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Pursuant to Executive Order Number 710, dated February 27, 2008, these Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) are issued to serve as guidance to all concerned departments, agencies, institutions or offices and stakeholders, in the implementation of EO 710.

Definition of Terms

“Agribusiness Lands” refer to suitable lands devoted to farming business engage in the cultivation of the soil, planting of crops such as corn and other upland crops, including the harvesting of such farm products, and other farm activities and practices performed in conjunction with such farming operations thereby producing farm income thereon.

“Cooperatives” refer to duly registered associations of persons with a common bond of interest who have voluntarily joined together to achieve a lawful common social and economic end, making equitable contributions to the capital required and accepting a fair share of the risks and benefits of the undertaking in accordance with universally accepted cooperative principles.

“Empowerment” involves the provision of operational knowledge, skills, authority, responsibility and information to people directly engaged in corn production and other upland crops in order to give them wider choices and enable them to take advantage of the benefits of the industry.

“Extension Services” refer to the provision of training, techno demo services, farm and business advisory services as well as information and support services by the government and non-government organizations to the corn farming sectors to improve the technical, business and social capabilities of farmers.

“Corn Farmers” refer to farmers whose farming activities are generally on corn production and are primarily small agricultural producers in the farming business.

“RDE” refers to the research, development and extension continuum that operationalizes the technology demonstration as a tool for extension, whose research results are the basis for farmers’ immediate evaluation and appropriate choice for any decision in his farming business.

“Scientists” He/she watches things. He/she reads. He/she finds out how things work and how they can be made better. He/she wonders. He/she experiments. He/she finds out what is true. He/she sees that wonderful things do indeed happens.

“Farmers-Scientists” He/she is a graduate of FSTP.

Statement of Objectives - These IRR are issued consistent with the objectives of EO 710, as follows:

Generally, FSTP aims to provide hilly/upland farmers with direct training contact with agricultural scientists, strengthening the research and extension capabilities among the stakeholders (LGUs, SCUs, etc.) in providing better services, thereby developing farmers’ technical and scientific capabilities to grow corn and other food crops utilizing appropriate farming technologies in suitable hilly/upland areas.

Specifically, FSTP aims to:

1. Cultivate the minds of the farmers through lectures on value formation, changing attitudes towards teamwork, cooperation and sharing of technical information;

2. Equip farmers with the scientific knowledge and technologies on corn-based cropping system;

3. Apply integrated pest management (IPM) using biological control agents and natural enemies of pests and disease-causing organisms and the proper use of pesticides when needed;

4. Make farming as a business enterprise through formation of farmer’s organizations, cooperative and marketing networks;

5. Develop self-reliant and self-sustaining farmers and communities through maximum production of corn and other economic crops to supply the market demand;

6. Strengthen the leadership among farmers in their respective communities.

SECTION 1. Scope and Coverage - The FSTP shall cover all corn-based farmers on agricultural areas and who are still living in poverty and hunger. Priority are those farmers living in 6th, 5th and 4th class municipalities particularly the municipalities in the ten priority provinces under the Hunger Mitigation Program. Although the Executive Order covers all suitable hilly/upland areas, in the case of protected areas, the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NI PAS) Act should govern the management of these areas.

SECTION 2. Institutional Arrangements - For the operation and implementation of FSTP, the following shall be the arrangements between and among concerned national government agencies, the University of the Philippines, Los Baños (UPLB), concerned State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and the heads of various LGU leagues such as the League of Provinces, League of Cities, League of Municipalities and Liga ng mga Barangay.

2.1 National Government Agencies (NGAs) - The DA shall take the lead in the implementation of the program in partnership with DAR, DENR, DOST, DILG, CHED, SUCs, LGUs and NGOs. The DA’s Agricultural Training Institute shall take charge of the training for the Municipal Agriculturist and extension workers of the Local Government Units including the farmers. There shall be a coordinator at DA-RFU level to serve as member of the Regional Secretariat.

The following shall be the detailed duties and responsibilities of the National Government Agencies (NGAs):

2.1.1 Department of Agriculture (DA):

a. Institutionalizes, through the Agricultural Training Institute(ATI) the FSTP as one of its extension approaches and ensure its successful implementation down to its intended beneficiaries;

b. Includes in its annual budget proposal separate funding for the FSTP implementation through the ATI which the ATI will utilize in the implementation of FSTP activities down to the beneficiaries;

c. Calls on all national and local agencies for technical policy, information, resource assistance, marketing and market matching and other support system;

Rule 2.1.1.b.1 The DA shall provide an annual supplemental budget based on the Work and Financial Plan submitted by ATI.

Rule 2.1.1.c.1 An inter-agency National Screening Committee (NSC) will be formed from among the said entities as the policy making body for the program. It shall be headed by the DA through the Assistant Secretary at the national level for field operations as chair. A Technical Working Group (TWG) of only designated experts representing the same entities will likewise be set up at the national and regional level to provide technical assistance. The ATI will provide the Secretariat services for both bodies at the national and regional levels.

