Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 680)
The primary purpose of Republic Act No. 680 is to create a Bureau of Agricultural Extension under the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources to consolidate, coordinate, and expand agricultural extension work, and to disseminate practical and scientific information on agriculture, animal husbandry, fishery, soil conservation, forestry, and mines.
Agricultural extension is defined as the diffusion among the people of useful and practical information on agriculture, soil conservation, livestock, fisheries, forest conservation, public lands and natural resources laws, home economics, and rural life to encourage their application through demonstrations, lectures, publications, and other means.
The Director and Assistant Director of Agricultural Extension are appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments of Congress.
The Director of Agricultural Extension receives a compensation of Seven thousand two hundred pesos per annum, and the Assistant Director receives Six thousand pesos per annum.
The Agricultural Extension Division of the Bureau of Plant Industry and the Livestock Extension Division of the Bureau of Animal Industry were abolished, with their personnel, appropriations, equipment, and facilities transferred to the Bureau of Agricultural Extension.
The Agricultural Extension Fund is constituted by appropriations from the General Fund of the National Treasury (not less than Five hundred thousand pesos annually) and the Agricultural Fund under Commonwealth Act Numbered Eighty-five. It is used for salaries, furniture, equipment, traveling expenses, and other necessary operational expenses of the Bureau.
National Funds in excess of the amount needed for the National Office, District Offices, and salaries of certain agents are allocated to provincial Agricultural Funds, apportioned as follows: 40% based on the number of farms, 40% based on cultivable area (using the latest census), and the remaining 20% apportioned based on need, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Each province has a Provincial Agricultural Extension Service headed by one Provincial Agricultural Agent and one Home Demonstration Agent (a woman), both paid from the National Fund. Additional technical and clerical staff paid from provincial funds support them. Extension districts are also organized, each supervised by a District Extension Agent and a District Home Demonstration Agent.
The provincial government provides office quarters for the Provincial Agricultural Agent and the Provincial Home Demonstration Agent, while other local extension agents’ offices are provided by the corresponding local governments.
All laws, rules, and regulations inconsistent with Republic Act No. 680 are repealed.