Presidential Decree No. 461 (PD 461) — Reorganizing the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources into Two Departments, Namely: Department of Agriculture and Department of Natural Resources, Amending for This Purpose Chapter 1, Part Viii of the Integrated Reorganization Plan.
WHEREAS, it is a primary objective of the Government to
conserve, revitalize and develop the country's national wealth and
manage its utilization for the continued well-being of present and
future generations;
WHEREAS, progressively increasing demands for food,
agricultural raw materials, mineral, aquatic, and forest products, are
being felt throughout the world and predicted to intensify in the
immediate future:
WHEREAS, within the Philippines itself, the demands of a
growing population exert tremendous pressure on the country's existing
food and natural resources;
WHEREAS, in the light of growing domestic and world demands
for basic commodities, there is a pressing need to continuously assess
the status of all existing food and natural resources of the Philippines
with the view to maximizing their utilization, programming their
exploitation and, whenever possible, providing for their replacement;
WHEREAS, the development of agriculture and the management
of natural resources involve two separate broad and complex programs
which are presently being planned and implemented by only one
organization; and
WHEREAS, the attainment as soon as possible of the national
goal of increased production and self-sufficiency in basic foods and the
completion of an up-dated inventory and assessment of the nation's
natural resources for the purpose of ensuring conservation, optimal
utilization, programmed exploitation and replacement whenever possible
can best be achieved if these objectives are prosecuted by two separate
departments.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution,
do hereby adopt this amendment to Chapter I, Part VIII of the Integrated
Reorganization Plan as part of the law of the land.
SECTION 1. Presidential Decree No. 1, dated September 24,
1972, relative to Chapter I, Part VIII of the Integrated Reorganization
Plan is hereby amended by reorganizing the Department of Agriculture and
Natural Resources into two Departments, namely: (a) Department of
Agriculture and (b) Department of Natural Resources.
SEC. 2. The Department of Agriculture shall be composed of
the Department Proper which shall include the Office of the Secretary,
the Planning Service, the Financial and Management Service, the
Administrative Service, the Computer Service Center, and the Agrarian
Reform Unit. The Bureaus under the supervision and control of the
Department are the (1) Bureau of Soils, (2) Bureau of Plant Industry,
(3) Bureau of Animal Industry, (4) Bureau of Agricultural Extension, and
(5) Bureau of Agricultural Economics. The following government-owned
and controlled corporations are attached to the Department:
(a) National Grains Authority, (b) Philippine Tobacco
Administration, (c) Philippine Virginia Tobacco Administration, (d)
Philippine Coconut Authority,(e) Coconut Investment Company, and (f)
Philippine Cotton Corporation. The Fertilizer Industry Authority,
National Food and Agricultural Council and the National Meat Inspection
Commission are placed under the administrative supervision of the
Department. The Philippine Council for Agricultural Research shall be
attached to the National Science Development Board.
SEC. 3.
The organization and functions of the Planning Service, the Financial
and Management Service, and the Administrative Services shall be in
accordance with Articles III, IV, V, Chapter I, Part II of the
Integrated Reorganization Plan.
SEC. 4. The Computer Service shall be responsible for
providing the Department and the Bureaus under it, including the
corporations and other agencies attached to it with economical,
efficient, and effective services relating to electronic data
processing.
SEC. 5. The Agrarian Reform Unit shall be responsible
for providing advice and assistance to the Office of the Secretary in
coordinating the work of the Department on extension service and soil
surveys and classification with that of the Department of Agrarian
Reform.
SEC. 6. The organizations and functions of the Bureau of
Animal Industry, Bureau of Agricultural Extension, and Bureau of
Agricultural Economics shall be provided in Paragraphs 7 and 8, Article
II and in Article IV, VIII, and IX, respectively, of Chapter I, Part
VIII of the Integrated Reorganization Plan and in Letter of
Implementation No. 9, dated November 1, 1972.
SEC. 7. There is created a Bureau of Plant Industry
which shall be responsible for conducting research on agricultural
crops; production of improved seeds and plant materials; protection of
agricultural crops from pests and diseases; development and improvement
of farm equipment, structures, and practices, and such other functions
as may be provided by law. The Bureau of Plant Industry shall have, in
addition to a Planning and Management Staff and an Administrative
Division, the following divisions: (a) Laboratory Services Division, (b)
Research Division, (c) Production Division, (d) Farm Development
Division which is renamed Agricultural Engineering Division, and (e)
Crop Protection Division. The functions of these divisions shall be as
provided in Paragraph 2, Article III, Chapter I, Part VIII of the
Integrated Reorganization Plan and in Letter of Implementation No. 9,
except that the Laboratory Services Division and the Research Division
shall not have the functions on production of soil inoculants and soil
research, respectively.