Rule 2.1.1.c.2 The NSC shall review and approve the work and financial plan submitted by the FSTP National Center for the Operation and Management prior to the release of funds. The NSC shall be headed by the Department of Agriculture represented by the Assistant Secretary for Field Operations;

d. Initiates and conducts national and regional discussions and consultations relative to the objectives, policies and program of action for FSTP in coordination with the UPLB FSTP National Center for Operation and Management;

e. Initiates and enhances partnerships with the private sector, donor agencies and other external bodies;

f. Ensures that the FSTP implementation at the grassroots will be a joint undertaking between the national government through ATI and the local government units (LGUs) through a cost sharing scheme;

g. Facilitates the transfer of farming technologies developed through the DA-BAR and other R & D agencies to the FSTP beneficiaries;

h. Provides marketing and packaging assistance for farm products developed by trained farmers through the DA-Agricultural Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) and the National Food Authority (NFA). They shall be tapped to provide marketing and packaging assistance for farm products produced by the trained farmers to generate value adding income from their primary products; and

i. Designates DA and ATI staff to serve as technical coordinators and/or secretariat members at the National and Regional levels.

2.1.2 Department of Science and Technology (DOST) In coordination with the DA.

a. Provides technical and financial support for R & D and technology transfer through the development of appropriate production technologies and extension modalities to be used by LGUs and their farmer-scientists clientele;

b. Accepts R & D proposals which will go through specific evaluation and approval process on a competitive basis;

c. Provides technical assistance through the provision of resource persons in the conduct of capability building and enhancement of FSTP implementation in the program areas;

d. Links the concerns of FSTP with the Techno Gabay Program through the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Centers through the Regional Consortia;

e. Designates staff from its National and Regional Offices to serve in the Technical Working Group and local FSTP bodies.

2.1.3 Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). In coordination with the DA,

a. Assists in the identification of corn areas, particularly in ARCs;

b. Provides technical and financial assistance in the conduct of capability building and enhancement programs for the ARC beneficiaries;

c. Assists the program beneficiaries in the commercialization and marketing of corn products;

d. Assists in the organizational strengthening of cooperatives;

e. Designates staff from its National and Regional Offices to serve in the TWG and local bodies;

2.1.4. The FTSP Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR): In coordination with the DA, assists in

a. Calling upon all national and local agencies for technical, policy, information and resource assistance and support;

b. Initiating and conducting national and regional discussions and consultations relating to policies, objectives and programs of actions for sustainable upland development;

c. Conducting review and translation of specific recommendations into operational guidelines of national concern, programs and initiatives, key areas and themes in coordination with national and local agencies for sustainable upland development;

d. Establishing and enhancing partnerships and coordination with private sector groups, donor agencies and other relevant external bodies;

e. Provision of technical assistance in cooperation with the concerned LGUs and other stakeholders, to the program beneficiaries specifically the upland farmers who are engaged in corn production.

f. Provision of assistance to program beneficiaries, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or Technology Livelihood and Resource Center (TLRC), in the packaging and marketing of products derived from the project areas including resource mobilization;

g. Identification of suitable areas for corn in Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) projects only;

h. Designates staff from its National and Regional Offices to serve in the TWG and local FSTP bodies.

2.1.5 Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). In coordination with the DA

a. Issues Memorandum Circular on the nationwide promotion of the Farmers-Scientist Training Program (FSTP) at the local level;

b. Ensures proper coordination with the concerned local government units (LGUs) as one of their priority in the implementation of the FSTP;

c. Provides technical assistance to the “FSTP model LGUs’ in the documentation of their success stories for social marketing and replication using the GO-FAR documentation templates;

d. Capacitates the model LGUs on the mechanics of the conduct of the Replication Inception Workshop;

e . Designates Good Practices on Local Governance; Facility for Adaption and Replication (GO-FAR) focal persons from its Regional Offices to serve in the TWG and local FSTP.

2.1.6 Commission on Higher Education-State Universities and Colleges (CHED-SUCs): In coordination with the DA

a. Assists in the coordination and implementation of the program in their areas of responsibility as defined in the FSTP Manual of Operation and Management;

b. Provides resource persons /experts to deliver lectures/demonstrations on topics related to the program;

and

c. Provides support funds from their R & D and Extension units/programs;

d. Encourages SUCs with degree granting program in agriculture to include in their research and extension curricula (i.e. thesis, practicum or farm practice, etc.,) the FSTP principles and practices.

e. Designates staff from its National and Regional Offices to serve in the TWG and local FSTP bodies.

2.1.7 University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB ). The UPLB through the College of Forestry and Natural Resources shall facilitate the enhancement of science and extension curricula of FSTP in upland development while the UPLB, through the College of Agriculture shall:

a. Act as the FSTP National Center for Operation and Management, which shall be based at the Agricultural Systems Cluster’s Office; as such, it shall:

a.1 Sets the standard operating procedures and management of FSTP implementation as stipulated in the FSTP Manual of Operation and Management;

b. Assist in the conduct of training of FSTP Coordinators from the national down to regional and provincial levels;

c. Provide technical assistance through resource persons, quality control of technologies adopted and applied, and the conduct of applicable research/studies for efficient dissemination and adoption by farmers;

d. Assist in the transfer of farming technologies developed by UPLB through R & D projects like newly developed corn (OPVs/hybrids), high yielding seeds of fruits and vegetables, new organic fertilizers and other technologies; It shall gather relevant and mature technologies from UPLB for validation and dissemination in the project sites;

e. Provide a continuing program for monitoring and evaluation of FSTP implementation for the improvement its technologies extension modalities and approaches and the over-all FSTP implementation;

f. Tap the support of other colleges/institutes/centers at the local level with technologies/expertise needed by FSTP.

