Law Summary
Objectives of the Councils
- Serve as advisory, monitoring, and evaluative bodies.
- Act as a link between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Local Government Units (LGUs).
- Ensure successful implementation of DA programs and activities.
- Provide consultative forums within the agricultural sector.
General Functions
- Identify and assess local agricultural and fishery needs and resources collaboratively with government and non-government organizations.
- Participate in agricultural policy assessment, formulation, and planning of programs and projects.
- Assist DA and attached agencies and local agricultural offices in organizing, monitoring, and evaluation activities.
Specific Functions
- Conduct regular and special AFC meetings.
- Hold consultative congresses with various interest groups.
- Identify and resolve local agricultural problems and refer legislative issues appropriately.
- Monitor and evaluate implementation of agricultural programs and provide feedback.
- Submit budgetary requirements and raise funds.
- Promote capability building of members.
Organizational Structure: Membership
- Members are individuals and associations/cooperatives involved directly or indirectly in agriculture, fishery, and related activities.
- Majority of members must come from the private sector.
Structural Composition
- RAFC: Composed of region-wide organization chairpersons, PAFC chairpersons, and qualified sector representatives.
- PAFC: Composed of province-wide organization chairpersons, MAFC and CAFC chairpersons, and qualified sector representatives.
- CAFC and MAFC: Include city/municipal-wide organizations and BAFC chairpersons.
- BAFC: Includes barangay-wide and purok-wide organization chairpersons and qualified sector representatives.
Membership Qualifications
- Government sector representatives include heads of DA-RFUs, provincial agriculturists/veterinarians, city/municipal agricultural officers, NAFC coordinators, and technicians.
- Private sector representatives are individuals and associations engaged in production, post-harvest, marketing, credit services, and farm supplies.
- All members must be Filipino citizens of good moral standing.
Rights of Members
- One vote personally; proxy voting is not allowed.
- Eligibility for elective or appointive office.
- Participation in all meetings and access to Council records and services.
Duties and Responsibilities of Members
- Comply with Council rules and policies.
- Attend all called meetings.
- Safeguard the Council’s reputation.
Withdrawal, Suspension, and Termination
- Withdrawal requires 30 days’ written notice.
- Suspension/termination grounds include unjustified absences, failure to comply duties, violation of regulations, or acts prejudicial to the Council.
- Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote to suspend or terminate membership.
Officers of the Council
- Chairman (from private sector), Vice-Chairman (highest DA official locally), Treasurer, Auditor, and Public Relations Officer (PRO).
- Except Vice-Chairman, all officers are elected from the private sector by secret ballot.
- Terms last three years with eligibility for one re-election.
Election Procedures
- Elections held annually in June on a staggered weekly schedule by council level.
- First elections under the amended manual were in November 1998, with terms starting January 1999.
Succession and Vacancies
- Officers succeed automatically to next higher office as appropriate.
- Vacancies filled by special elections within 15 days, except if vacancy occurs within 2 months of regular elections.
- Vice-Chairman from government sector acts in absence until successor assumes office.
Leave of Absence and Disqualification
- Leave of absence for up to 120 days allowed with possible extension.
- Officers elected to government positions automatically relinquish their council office.
Specific Officer Duties
- Chairman: CEO of Council; presides meetings, supervises operations, signs documents, calls meetings, approves expenditures, presents reports, and represents Council.
- Vice-Chairman (Government): Assists Chairman, coordinates government support, appoints secretariat, serves as liaison.
- Vice-Chairman (Private): Assists Chairman, coordinates private sector support, acts as chairman when necessary.
- Secretariat-Coordinator: Records minutes and attendance, issues notices, maintains membership and legal documents, consolidates reports.
- Treasurer: Manages private funds, disburses expenses, deposits funds, issues receipts, renders financial reports, maintains books.
- Auditor: Inspects and audits all Council transactions, submits reports annually.
- PRO: Publicizes Council activities, manages media relations, conducts researches, documents events.
- Sectoral Committee Chairmen: Conduct consultations, raise issues, recommend policies, represent sectors.
Council Meetings
- Regular meetings scheduled flexibly by members.
- Special meetings called by Chairman, acting chairman, or upon majority request.
- RAFC chairmen hold quarterly meetings.
- Consultative meetings organized by member groups.
- Notices sent at least one week in advance, or one day for urgent cases.
- Quorum requires majority presence.
- Members have one vote; no proxy voting.
- Standard order of business includes call to order, reports, business matters, and adjournment.
Electoral Board
- Composed of three independent members: chairman from private sector, two others from government and private sectors.
- Governs election rules, resolves electoral contests.
- Decisions are final and executory.
- Indigenous election schemes may be adopted where applicable.
Financial Provisions
- Fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30.
- Councils use NAFC seal.
- Funding sources include assessments, donations, grants, and other fundraisers.
- Collected AFC funds shared: 40% MAFC/CAFC, 30% PAFC, 30% RAFC.
- Guarantee funds are savings from programs/projects.
- AFC Foundation recognized as a funding source.
- Withdrawals require signatures of Treasurer, Chairman, and government Vice-Chairman.
- Councils identify depository banks and authorize members to transact.