Question & AnswerQ&A (DA ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 9, S. 2002, APRIL 15, 2002)
The main objective is to guide officials and employees of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in handling the participation of farmers, fisherfolk, livestock and poultry raisers, RIC, 4-H Club members, and devolved agriculturists as the Department's partners in realizing the objectives of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA).
Farmers are natural persons depending on farming as their primary source of income and on the sale, barter or exchange of agricultural products. This includes cutflower growers, nursery operators, commercial tree planters, seed producers, small agricultural producers (tenants, sharecroppers, peasants), small owner-cultivators or self-employed individuals who provide primary labor in their agricultural enterprise or earn at least 50% of their gross income from it.
Fisherfolk are persons directly or personally and physically engaged in the taking and/or culture of fish and processing of fishery and/or aquatic resources as defined by the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Executive Order 240.
RICs are associations of rural women aimed at the upliftment of farmer and fisherfolk families through farm home resources management, community leadership, women's empowerment, and entrepreneurship.
4-H Clubs are duly registered non-government organizations of farm youths (preferably out-of-school youth aged 12-30) engaged in agricultural projects to develop self-reliance, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Alumni associations such as PATP, JAEC, and IFYE members are also included.
The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) serves as the National Secretariat and overall Coordinator, managing and supervising revitalization and sustaining activities of rural-based organizations. The ATI Director is the Head of the Secretariat.
DA-RFUs serve as the Regional Secretariat led by the Regional Executive Director, assisted by designated Regional Coordinators for Farmers'/Fisherfolk Associations, RIC, 4-H Club, and PAPCA/DAP for supervising and coordinating activities regionally.
The DA provides training on values, leadership, and entrepreneurship, financial assistance to attend meetings and forums, support for livelihood and socio-economic projects, on-the-job trainings, observation tours, and inter-agency programs like Kabataan 2002, BIDANI, and Population Education, subject to availability of resources.
Funding is provided as a line item in the DA budget starting CY 2002, allotted quarterly to Regional Field Units. Allocations are divided proportionately among regions based on the number of provinces, with a maximum of Php 3 million per year to the RFU with the greatest number of provinces.
No, the Constitution and By-Laws of all associations/clubs continue to guide the conduct of activities of their respective groups.
The Revitalization Committee created under Administrative Order No. 12 is effectively abolished with the issuance of this Administrative Order No. 9.
Coordination with LGUs is facilitated through existing Memoranda of Agreement between the Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Presidents of Governors and Mayors Leagues of the Philippines for implementation purposes.
Provincial and Municipal Coordinators are designated by their respective Governors or Mayors to assist in planning, project implementation, cooperative formation, and facilitating linkages with credit institutions and other assistance sources.