Establishing The Philippine Council For Agricultural Research

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Presidential Decree No. 48

Establishment of the Philippine Council for Agricultural Research (PCAR):
- Defines goals, purposes, and scope of research necessary for progressive development of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. (Section a)
- Develops the national agricultural research program based on a multi-disciplinary, inter-agency, and systems approach. (Section b)
- Establishes a system of priorities for agriculture, forestry, and fisheries research and provides mechanisms for updating these priorities. (Section c)
- Develops and implements a fund-generating strategy for supporting agricultural research. (Section d)
- Programs the allocation of all government revenue earmarked for agricultural research to implement the national agricultural research program. (Section e)
- Provides the mechanism for assessing progress and updating the national agricultural research program. (Section f)
- Establishes and supports a national network of centers of excellence for various commodity research programs by drawing from facilities of cooperating universities, colleges, and other research agencies. (Section g)
- Develops a mechanism for full communication among workers in research, extension, education, and national development. (Section h)
- Establishes a repository for research information in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. (Section i)
- Provides for a systematic program of agricultural research manpower development and improvement. (Section j)
- Provides for appropriate incentives to encourage top-notch research workers to remain working in their respective areas of agricultural research. (Section k)
- Has the power and authority to call on any government department, bureau, office, agency, state university or college, commodity institute, and other instrumentalities for assistance in the form of personnel, facilities, and other resources. (Section l)

Administrative Structure and Composition:
- PCAR is attached to the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources for administrative purposes. (Section after l)
- The Council is composed of the following officials: (Section after l)
1. The Chairman, National Science Development Board (Chairman)
2. The Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Vice-Chairman)
3. The Budget Commissioner
4. A Representative of the National Economic Development Authority
5. The President, Association of Colleges of Agriculture of the Philippines
6. The Chancellor, University of the Philippines at Los Baños
7. One outstanding leader in agricultural business appointed by the President upon recommendation of the PCAR Governing Council

Implementation and Operations:
- The policies and guidelines formulated by the Council shall be implemented by a Secretariat headed by a Director-General, assisted by two Deputy Director-Generals, technical research directors, and commodity research program leaders. (Section after Council composition)
- The basic planning and coordination of the national agricultural research program shall rest on the various Commodity Research Planning and Implementation Teams, composed on an interdisciplinary basis with the best possible expertise in the country. (Section after Secretariat)
- A Technical Program Planning and Review Board composed of top quality technical men shall be constituted to assist the PCAR Director-General in ensuring maximum quality, competence, and effectiveness of the technical research programs. (Section after Commodity Research Planning and Implementation Teams)
- PCAR is authorized to pay honoraria and make research grants. (Section after Technical Program Planning and Review Board)
- Selected field stations, personnel, facilities, and funds of the Department of Agriculture and National Resources shall be transferred to the operational control of the Council, as identified by the Council with the concurrence of the Secretary of Agriculture and National Resources. (Section after honoraria and research grants)
- Research personnel, facilities, and other research resources belonging to universities, colleges, and commodity institutes shall be harnessed on a contract basis in support of the PCAR agricultural research program and shall also be available for development assistance as determined by the PCAR Governing Council. (Section after transfer of resources)

Rules, Regulations, and Funding:
- The Council is directed to develop appropriate rules and regulations governing technical personnel, accounting and auditing procedures for research funds, and research program budgeting, which shall carry the force of law when approved by the Council. (Section after harnessing resources)
- The Council shall formulate the national long-term and annual programs in agricultural research. (Section after rules and regulations)
- All government revenue earmarked for agricultural research (including research in forestry and fisheries), whether coming from regular budget appropriations, tax levies on specific commodities, or from the National Science Development Board, should be programmed by PCAR. (Section after formulating programs)
- Beginning July 1, 1973, no funds earmarked for agricultural research shall be released by the Budget Commission or other funding agencies for research activities in PCAR research centers and stations, universities, colleges, and other research agencies unless these were integrated as part of the national agricultural research program. However, a small reserve should be set aside to finance research covering immediate problems of an emergency nature. (Section after earmarked funds)
- The Council is authorized to draw from and negotiate for funds, not otherwise specifically allocated, of the National Economic Council, National Food and Agriculture Council, National Science Development Board, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, agricultural institutions, and all other possible funds sources, for the establishment, operational and program expenses of PCAR. (Section after release of funds)
- All income and revenue that shall accrue from operations of PCAR research program shall be considered as automatic appropriations for subsequent PCAR activities. (Section after negotiating funds)

Reporting and Repealing Provisions:
- The Council shall submit periodic reports of its activities to the President. (Section after automatic appropriations)
- All acts, parts of acts, executive orders, ordinances, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Presidential Decree are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. (Last section)