Section 111December 22, 1997, Sec./Art. 111

Initial Appropriation. - For the first year of implementation of this Act, the amount of Twenty Billion pesos (P20,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated. The Department is hereby authorized to re-align its appropriations in the current year of the date of effectivity of this Act to conform with the requirements of this Act Provided, That the amount shall be allocated and disbursed as follows:

1. Thirty percent (30%) for irrigation;

2. Ten percent (10%) for post-harvest facilities Provided, That the Secretary of Agriculture may invest up to fifty percent (50%) of the said amount to fund post-harvest facilities of cooperatives, especially market vendors' cooperatives, where said cooperatives exist and are operational Provided, further, That if no cooperatives are operational, said amount shall fund the post-harvest facilities of the market -assistance system;

3. Ten percent (10%) for other infrastructure including fishports, seaports, and airports, farm-and -coast-to-market roads, rural energy, communications infrastructure, watershed rehabilitation, water supply system, research and technology infrastructure, public markets and abattoirs;

4. Ten percent (10%) for the Agro-industry Modernization Credit and Financing Program (AMCFP) to be deposited by the Department in participating rural-based public and private financial institutions provided that no less than fifty percent (50%) of said funds shall be deposited in rural banks in cooperative banks;

5. Eight percent (8%) for the implementation of the Farmer-Fisherfolk Marketing Assistance System and support of market vendors' cooperatives;

6. Ten percent (10%) for research and development, four percent (4%) of which shall be used to support the Biotechnology Program;

7. Five percent (5%) for capability-building of farmers and fisherfolk organizations and LGUs for the effective implementation of the agriculture and fisheries programs at the local level;

8. Six percent (6%) for salary supplement of Extension Workers under the LGUs;

9. Five percent (5%) for NAFES , for the upgrading of the facilities of State Universities and Colleges that will be chosen as national center of excellence in agriculture and fisheries education;

10. Four percent (4%) for the National Information Network (NIN) consisting of both the national and local levels;

11. One-and-three-fourth percent (1.75%) for SUC- and TESDA-administered Rural Non-Farm Employment Training; and

12. One-fourth percent (0.25%) for the identification of the SAFDZs.