AMENDING PD 461 TO CREATE DEPARTMENT-WIDE REGIONAL OFFICES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, TO INTEGRATE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 547
• Sections: 8

Preamble

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 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.

Section 2

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."

Section 3

SEC. 3.

Section 4

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.

Section 5

SEC. 5. All laws, decrees and orders, or parts thereof,

which are inconsistent with the preceding are hereby repealed or amended

accordingly.

Section 6

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

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."