Law Summary
Background and Rationale
- Upland farmers dependent on corn face food insecurity and poverty.
- Corn-Based Farmer-Scientist Research, Development and Extension (RDE) Training Program (FSTP) is a successful extension program integrating research and development.
- FSTP helps poor farmers grow multiple crops and livestock increasing income.
- Pilot program started in 1994 in Cebu, expanded to various provinces across Philippines.
- Demonstrated ability to empower marginalized farmers with scientific knowledge for better yields and income.
Nationwide Adoption and Implementing Agencies
- The program is adopted nationwide as a national program.
- Jointly implemented by DA, DAR, DENR, DOST, DILG, UPLB, SUCs, and relevant agencies.
- Funded mainly by DA, DAR, DENR, and UPLB through in-kind assistance.
Scope and Priority Areas
- Covers all upland areas with corn and other crop farmers living in poverty and hunger.
- Priority to farmers in 6th, 5th, and 4th class municipalities.
- Focus on ten priority provinces under the Hunger Mitigation Program.
Institutional Arrangements
National Government Agencies (NGAs)
- DA leads implementation in partnership with DAR, DENR, DOST, DILG, SUCs, LGUs, and NGOs.
- DA’s Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) handles training of agricultural offices, extension workers, and farmers.
- Regional coordinators serve as secretariat.
- DA duties: institutionalize FSTP, include budget, facilitate technology transfer, marketing assistance, partnerships.
- DOST: provides technical, financial support for R&D and technology transfer, capability building, appoints R&D coordinators.
- DAR: assists in area identification, capability building, marketing, cooperative strengthening.
- DENR: provides technical support, sustainable upland development policy discussions, assists product packaging and marketing.
- DILG: issues circulars promoting FSTP, coordinates with LGUs, assists in documentation and replication workshops.
- CHED and SUCs: coordinate and implement program, provide resource persons, funding, and adopt FSTP in extension programs.
University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)
- Acts as National Center for Operation and Management based in College of Agriculture.
- Facilitates curriculum enhancement via College of Forestry and Natural Resources.
- Provides training, technical expertise, quality control, technology transfer, monitoring and evaluation.
- Taps support from other local colleges.
Role of Local Government Units (LGUs)
- Encouraged to adopt FSTP through resolutions.
- Conduct information campaigns at barangay level.
- Support product packaging and marketing activities.
- Designate FSTP coordinators forming management teams at provincial and municipal levels.
- Model LGUs organize teams for replication workshops.
Funding and Budget Provisions
- Funds sourced from regular budgets of DA, DAR, DENR.
- Each agency must allocate at least 2% of their R&D budget for FSTP.
- Funds remitted to FSTP National Center at UPLB via formal agreements.
- UPLB to provide at least P1 million annually in-kind support.
- DA to provide supplemental budget of P200,000 annually per province/municipality.
- Fund use subject to government accounting and auditing rules.
Legal Provisions
- Separability Clause: Unconstitutional provisions do not invalidate the remaining operative parts.
- Repealing Clause: Inconsistent rules or issuances are repealed or amended accordingly.
- Effectivity Clause: The order takes effect 15 days after publication in a national newspaper.