Powers and Functions of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Section 3
SEC. 3. Powers and Functions of the Ministry of Agriculture.—The Ministry of Agriculture, hereinafter referred to as the "Ministry", shall be the principal agency of the government in providing direction for the accelerated growth and development of a rural-based, small-farmer oriented dairy industry, in providing or helping to provide production, processing and marketing facilities and services so as to insure an adequate supply of locally-produced milk and milk products at reasonable prices to consumers, and in promoting the active participation of the private sector in the development of an indigenous dairy industry. To achieve the purposes and objectives of this Act, the Ministry of Agriculture, directly or through the Bureau of Animal Industry and its other agencies and instrumentalities, shall, in addition to its present powers and functions under Republic Act Numbered Four thousand forty-one as amended, exercise the following powers and functions: To coordinate, integrate, and supervise the policies, programs, and activities of the different sectors involved in the development of an indigenous dairy industry; Subject to pertinent laws governing public debts and expenditures and the final approval of the Prime Minister, to raise and obtain funds from local and international financial institutions for the funding of the various aspects of the dairy development program, and to help design and implement a credit system that will finance dairy farmers and dairy cooperatives or associations; To charge reasonable fees for services rendered for the attainment of the objectives of this Act; To promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the provisions and objectives of this Act; and; To perform such other functions and exercise such other powers as may be necessary or incidental to carry out the objectives of this Act. In no case shall the Ministry exercise its powers to give undue business advantage to the Philippine Dairy Corporation hereinafter created or to any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.