QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 4594)
Republic Act No. 4594 (approved June 19, 1965) creates the Philippine National FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) Committee under the President and defines its composition, functions, powers, and related matters.
It is created under the President of the Republic of the Philippines.
It includes a Chairman, an Executive Secretary, and other members that are specified government officials (e.g., directors/commissioners/administrators/deans from relevant agencies and institutions), as enumerated in Section 1 of the law.
Both are appointed by the President. For the Chairman, the law requires that the appointee be a man of science, respected by peers, with broad knowledge of FAO affairs and experience in international conferences, many years of administrative practice, and at least a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture (or related equivalents).
He/it must have technical training in food and agriculture, broad knowledge and extensive experience and interest in FAO-related matters, working knowledge of one official FAO/UN language, and at least a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Home Economics, or related fields.
The Chairman is the head and presiding officer. The Executive Secretary is a member and also the administrative officer of the Secretariat and the recorder of deliberations.
The members may elect a temporary chairman from among themselves to preside over that meeting.
Chairman: annual compensation of PHP 18,000 plus PHP 2,400 representation allowance; Executive Secretary: annual compensation of PHP 12,000; other Members: per diem of PHP 25 for every meeting attended.
The Committee may have necessary technical, secretarial, and other personnel whose number and compensation are determined by the Committee. Appointments are made by the Chairman under the Civil Service Law, and compensation follows the wage/position scale prescribed by the Wage and Position Classification Office.
They include serving as the national liaison for direct/quick exchange of information between the Philippines and FAO; coordinating and administering government food and agriculture activities related to production and distribution/marketing; assisting national efforts to raise nutrition and standards of living; improving efficiency in production and distribution; and improving living conditions, especially in rural areas.
Examples include: bringing to attention government agencies technical/financial assistance offered by FAO; receiving and evaluating project proposals for feasibility; recommending priority projects for approval by UN technical assistance channels/FAO headquarters; evaluating progress of ongoing projects; establishing a research fellowship similar to the Andre Mayer Fellowship; acting on candidatures for scholarships/fellowships/training; acting on invitations to international conferences and forming delegations; maintaining accuracy/uniformity of Philippine data presentations; maintaining a representative in Rome; recommending measures to accelerate development of food/agriculture production; and selecting nominees for training/fellowships.
It must receive project proposals, and evaluate (in consultation with appropriate government agencies) their feasibility.
In consultation with the National Economic Council, it recommends selected projects arranged by priority to the United Nations Technical Assistance Board or to FAO Headquarters in Rome, for approval.
The Committee is required to maintain a Philippine representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, Italy.
It is empowered to call upon any officer or employee of any department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality of the government to provide assistance needed for proper discharge of the Committee’s functions.
For FY 1966, the sum of PHP 1,000,000 is authorized for appropriation to be expended by the Committee for salaries and wages; sundry expenses (including travel per diems for FAO-sponsored meetings, supplies/materials, communications, publications, rental, entertainment/meal allowances, local expenses for hosting trainings/conferences); purchase/repair of furniture and equipment (including one utility motor vehicle); and other services.
Administrative Order No. 41 s. 1946, as amended, and inconsistent acts/rules are repealed; the Philippine Committee on Food and Agriculture created by that Administrative Order is abolished, and its records, property, assets, and liabilities are transferred to the newly created Committee.
It takes effect upon its approval.