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House approves bill establishing an agri info system in all cities and towns

May 29, 2023 Ryan Ponce Pacpaco 168 views

THE House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill that seeks to establish an agriculture information system in all cities and towns throughout the country.

Speaker Martin Romualdez said House Bill (HB) No. 7942, if enacted, “could pave the way for the full development of the agriculture sector and the attainment of national food security through data-driven science and technology, planning and distribution of resources.”

“Improving, developing and modernizing the farming and fisheries sector is important to us because this area of the economy is one of the country’s largest employers. Millions of our kababayan and their families depend on it. Farming and fishing are their sources of livelihood and income,” Speaker Romualdez said after the House of Representatives voted 280 to overwhelmingly approve the measure.

He said agriculture could be developed and modernized to its full potential and food security could be attained through the collection of relevant data that could be used for efficient and effective planning and allocation of funds.

This goal could be achieved by way of establishing an agriculture database in all local government units in the country, he added.

Some of the principal authors of the bill are Reps. Dante S. Garcia, Robert Raymund Estrella, Eddiebong G. Plaza, Alfelito M. Bascug, and others.

HB 7942 envisioned the Agriculture Information System (AIS) to be “a dynamic online computer database where information on demand for specific agricultural and fisheries commodities is gathered and uploaded simultaneously with the production data from farmers in every barangay.”

The AIS shall merge and synchronize agricultural data from different sources into a cohesive database designed to facilitate linkages from place of origin or the farm to local, and ultimately global markets.

The AIS shall be integrated with the existing systems of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The bill mandates all cities and towns to encourage and facilitate the registration of all farmers, fisherfolk, as well as buyers transacting within their respective areas.

The measure also defines the other functions and responsibilities of cities, towns and provinces, DA regional offices, and DA central office.

The DA secretary is tasked to monitor and ensure compliance of all cities and municipalities and to establish as soon as possible a centralized AIS that shall integrate and link all existing agriculture information systems in the country.

The DA secretary shall submit to the President, the House of Representatives, and the Senate an annual report on the implementation of the AIS program, together with recommendations for improving it.

The agriculture secretary shall include the establishment of an integrated and centralized AIS in his department’s programs.

Funding for the information system shall be incorporated into the annual budget.

Local government units shall provide the funds needed for the AIS in their respective areas.

The DA secretary shall promulgate AIS implementing rules and regulations.

HB 7942 is a consolidation of 14 similar measures.

AUTHOR PROFILE