate the diversion of agricultural land to industrial and urban uses; to facilitate agrarian reform and stabilize land tenure; and to improve and expand the resettlement program in order to accommodate the growing number of landless farmers. 3. To ensure the availability of food supplies at reasonable prices and attain self-sufficiency in basic food items. 4. To accelerate the development of the meat and dairy industry, and for this purpose, grazing and credit policies shall be consistent with the evolving requirements of the industry. 5. To enhance the judicious and optimum utilization of our marine and fishery resources by both the commercial fishing boat operators and the municipal/small fishermen, as well as expand and improve fishpond operations and aquaculture activities. 6. To increase agriculture's contribution to the balance of payments through export promotion and import substitution. 7. To provide adequate research and extension facilities aimed at increasing productivity and efficiency, including incentives for the private sector to invest therein. 8. To encourage and assist small and medium-sized agricultural farms and industries as well as large industrial ventures intended to achieve economies of scale in all agricultural farms and agro-industrial ventures. 9. To accelerate the development of less developed regions of the country. 10. To improve and stabilize farmers' income and farmers' welfare through higher productivity, better processing, storage, marketing, transport and communications facilities, and a more efficient system of rural community development aimed at meeting family needs. Policies: To carry out the objectives of this Decree the following principles are hereby adopted: 1. Market intervention and pricing policy shall be aimed primarily at increasing production by providing reasonable and stable prices to farmers, so that the private sector becomes the primary implementor and beneficiary of agricultural development. 2. An adequate level of farm inputs, preferably indigenous materials, shall be provided at reasonable prices. 3. Agricultural credit at reasonable costs shall be mobilized and delivered at the levels necessary to support the development program, both through the rehabilitation of existing institutions and through the creation of new institutions and systems. 4. A program of organizational and institutional improvements for more efficient sector management shall be instituted, aimed at improving and 'rationalizing coordination among the ministries, agencies and other government entities involved in agriculture.