SEC. 8. There is created a Bureau of Soils which shall
be responsible for the assessment, development and conservation of
existing and potential soil resources of the Philippines; conducting
research on different aspects of soil utilization, management, and
conservation; and such other functions as may be provided by law. The
Bureau of Soils shall have, in addition to a Planning and Management
Staff and an Administrative Division, the following divisions:
Laboratory Services Division which shall provide technical
supervision in the effective operation and maintenance of the Bureau's
soil laboratories, including the maintenance of precision laboratory
equipment; prescribe standards in the physical and/or chemical analysis
of soils for researches and farmlands as the bases for formulation of
fertilizer and lime recommendation and for soil characterization;
prepare the program for the production and distribution of soil
inoculants; coordinate with the Soil Research Division in the study of
new and effective methods of analysis and with Soil Fertility Division
in updating soil correlation values and fertilizer requirements of
crops; and perform such other functions as may be provided by law.
Soil Conservation Division which shall formulate policies,
standards and measures for soil and water conservation and utilization;
develop a program of field demonstrations on soil and water land-use
program for agriculture areas on the control of soil erosion, floods,
and siltation; exercise technical supervision over all soil and water
conservation stations of the Bureaus; and perform such other functions
as may be provided by law.
Soil Fertility Division which shall develop plans and
procedures for field studies and surveys on soil fertility; prescribe
procedures and techniques on the use of fertilizers, soil amendments and
fertility maintenance practices compile and analyze results of field
fertilizer and fertility maintenance practices; compile and analyze
results of field fertilizer and fertility maintenance studies for
purpose of preparing and issuing periodic soil fertility status and
fertilizer recommendations for major economic crops; and perform such
other functions as may be provided by law.
Soil Research Division which shall design a program of
researches on soil chemistry, soil physics, soil biology and mineral
nutrition as they relate to agricultural and non-agricultural
application; provide standards and establish criteria for research on
soil utilization, conservation and soil, water, and plant relationship;
exercise technical supervision in the operation of the Bureau's research
stations; maintain liason with other research institutions in both
government and private sectors, including foreign institutions; provide
technical assistance to other agencies in conducting training programs
on soil research and other related subjects; and perform such other
functions as may be provided by law.
Soil Surveys Division which shall prepare the plans and
programs on basic soil surveys at all levels of generalization
throughout the Philippines to provide sufficient soil resources data
needed by the government and the private sector; interpret basic soil
survey data to provide information on land classification, land
capability and land-use; provide standards and guidelines in the conduct
of soil surveys and other related activities; consolidate, review, and
summarize reports on soil surveys for dissemination; prepare and
maintain thematic maps, charts, tables, photo mosaics, diagrams and
other related materials; and perform such other functions as may be
provided by law.
SEC. 9. The Department of Natural Resources shall be
composed of the Department Proper which shall include the Office of the
Secretary, the Planning Service, the Financial and Management Service,
and the Administrative Service. In addition, there are created in the
Department Proper a Legal Service, Computer Service Unit and an Agrarian
Reform Unit. The bureaus under the supervision and control of the
Department are: (a) Bureau of Forest Development, (b) Bureau of Lands,
(c) Bureau of Fisheries, which is renamed Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources, and (d) Bureau of Mines. The following agencies are
attached to the Department: (a) Presidential Committee on Wood
Industries Development, (b) National Committee for Mineral Exploration
and Survey Operations, (c) Fishery Industry Development Council, (d)
Surigao Mineral Reservation Board, (e) Presidential Action Committee on
Land Problems.
The National Committee for Mineral Exploration and Survey
Operations is reconstituted as follows: Secretary of Natural Resources,
as Chairman, Director of Mines, as Vice-Chairman, and representative of
the Office of the Executive Secretary, Budget Commission, Philippine Air
Force, Philippine Navy, Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey, Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Bureau of Mines, Bureau of Forest
Development, Bureau of Lands, Bureau of Plant Industry, and Bureau of
Soils, as members.
SEC. 10. The organizations and functions of the Planning
Service, the Financial and Management Service, and the Administrative
Service shall be in accordance with Articles III, IV, and V, Chapter I,
Part II of the Integrated Reorganization Plan, except that the
Administrative Service shall not have a Legal Division;
SEC. 11. The Legal Service shall have following
functions: Prepare decisions and orders on cases involving the
disposition, utilization, exploitation, and development of public lands,
forests, mines, aquatic resources and other natural resources brought
on appeal from action taken by the bureaus under the Department, review
patents, licenses, concessions, permits, deeds of conveyance, sales and
other transfer of rights, affecting public lands, mines, forest, aquatic
resources and other natural resources initiated and/ or processed by
the bureaus under the Department; appear as counsel for the Secretary,
Undersecretary, bureau directors, and other subordinate employees under
the Department, review patents, licenses, concessions, permit, deeds of
conveyance, sales and other transfer of rights, affecting public lands,
mines, forest, aquatic resources and other natural resources initiated
and/or processed by the bureaus under the Department; appear as counsel
for the Secretary, Undersecretary, bureau directors, and other
subordinate employees under the Department in court cases Where such
officials or employees are parties thereto in their Official capacities
and upon authorization of the Solicitor General; conduct administrative
investigation, including the review of administrative charges against
employees of the Department; and perform such other functions as may be
provided by law.
