Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 4148)
The main policy objective is to establish an agricultural market news service to promote orderly marketing, stabilize prices, minimize spoilage and waste of perishable agricultural products, and empower farmers with timely and reliable market information.
The Act creates the Office of Agricultural Marketing News Service under the Bureau of Agricultural Economics.
The Director of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, with the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, is authorized to organize the office, which will be under the direct control and general supervision of the Director of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics.
The office must be headed by a ranking economist of recognized competence and experience in agricultural economics, with formal training and/or experience in agricultural marketing.
Functions include coordinating with government agencies for information gathering, establishing regional centers for market reporting, disseminating timely agricultural market news, keeping accurate records, providing technical guidance to farmers, and enforcing relevant rules and regulations.
All government agencies involved in communication and information dissemination must cooperate and make their facilities available to the Office of Agricultural Marketing News Service upon request.
One million pesos is authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury, to be disbursed by the Director of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics.
Failure to perform duties accordingly may result in a fine of not more than six hundred pesos, imprisonment of not more than one year, or both, at the discretion of the court.
The Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, upon the recommendation of the Director of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, promulgates implementing rules and regulations.
The Act took effect upon its approval on June 20, 1964.