Article 38p. 38

ADMINISTRATIVE CODE AND LAW OF PUBLIC OFFICERS TEXT AND RULES

(1) Advise and render assistance on matters relative to

the utilization and management of soils and water as vital

agricultural resources;

(2) Formulate measures and guidelines for effective

soil, land, and water resource utilization, as well as soil

conservation in croplands and other agricultural areas;

(3) Undertake soil research programs;

(4) Coordinate with the relevant government agencies

in resettlement areas and prepare the necessary plans for

the

provision

of

technical

assistance

in

solving soil

impounding and the prevention of soil erosion, fertility

preservation, and other related matters;

(5) Engage in rainmaking projects for agricultural

areas and watersheds to solve the problem of prolonged

droughts

and

minimize

their

effects

on

standing

agricultural crops; and

(6) For its own sector, recommend plans, programs,

policies,

rules

and

regulations to the Secretary and

provide technical assistance in the implementation of the

same.

SECTION 22. Bureau of Agricultural Research . — The

Bureau of Agricultural Research shall:

(1) Ensure that all agricultural research is coordinated

and undertaken for maximum utility to agriculture;

(2) Tap farmers, farmers' organizations, and research

institutions, especially the state colleges and universities,

in the conduct of research for use of the Department and

its clientele, particularly the farmers, fishermen and other

rural workers.

SECTION 23. Bureau of Agricultural Cooperatives

and

Development .

—

The

Bureau

of

Agricultural

Cooperatives and Development shall:

(1) Formulate an integrated system for development

and evaluation of agricultural cooperatives;

(2) Provide advice and assistance in the establishment

of agricultural cooperatives in the rural communities; and

(3) Evolve a program to promote the economic viability

of agricultural cooperatives.

The Bureau shall include in its area of responsibility

non-agricultural cooperatives.

SECTION 24. Bureau of Agricultural Statistics . — The

Bureau of Agricultural Statistics shall:

(1)

Be

mainly

responsible

for

the

collection,

compilation, and official release of agricultural statistics;

(2) Exercise technical supervision over data collection

centers;

(3) Coordinate all agricultural statistics and economic

research activities of all bureaus, corporations and offices

under the Department.

SECTION 25. Agricultural Training Institute . — The

Agricultural Training Institute shall:

(1) Be responsible for the training of all agricultural

extension workers and their clientele, who are mostly

farmers and other agricultural workers;

(2) Ensure that training programs address the real

needs of the agricultural sectors; and

(3) Ensure that the research results are communicated

to the farmers through the appropriate training and

extension activities.

CHAPTER 5 Regional Offices

SECTION

26.

Functions .

—

The

Department

of

Agriculture

is

authorized

to

establish,

operate,

and

maintain a Regional Office in each of the administrative

regions of the country. Each Regional Office shall be

headed by a Regional Director, to be assisted by three (3)

Assistant

Regional

Directors, assigned to Operations,

Research,

and

Support

Services,

respectively.

Each

Regional

Office

shall

have,

within

its

administrative

regions, the following duties and responsibilities:

(1) Provide efficient and effective frontline services to

the people;

(2) Implement and enforce in its area the laws and

policies, plans, programs, projects, rules, and regulations

issued by the Department including plant and animal

quarantine laws, rules and regulations;

(3)

Coordinate

with

regional

offices

of

other

departments, offices and agencies in the region;

(4) Coordinate with local government units; and

(5) Perform such other functions as may be provided

by law or assigned appropriately by the Secretary.

At

the

provincial

level,

policies,

plans,

programs,

projects, laws, rules, and regulations of the Department

shall be implemented by the Provincial Agriculture and

Fisheries Officer and, at the municipal and barangay

levels, by the Municipal Agriculture and Fisheries Office.

SECTION

27.

Importation

of

Plants

and

Plant

Products . — Subject to such special quarantine orders,

rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the

Secretary of Agriculture upon recommendation of the

Plant Quarantine Board, it is prohibited to import or

introduce into the Philippines, plants, plant products, soil

or packing materials of plants capable of harboring plant

pests or being a source or medium of infection or

infestation

of

plants

by pests. For purposes of this

Chapter, the term "plants" shall refer to living plants and

any

part thereof, while "plant products" shall mean

products derived from plants either in their natural state

or processed form.

SECTION 28. Importation of Potential Animal Pests .

— The importation of certain species of animals which are

liable to become agricultural crop pests and capable of

causing injury to agricultural crops is hereby prohibited,

except in limited quantities for justifiable purposes and

upon written permission from the Regional Director

concerned or other officials of the Department who may

be authorized by the Secretary of Agriculture.

SECTION

29.

Plants,

Plant

Products,

and Other

Materials in Transit . — Commodities mentioned under

the

next

two

preceding

sections,

including

food

provisions and ornaments on board carriers that are in

transit, shall be required to get a clearance from the Plant

Quarantine Officer assigned at the port concerned.

SECTION

30.

Exportation

of

Plants

and

Plant

Products . — The Regional Director concerned, the Plant

Quarantine Officer or other officials of the Department

who may be authorized by the Secretary of Agriculture

shall cause the inspection and certification of all plants,

plant

products

and

other

related

materials

for

exportation, capable of harboring plant pests, if the

importing country so requires.

SECTION 31. Inspection of Plants, Plant Products,

Potential Animal Pests, and Other Materials . — The

Regional Director concerned or other officials of the

Department who may be authorized by the Secretary of

Agriculture shall cause the appropriate inspection of the

commodities

mentioned

in the next four preceding

sections

and

apply

the

necessary

plant

quarantine

measures in order to attain the objectives of this Chapter.

SECTION 32. Domestic Quarantine of Plants and

Plant Products . — In order to prevent and arrest the

spread to other areas of injurious plant pests existing in

certain localities within the Philippines, the Regional

Director concerned, the Plant Quarantine Officer or other

officials of the Department who may be authorized by

the Secretary of Agriculture shall cause the inspection,

treatment and certification of plants and plant products

involved in movement from one locality to another within

the country.

SECTION

33.

Appointment

of

Plant

Quarantine

Officers . — The Secretary shall, upon recommendation of

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