SEC. 12. The Agrarian Reform Unit of the Department
shall be responsible for providing the Office of the Secretary with
advice and assistance in coordinating the work of the Department, on
land surveys, release of lands of the public domain for resettlement
purposes, and other related activities with that of the Department of
Agrarian Reform.
SEC. 13. The organizations and functions of the Bureau
of Lands, Bureau of Forest Development, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources, and Bureau of Mines shall be as provided in Paragraphs 7 and
8, Article II and in Articles V, VI, VII, and X, respectively, of
Chapter I, Part VIII of the Integrated Reorganization Plan and in Letter
of Implementation No. 9, Paragraph 4, Article X, Chapter I, Part VIII
of the Integrated Reorganization Plan is amended by creating the
Petroleum Division which shall be responsible for the administration and
development of the petroleum resources of the country. The Mineral
Resources Administration of mineral lands.
SEC. 14. The Regional Offices of the Bureau of Soils,
the Bureau of Plant Industry, the Bureau of Animal Industry, the Bureau
of Agricultural Extension and those of the Bureau of Forest Development,
the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Bureau of Lands
shall established in accordance with Article 1, Chapter III, Part II of
the Integrated Reorganization Plan, as amended, and with Letter of
Implementation No. 9. The Bureau of Mines shall establish its regional
offices in accordance with its requirements, subject to the approval of
the President upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Natural
Resources.
SEC. 15. Section 1 of Presidential Decree No. 107,
dated January 24, 1973, is hereby amended by removing the Secretary of
Agriculture and Natural Resources from membership in the National
Economic and Development Authority and providing for the membership in
that body of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Natural
Resources.
The Secretary of Agriculture shall be ex-officio
Chairman of the Council of the National Grains Authority;
Fertilizer Industry Authority, National Food and Agriculture Council,
National Artificial Rain Stimulating Committee;
Vice-Chairman of the Philippine Council for Agricultural
Research and the Board of Directors of the Greater Manila Terminal Food
Market; and
Member of the Metric System Board, Board of Directors
of the Philippine International Trading Corporation, Board of Trustees
of the Tarlac College of Technology, National Economic and Development
Authority, Board of Directors of the National Irrigation Administration,
National Manpower and Youth Council, Price Control, Executive Committee
of the National Security Council and the Agrarian Reform Coordinating
Council.
The Secretary of Natural Resources shall be ex-officio
Chairman of the Petroleum Board, Presidential Committee on
Wood Industries Development, Presidential Action Committee on Land
Problems, National Committee for Mineral Exploration and Survey
Operation, Fishery Industry Development Council and Surigao Mineral
Reservation Board.
Co-Chairman of the National Minorities Assistance Council,
and
Member of the Metric System Board, Board of Directors of the
Philippine International Trading Corporation, Committee to Study the
Financing Scheme for Nationwide River Control and Reforestation
Projects, National Economic and Development Authority, Executive
Committee of the National Security Council, Agrarian Reform Coordinating
Council, Philippine Council for Agricultural Research, Board of
Directors of the National Irrigation Administration and Water Resource
Council.
SEC. 16. All provisions of Chapter I, Part VIII of the
Integrated Reorganization Plan and of the Letter of Implementation No. 9
which are not amended or not inconsistent with the foregoing provisions
shall remain in full force and effect and shall be corresponding
applied in accordance with the intents and purposes of this Decree.
SEC. 17. The functions of the Department of Agriculture
and National Resources pertaining to agricultural development and those
relating to the administration of natural resources shall be
respectively transferred to the Department of Agriculture and the
Department of Natural Resources. Such transfer shall include the
corresponding balance of appropriations, records, equipment, property
and such personnel as may be necessary. Addition funds, if necessary,
shall be appropriated from the funds in the National Treasury not
otherwise appropriated for personal services in the two Departments. The
appropriations for the Agricultural Guarantee and Loan Fund and for the
procurement and distribution of fertilizers and certified seeds shall
be transferred to the Department of Agriculture. The transfer of the
bureaus to the two Departments shall include their respective balance of
appropriations, records, equipment, property and personnel. The duly
appointed Secretaries of each of the departments created hereby, shall
promulgate the necessary administrative orders that will provide the
implementing details of the provisions of this Section, and shall be
responsible for carrying into immediate effect the intents and purposes
of this Decree.
SEC. 18. This Decree shall take effect upon its
approval.
Done in the City of Manila, this 17th day of May, in the year
of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.
(Sgd.)
FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.)
ALEJANDRO MELCHOR
Executive Secretary
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
