QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 7307)
The Act is known as the “Philippine Carabao Act of 1992.” It implements the State policy to develop an independent national economy and support indigenous scientific/technological capabilities by establishing programs to conserve, propagate, and promote the Philippine carabao as a source of draft animal power, meat, milk, and hide.
It refers to the National Carabao Center at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB), other carabao centers in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and those that will be created pursuant to the Act.
Draft animal power is power provided by the carabao as a farm animal. Smallholder farmer is one owning or cultivating five (5) hectares or less of farmland. Semi-commercial production is raising twenty (20) to forty-nine (49) carabaos.
The PCC is under the supervision and control of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Among others: conserve/propagate/promote the Philippine carabao; enable farmers (especially smallholders and CARP beneficiaries) to access good-quality carabao stocks at reasonable prices; conduct training for proper care, reproduction, and processing of meat/milk; encourage backyard dairy development to meet nutritional needs and reduce dependence on imported milk products; undertake research to improve productivity; increase annual population growth to keep pace with human population growth; and enter into memoranda of agreement and receive donations via DA (with possible direct agreements for centers upon PCC Advisory Board recommendation).
Priority is given to: increasing carabao population and productivity; developing feeding systems and improving reproductive efficiency/physiology while reducing losses from parasites and diseases; reproduction, breeding, nutrition, and animal health; socioeconomic researches for economic viability and technology acceptance; and development of cost-effective, simple, practical technologies.
At least thirty percent (30%) to fifty percent (50%) of the carabaos maintained/propagated by each carabao center must be pure native/indigenous stock.
The Board includes: the DA Secretary (or representative) as Chairman; DA Undersecretary for Regional Operations as Vice Chairman; PCARRD Executive Director; UPLB Chancellor; presidents of specified state universities (CLSU, CMU, CSU, DMMMSU, VISCA, West Visayas State University, USM, and any state college/university where a center may be established); Director of Bureau of Animal Industry; PCC Executive Director; and a farmers’ representative appointed by the Board. The Chairman leads; the Vice Chairman assists and acts per the Board structure.
It formulates policies/programs/projects; reviews and recommends the annual PCC budget; evaluates implementation/efficiency/effectiveness of PCC programs; and recommends establishment or abolition of carabao centers as necessary.
The Executive Director is appointed by the DA Secretary. The Executive Director oversees implementation of PCC policies/programs/projects; assists the Advisory Board in reviewing/evaluating/monitoring the Carabao Program; and performs other functions assigned by the Advisory Board.
They are appointed by the respective board of regents or head of agency. Their duties include administering PCC policies/programs/projects in their centers, recommending internal divisions/staffing patterns, preparing and approving their center budgets (within approved framework), recommending appointments of personnel/consultants to their head of agency, recommending policies/programs/projects to the PCC Executive Director, and performing other duties assigned.
The PCC Advisory Board through the Executive Director coordinates, monitors, and evaluates implementation. It identifies programs/projects through directors and project leaders in reproduction, breeding, distribution, nutrition, animal health, and processing, and formulates strategies related to reproduction and distribution.
Initially, there are thirteen (13) carabao centers located in specific institutions across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The centers specialize in developing technology on reproduction, breeding, nutrition, animal health, and processing of meat and milk.
Beneficiaries include CARP beneficiaries under Presidential Decree No. 27 and other smallholder farmers, given priority in dispersal. Farmer-participants are encouraged to form strong farmers’ associations or cooperatives as focal points for government assistance in propagation/dispersal and technology dissemination.
They implement carabao dispersal and propagation programs within their respective areas in accordance with the national PCC policy/program. PCC adopts a national dispersal program primarily benefiting smallholder farmers and CARP beneficiaries.
Any income from the sale of carabaos shall be placed in a revolving fund used for the propagation and distribution of carabaos.
Not more than 30% for personal services and maintenance/operating expenses; 10% for research and development; and 60% for carabao dispersal and distribution.
The PCC must submit an annual report to the Office of the President, the Senate, and the House of Representatives, indicating among others the number of carabaos distributed and the names of beneficiaries.
Separability clause: if any part is invalid/unconstitutional, the rest remains effective. Repealing clause: laws inconsistent with the Act are repealed/modified, but nothing amends, modifies, or repeals Republic Act No. 7160 (Local Government Code).