EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 967
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 967 - RENAMING
THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AS THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD,
TRANSFERRING TO IT CERTAIN AGENCIES ENGAGED IN FOOD PRODUCTION AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
WHEREAS, under the New Republic, national
development shall be pursued with renewed dedication and greater
determination through more efficient, effective and economical
government;
WHEREAS, agricultural production, particularly that subsector concerned
with the supply of food, has become even more critical for both
domestic food requirements and the export of agricultural commodities,
in the light of recent economic developments;
WHEREAS, the policies and programs concerned with food production and
agricultural crops must be more closely coordinated in order to promote
effective performance among the implementing agencies involved;
WHEREAS, certain of these agencies should be placed directly under an
integrated ministry in order that primary authority and responsibility
for the major food production programs may be properly identified;
and
WHEREAS, under Presidential Decree No. 1416 as amended, the President
is empowered to undertake such organizational and related improvements
as may be appropriate in the light of changing circumstances and new
developments;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines,
by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and the
authority vested in me by Presidential Decree No. 1416 as amended, do
hereby order and ordain:
Section 1. It shall be the policy of the State to
promote the production of agricultural crops, livestock, poultry and
fisheries through the efficient utilization of existing resources,
reliance upon private enterprise and the encouragement of agri-business
ventures, with the end in view of achieving self-sufficiency in
domestic food requirements and of expanding and diversifying
agricultural produce for export. It shall also be the policy to improve
the real incomes of farmers and other agricultural workers through
increased productivity and more efficient systems of pricing,
marketing, land management, and other incentives.
Sec. 2. The Ministry of Agriculture is renamed the
Ministry of Agriculture and Food, herein after referred to as the
Ministry. The Minister of Agriculture is likewise renamed the Minister
of Agriculture and Food, hereinafter referred to as the Minister. The
Ministry shall be the entity primarily responsible for the attainment
of the policies and goals set forth in Section 1 above, through the
formulation and implementation of appropriate programs and projects and
the provision of suitable services.
Sec. 3. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources is transferred from the Ministry of Natural Resources,
converted into a staff Bureau and placed under the supervision and
control of the Ministry, together with its functions and applicable
appropriations, records, equipment, property, facilities and such
personnel as may be necessary. The Minister is hereby authorized to
integrate the regional offices and other field units of the Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources into the ministry-wide regional offices
of the Ministry. The position of Assistant Regional Director for
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is authorized to be created in each of
the regional offices of the Ministry.
The positions of Regional Director and Assistant Regional Director and
of the Bureau of fisheries and Aquatic Resources are hereby abolished:
Provided, however, That the incumbents thereof shall have priority for
appointment to the positions of Assistant Regional Director for
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources which are herein created; and Provided,
further, That those who are not so appointed may be accommodated in
specialized senior technical positions to be provided in the
supplemental staffing pattern of the ministry-wide regional offices of
the Ministry at not less than the same salary rate they are now
actually receiving.
Sec. 4. The Fishery Industry Development Council
in the Ministry of Natural Resources is abolished, and its functions
and applicable appropriations, records, equipments, property and such
personnel as may be necessary are transferred to the appropriate units
in the Ministry as determined by the Minister.
The National Board on the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department Programs,
Budget and Operations is transferred to and placed under the
administrative supervision of the Ministry. The Minister of Agriculture
and Food shall be the Chairman of the Board in lieu of the Minister of
Natural Resources.
Sec. 5. All other functions and activities in the
Ministry of Natural Resources directly related to the development and
regulation of fisheries and aquatic resources shall likewise be
transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, including
applicable appropriations, records, equipments, property, facilities
and such personnel as may be necessary.
Sec. 6. The issuance of forests land grazing lease
agreements by the Bureau of Forest Development and the Ministry of
Natural Resources shall be subject to the prior concurrence of the
Ministry of Agriculture and Food which shall be exercised as
appropriate through its regional offices in accordance with guidelines
duly be promulgated by the Ministry upon the recommendation of the
Director of Animal Industry.
Sec. 7. The Philippine Fisheries Development
Authority is transferred from the Ministry of Natural Resources and
attached to the Ministry, which shall include such subsidiaries as it
may have. The Minister of Agriculture and Food shall be the ex-officio
Chairman of the governing board: Provided, that the Minister of Natural
Resources shall remain a member thereof.
Sec. 8. The Minister of Agriculture and Food shall
be an ex-officio member of the respective governing boards of the
Philippine Coconut Authority and the Philippine Sugar Commission:
Provided, That the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food designated
by the Minister shall be authorized to attend the meetings of either of
the Boards whenever the Minister is unable to attend. Accordingly,
there shall be a reconstitution of the governing boards of the
corporations mentioned above in this Section as indicated here in below.
Of the two representatives of the Government in the governing board of
the Philippine Coconut Authority, one of whom shall be designated by
the President as Chairman and the other as Vice-Chairman, as now
provided for in the charter of the Authority one shall henceforth be
the Minister of Agriculture and Food who need not automatically be the
Chairman. The President shall designated the Vice-Chairman from the
among the members, including the Minister of Agriculture and Food.
The present position of Commissioner in the Philippine Sugar Commission
shall continue to be Chairman and chief executive officer of the
Commission. Of the six Associate Commissioners in the Commission, one
shall henceforth be the Minister of Agriculture and Food.
Sec. 9. The Minister is hereby authorized to issue
such orders, rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the
provisions of this Executive Order: Provided, That approval of the
Office Budget and Management is obtained relative in the new staffing
pattern including appropriate salary rates, the organizational
structure at divisional or lower levels, and the realignment of
existing appropriations. The Minister may appoint personnel of the
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the herein abolished
Fishery Industry Development Council to appropriate positions in the
Ministry and those not so appointed are deemed laid off.
The Minister shall effect the implementation of this Executive Order,
particularly with respect to personnel actions required to be taken,
within six months from the issuance of this Executive Order.
Sec. 10. All Presidential appointees of the
present Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the former
Fishery Industry Development Council are laid off, unless otherwise
reappointed by the President; provided, that those who are Career
Executive Service Officers shall be reappointed or reassigned by the
President upon the recommendation of the Minister to appropriate
positions in the Ministry or assigned to the Career Executive Service
Board who shall endeavor to find appropriate placement for them in
other ministries or agencies; provided, further, that those Career
Executive Service Officers who have been assigned to the Career
Executive Service Board shall continue to receive their salaries from
any available and applicable funds; and provided, finally, that those
who are not placed in appropriate positions within six months after
their assignment to the Career Executive Service board shall be
similarly laid off.
Sec. 11. All those who are laid off under the
provisions of this Executive Order shall be entitled to all benefits
and gratuities provided under existing laws.
Sec. 12. All present incumbents of positions in
the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Fishery Industry
Development Council shall continue to exercise their usual functions,
duties, and responsibilities, pending the issuance of the appropriate
implementing orders.
Sec. 13. All laws, decrees, orders, proclamations,
rules, regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with any of
the provisions of this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.
Sec. 14. Any portion or provision of this
Executive Order that may be declared unconstitutional shall not have
the effect of nullifying the other provisions thereof; Provided, That
such remaining portions can still stand and be given effect in their
entirety to accomplish the objectives of this Executive Order.
Sec. 15. This Executive Order shall take effect
immediately.
Done in the City of Manila,
this 30th day of June, in the Year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and
Eighty-Four.