NAFC hands over reins on AFMech Law implementation to DA

(From left) AFMeC TWG on Research, Development and Extension Chairperson Joel Panagsagan, NAFC-AFMeC Chairperson Engr. George Canapi, DA Undersecretary Emerson Palad, NAFC Exec. Dir. Ariel Cayanan and NAFC-AFMeC Vice Chairperson Engr. Ariodear Rico during the symbolic handover ceremony of the newly passed AFMech Law. (Photo by Rosano Donasco)

In a symbolic gesture, National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC) Executive Director Ariel Cayanan and partners from the NAFC Committee on Agriculture and Fishery Mechanization (AFMeC) formally handed over the reins on the implementation of the newly signed Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization (AFMech) Law to the Department of Agriculture (DA) last July 11, 2013.

DA Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Emerson Palad represented Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala in the said handover. AFMeC Chairperson Engr. George Canapi, Professional Regulation Commission-Board of Agricultural Engineering (PRC-BOAE) Chairperson and AFMeC Vice Chairperson Engr. Ariodear Rico, and AFMeC Technical Working Group on Research, Development and Extension Chairperson Joel Panagsagan were also part of the said undertaking.

The event was held in the presence of officials from DA, NAFC, PRC and Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers & Distributors Association, AFMeC members, representatives of DA Regional Agricultural Engineering Divisions from different regions, and members of the local media.

The AFMech Law, or Republic Act No. 10601 otherwise known as “An Act Promoting Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Development in the Country”, was signed into law by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III last June 5, 2013.

The new law mandates the promotion of the development and adoption of modern, appropriate, cost-effective and environmentally safe agricultural and fisheries machinery and equipment to enhance farm productivity and efficiency; provision of a conducive environment to the local assembling and manufacturing of engines and agri machinery and equipment; strengthening of the support services to farmers, fisherfolk and other stakeholders; and, unification and strengthening of the implementation and coordination activities and mechanisms on agricultural and fisheries mechanization programs and projects.

“This will help our government achieve food security and safety and increase the income of our farmers,” said NAFC Exec. Dir. Cayanan during the press briefing held at the NAFC Apacible Conference Room.

After the handover ceremony, the DA and NAFC officials present answered 

questions from members of the local media.
(Photo by Erika Vizcarra)

Under the new law, the DA will craft a five-year National Agri-Fishery Program to promote an environment conducive to the local assembling and manufacturing of equipment for agricultural and fisheries production, processing and marketing.

It also mandates the local government units to undertake applied research, extension, dispersal, management and regulation of agricultural and fisheries machinery and equipment, including the collection of fees.

In Sec. Alcala’s press statement read by USec. Palad, he stressed that the new law will address problems in agricultural and fishery mechanization in the country which are caused by limited farmers’ access to appropriate and affordable farm machinery and equipment, proliferation of substandard machinery and equipment and inadequate and fragmented support services.

“As the country moves forward with its Food Self-Sufficiency Program, the DA and the whole membership of the AFMeC welcome the enactment of a landmark legislation, the Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Law or Republic Act No. 10601, and thank its principal authors, Senator Kiko Pangilinan and Representative Mark Leandro Mendoza,” the Agriculture Secretary said in the statement.

He also said that the AFMech Law will strengthen local manufacturing of agricultural machinery and equipment through joint venture and the granting of incentives under EO No. 226 or The Omnibus Investment Code of 1987 which will, in turn, lower the investment costs and create employment particularly in the countryside.

“Agri-fishery machinery service centers shall also be established in key production areas for custom plowing, harrowing, harvesting, drying, milling and other services which may be owned and operated by registered farmers, cooperatives and associations,” Sec. Alcala added.

The crafting of the AFMech Law was made through the partnership of different private sector groups and government agencies under the NAFC-AFMeC in their effort to address the issues and concerns of the stakeholders on the dismal situation of agricultural and fishery mechanization in the country.


The DA is set to implement the AFMech Law after the crafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), which are targeted to be launched during the First ASEAN Conference on Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering on September 24-26, 2013 at the Manila Hotel.

see also: http://nafc.da.gov.ph/NAFCNEWs/2013/afmech.html

DA heads firm upanti-smuggling initiatives

Heads and representatives of different DA attached agencies, bureaus, service units and banner programs
 convene to firm up anti-smuggling efforts to address the concerns of private sector entities and stakeholders.

Heads of different attached agencies and bureaus of the Department of Agriculture convened last June 11 at the Apacible Conference Room, DA Compound, Quezon City to draw up means to strengthen anti-smuggling initiatives and address other related issues.

This is in answer to the growing concern of many private sector entities and stakeholders with regard to the rampant smuggling of agriculture and fishery products in the country, as discussed in many meetings of the National Agricultural and Fishery Council’s (NAFC) sectoral committees.

DA Undersecretary Emerson Palad led the said meeting which was organized by NAFC. Representatives from different DA service units and banner programs, as well as members of DA Secretary Proceso Alcala's Technical Advisory Group (STAG), were also present to give feedback, inputs and recommendations.

“We will be forwarding all recommendations and suggestions generated from this meeting to the Secretary to help him set what direction to take with regard the issue of smuggling,” Usec. Palad said.

The meeting tackled the stakeholders concerns on the initiatives of concerned DA agencies and bureaus that address the smuggling of livestock and poultry products, rice, fruits, vegetables and other commodities and related products.

On the issue of accessing the Bureau of Custom's Inward Foreign Manifest (IFM), the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) was tasked to follow up Secretary Alcala’s April 30 letter to Commissioner Rozzano Rufino Biazon requesting that the BOC System (E2M)be also installed at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) so that BAI Quarantine Officers there can also access the IFM.

IFMis a document containinginformation on the names of importers, identification of the imported product, the prices, source country, the ship it will arrive in, and date of arrival.

On the monitoring of the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) collections, the BAI-Quarantine and the MAV Secretariat were tasked to reconcile data on MAV collections for the entire 2012 and the first quarter of 2013.

Dr. Jocelyn Salvador of NMIS also suggested the inclusion of the MAV import clearance application in the DA Trade System for easy monitoring of MAV collections.

On the entry of smuggled Peking ducks, the DA officials assured that the Department will support the full implementation of the second border DA Harmonized Inspection Protocol for Meat, Aquatic and Plant Products as proposed by the National Meat Inspection Service.

The body also tackled the creation of an anti-smuggling task force for rice and the granting of the right of first refusal to the National Food Authority (NFA) on the bidding of seized smuggled rice to help curb the unscrupulous practice in the system.

On the access of trade information, BAI Assistant Director Simeon Amurao called for other agencies issuing Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary import clearance, such as the NFA and Sugar Regulatory Administration,to participate in the DA Trade System so that import arrivals can easily be determined.

The misdeclaration of imported agricultural products, widespread smuggling in Davao and Cagayan regions, limited import permits for red and white onions and the entry of banned agricultural chemicals in the country were also discussed. It was suggested that local government units be involved in the monitoring and regulation of the entry of smuggled products.