Presidential Decree No. 547 (PD 547) — Amending PD 461 to Create Department-Wide Regional Offices in the Department of Agriculture, to Integrate Agricultural Extension Services and for Other Purposes.
WHEREAS, the functions, responsibilities and coverage of the
Department of Agriculture as created under Presidential Decree No. 461
are concentrated on agriculture and food production;
WHEREAS, the general organizational pattern for executive
departments in the Integrated Reorganization Plan, which involves
integrated implementation of related field programs through
department-wide regional directors, would be more effective and
economical for the Department considering the closely related functions
of its bureaus;
WHEREAS, such an organizational pattern will allow the
effective decentralization of functions to field offices, establish
direct communications between the department head and implementors of
food crop production programs in the field, and thus effect faster and
more direct services to the people;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution,
do hereby amend Presidential Decree No. 461, as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 2 shall read:
"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 of Agriculture 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. They
shall be staff bureaus and primarily responsible for giving advice to
the Office of the Secretary; the development of plans and programs; the
formulation of policies and standards; providing technical supervision
to the regional offices; and such other functions as may be provided
by law. The following government-owned or 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 National Food and
Agriculture Council, the Fertilizer Industry Authority 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 Department of Agriculture.
SEC. 2. Section 5 shall read:
"SEC. 5. The Agrarian Reform Unit of the Department of
Agriculture 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.
The Bureau of Farm Management of the Department of Agrarian Reform
is abolished and all current personnel, appropriations, records,
equipment and property which correspond to agricultural extension
activities are transferred to the Department of Agriculture, provided
that the latter Department shall allocate such personnel,
appropriations, records, equipment and property to the same priority
areas set by the Department of Agrarian Reform."
SEC. 3.
SEC. 4. The Secretary of Natural Resources shall be
ex-officio member of the National Food and Agriculture Council. The
Secretary of Agriculture shall be ex-officio member of the Natural
Resources Development and Management Council and the Fisheries Industry
Development Council.
SEC. 5. All laws, decrees and orders, or parts thereof,
which are inconsistent with the preceding are hereby repealed or amended
accordingly.
SEC. 6. This Decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 5th day of September, 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
Section 14 shall read:
"SEC. 14. The Department of Agriculture shall have
regional offices organized on a Department-wide basis. The regional
offices of the Bureau of Forest Development, the Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources and the Bureau of Lands shall be established in
accordance with Article I, 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."
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
