The Decentralized Agricultural Extension in the

Philippines
Legal Instrument:
Republic Act No. !"# $no%ns as the Local
&o'ernment (ode )L&(* o+ !,,!
-b.ecti'e:
To attain the L&/s0 +ullest de'elopment as sel+1
reliant communities and ma$e them more
e++ecti'e partners in the attainment o+
national goals.
2peci+ic -b.ecti'es:
3ring go'ernment ser'ice closer to the
people.
&i'e local people the control and
authorit4 and opportunit4 to participate in the
planning and implementation o+ extension
programs.
2peci+ic -b.ecti'es:
5a$e the responsible local go'ernment
less dependent on the central go'ernment +or
support o+ extension ser'ices that bene+its the
constituents.
Specific Objectives:
Reduce the top hea'4 central
go'ernment budget and personnel.
2peci+ic -b.ecti'es:
5a$e the L&/s responsible +or the cost
o+ pro'iding needed agricultural ser'ices to their
constituents.
3ureaus and Attached Agencies o+ the DA doing
Extension and Training
3ureaus:
- 3ureau o+ Animal Industr4 )3AI*
- 3ureau o+ Plant Industr4 )3PI*
- 3ureau o+ 6isher4 and Agricultural
Resources )36AR*
- 3ureau o+ Post17ar'est Research and
Extension )3uP7RE*
- 3ureau o+ 2oils and 8ater 5anagement
)3285*
- Agricultural Training Institute )ATI*
DA1Attached Agencies:
- (otton De'elopment Authorit4
- 6iber De'elopment Authorit4
- National Tobacco Administration
- Philippine (oconut Authorit4
- Philippine (arabao (enter
- PhilRice
- 2ugar Regulator4 Authorit4
Nature and 2cope o+ the Extension 2er'ice
&eneral:
Predominantl4 agricultural production and
protection in co'erage %ith home economics and
rural 4outh de'elopment diminished.
At the 3aranga4 Le'el:
Agricultural support ser'ices including
planting materials distribution and operation o+
+arm produce collection and bu4ing stations.
At the 5unicipal Le'el:
Extension and on1site research ser'ices
related to agriculture and +isheries acti'ities9
including dispersal o+ li'estoc$ and poultr49
+ingerlings +or a:uaculture;
Pala49 corn9 'egetable seeds and other
seedlings;
At the 5unicipal Le'el:
De'elopment o+ local distribution
channels pre+erabl4 through cooperati'es9 inter1
baranga4 irrigation s4stems;
8ater and soil resources utilization and
conser'ation pro.ects;
En+orcement o+ +isher4 la%s in
municipal %aters.
At the 5unicipal Le'el:
Implementation o+ communit41based
+orestr4 programs and similar pro.ects;
5anagement and control o+ communal
+orests %ith an area not exceeding <#$m
=
;
Establishment o+ tree par$s9 greenbelts
and other similar pro.ects.
At the 5unicipal Le'el:
In+ormation ser'ices %hich include
in'estment and .ob placement in+ormation
s4stems; tax and mar$eting in+ormation s4stems;
maintenance o+ public librar4.
At the 5unicipal Le'el:
In+rastructure +acilities including
communal irrigation9 small %ater impounding
pro.ects9 artesian %ells9 rain%ater collector9
%ater suppl4 s4stems9 drainage9 se%erage9 +lood
control s4stems9 etc.
At the 5unicipal Le'el:
Public mar$ets9 slaughterhouses and
other municipal enterprises.
At the Pro'incial Le'el:
Agricultural extension and on1site
research ser'ices %hich include pre'ention and
control o+ plant and animal pests and diseases.
At the Pro'incial Le'el:
Assistance in the organization o+
+armers0>+ishermen0s cooperati'es9 and other
collecti'e organizations as %ell as the trans+er o+
appropriate technolog4.
6acilities include li'estoc$ mar$ets9
animal breeding stations9 Al centers9 etc.
At the (it4 Le'el:
All ser'ices and +acilities at the pro'incial and
municipal le'els.
Plus ?
Disseminate in+ormation
Render technical assistance to clientele
Assist and coordinate %ith local and
national agenc4 representati'es
Promote and maintain clientele
organizations
5onitor and e'aluate agricultural
pro.ects and programs
Assist 252 and clientele
Implement regulator4 :uarantine la%s
6ormulate +arm or +amil4 de'elopment
plans
-
Assist in the de'elopment o+
agribusiness pro.ects
(onduct +arm and home sur'e4s
Assist in the +ormulation o+ plans9
programs9 home 'isits9 +ollo%1up training and
techno1demo approaches
Problems and Issues
Legal Issues:
Perception o+ po%er and control o+
agricultural de'elopment resources.
The L&( allo%s the municipal
go'ernment to operate agricultural extension
independentl4 o+ the pro'incial agricultural
extension programs.
Legal Issues:
No pro'ision in the L&( +or L&/
agricultural extension to ha'e +unctional
relationship %ith the (entral &o'ernment
particularl4 DA.
The L&( allo%s the national
go'ernment programs at the local go'ernment
units.
Legal Issues:
/nclear and inade:uate legal basis +or
ATI to ser'e as the apex agricultural extension
agenc4 o+ the countr4.
5unicipalities are too small operational
units +or agricultural extension.
No hierarch4 o+ authorit4 on
agricultural extension program in the pro'ince.
Legal Issues:
No +unctional APE@ agenc4 +or
agricultural extension at the national le'el.
DA decentralization to !< regions has
no positi'e impact on the de'ol'ed agricultural
extension ser'ice.
7uman1related concerns:
Number o+ extension personnel
de'ol'ed.
(ultural ad.ustments.
Lac$ o+ incenti'es +or career
de'elopment.
6inancial concerns:
Lac$ o+ +unds +or programs and pro.ects
+or the National Agricultural De'elopment
Agenda.
Lac$ o+ ideolog4 o+ cooperation or
interdependence in pursuing the countr40s
agricultural and de'elopment agenda.
6inancial concerns:
Lac$ o+ an institutional s4stem o+
+inancial trans+er o+ agricultural extension.