SECTION 3. Participation of the Local Government Units - The Local Government Units (LGUs) identified as program beneficiaries by way of its constituencies being the target sectors, shall be encouraged to:

1. Pass a resolution adopting and/or expanding the FSTP as a strategy for agricultural and economic development of their respective municipalities/cities/provinces through their Sangguniang Bayan/Panglunsod/Panlalawigan;

2. Conduct massive information campaign on the program at the barangay level through their respective Provincial, City and Municipal Agriculturists;

3. Provide sponsorship to farmer-attendees on FSTP training programs as farmer-scholars, as well as, support in the packaging and marketing of the products in agro-trade fairs and similar activities;

4. As participating LGUs at the provincial and municipal levels, designate FSTP focal persons who will comprise the FSTP Management Team of the province and municipalities; and

5. As model LGUs, especially at the provincial level, organize the SMS/experts as a FSTP Management Team to be responsible in the conduct of Replication Inception Workshop.

SECTION 4. Funding - Funds needed to carry out the provisions of this Executive Order shall be sourced out from and be part of the regular budget of the key agencies involved namely DA, DAR, DENR, DILG, DOST, CHED-SUCs and the UPLB.

The key agencies shall provide not less than 2% of their annual budget allocated for RDE Programs for FSTP Operation subject to the availability of funds and the legal requirements for fund transfer. The said amount shall be remitted to the FSTP National Center for the operation and management at the UPLB, College of Agriculture through an appropriate legal instrument such as a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), and shall be deposited in a government bank of Los Baños, Laguna. The UPLB College of Agriculture shall also provide at least P1M funding assistance in kind (manpower, facilities, counter-part funds, etc.) annually for FSTP operation; The FSTP National Center for Operations and Management shall present a detailed Work and Financial Plan, for approval by the National Steering Committee before disbursement of funds can be made.

Rule 4.1 The DENR in particular shall draw its contribution from the CBFM funds of which should be included in the yearly General Appropriations Act of the DENR. All expenses for FSTP activities geared towards research and training for corn-based farming shall be credited to the 2% contribution of the agency.

Rule 4.2 The DOST, shall grant funds for an R & D project after a thorough evaluation and approval process on a competitive method;

Rule 4.3 The DILG has no appropriations for the FSTP, its contributions will be along the areas of building capacities and documentation of the FSTP good practices.

Rule 4.4 DA as the lead agency shall provide a supplemental budget of at least P200,000.00 annually to each participating province and municipality involved in the program as project subsidy for the operation of FSTP, subject to the availability of funds and the LGU’s counterpart funds;

Rule 4.4.1 Fund releases/contributions from DA shall be released to the Agricultural Training Institute to finance the following activities of the participating LGUs:

a. Preparatory briefing and orientation for Sangguniang Barangays, Barangay Captains, City and Municipal Agriculturists, Mayors, Provincial Agriculturists, Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and Governors;

b. Meetings, workshops, conferences of the FSTP Management Team

c. Trainers’ and Farmers trainings

d. Travels of ATI staff, Graduation, field days and other related activities

Fund utilization/disbursements by any and all concerned agencies shall be subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

Rule 4.5 Funds released to UPLB FSTP National Center shall be in three tranches, as follows:

a. 40% upon signing and approval of the MOA;

b. 30% submission of a detailed status report proving 75% completion of activities in the approved Work and Financial Plan and liquidation of the first tranche;

c. 30% upon liquidation of the 2nd tranche and submission of the accomplishment report reflecting 100% completion of activities in the approved Work and Financial Plan.

SECTION 5. Separability Clause - Any portion or provision of this Implementing Rules that may be declared by competent courts as unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other provisions hereof, as long as such remaining provisions can still subsist and be given in their entirety.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause - All rules and regulations, other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Order, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause - The Executive Order Number 710 (EO 710) sets its effectivity fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or newspapers of general circulation”. EO 710 was published in the newspapers of general circulation on March 5, 2008 and thus is effective beginning March 20, 2008.

Approved: 6 March 2009

(SGD.) Hon. ARTHUR C. YAP Secretary Department of Agriculture	(SGD.) Hon. JOSE L. ATIENZA, JR. Secretary Department of Agrarian Reform
(SGD.) Hon. NASSER C. PANGANDAMAN Secretary Department of Environment and Natural Resources	(SGD.) Hon. ESTRELLA F. ALABASTRO Secretary Department of Science and Technology
(SGD.) Hon. RONALDO V. PUNO Secretary Department of Interior and Local Government	(SGD.) Hon. EMMANUEL Y. ANGELES, Ph.D Chairman Commission on Higher Education