Republika ng Pilipinas

Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka
PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PAGSASAKA AT PANGINGISDA
(National Agricultural and Fisheries Council)
Diliman, Lungsod ng Quezon
Tel. No. 928-87-41 to 65 local 510

May 20, 2001

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER
NO. 11
Series of 2001

TO: ALL UNDERSECRETARIES, ASSISTANT SECRETARIES,

SERVICE DIRECTORS, BUREAU DIRECTORS, HEADS OF
ATTACHED AGENCIES, REGIONAL DIRECTORS AND DA
PROGRAM DIRECTORS

SUBJECT : IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURE

AND FISHERIES MECHANIZATION PROGRAM

WHEREAS, Section 59 of Republic Act No. 8435, otherwise known as the Agriculture and
Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 (AFMA) provides that “the Department shall give
priority to the development and promotion of appropriate agricultural machinery and other
agricultural mechanization technologies to enhance agricultural machinery in the
countryside.”

Pursuant to this provision, the Department hereby creates and implements the “National
Agriculture and Fisheries Mechanization Program (AgFiMech).”

The AgFiMech shall aim to:

1. Coordinate planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of an integrated

agriculture and fisheries mechanization program;

2. Develop an environment conducive to the adoption of mechanization programs and the

improvement of farm mechanization support services and infrastructure with strong
private sector participation;

3. Enhance local manufacturer’s capability and competitiveness in fabricating, marketing

and servicing agriculture and fisheries equipment that meet international quality
standards;

4. Optimize agriculture and fisheries productivity through enhanced support services and
institutions, including R&D, manpower development, technology promotion, credit and
marketing.
The program shall cover all priority commodities identified under the Ginintuang
Masaganang Ani programs of the DA. It shall have the following components:

1. Research, Development and Extension

2. Facilitation of the Manufacture and Supply of the Prototype Machinery and Equipment,
Machinery Testing and After-Sales Service
3. Institutional Development
4. Provisions of Credit, Finance and Marketing Services
5. Policy and other Strategic Studies, including Environmental and Economic
Considerations
6. Upgrading regulatory Functions
7. Monitoring and Evaluation

In order to carry out the effective implementation of the program, the following measures and
guidelines are hereby issued:

1. A National Agriculture and Fisheries Mechanization Program Committee (CAFMech) is

hereby created with the following functions:

a. Coordinate integrated planning and implementation of all agriculture and fisheries

mechanization programs and projects at the Department of Agriculture;
b. Monitor and evaluate the progress of implementation as well as the impact of
mechanization plans and programs;
c. Report to the DA-MANCOM through the USEC for Field operations on the Status of
the program; and
d. Recommend credit, financing and budgetary appropriation for agriculture and
fisheries mechanization programs and activities.

The CAFMech shall be chaired by the BPRE Executive Director, who shall also serve as
the Program Director. It shall be composed of representatives of BAR, DA-PMS, NAFC,
BFAR, ACPC, QUEDANCOR, LBP, ATI, AMTEC, NFA, PhilRice, BSWM, NIA, and
representatives of the different agriculture and fisheries development programs.

Technical Working Groups (TWG) shall be organized based on the different components
of the program.

2. The NAFC shall coordinate the organization of the private sector- led National
Agricultural and Fisheries Machinery Manufacturer’s, Distributors and Dealers
Accreditation and Classification (NAMDAC) Board and provide the initial secretariat
support.

3. Standard specifications and test procedures of agricultural and fisheries machinery shall
be developed. AMTEC, in partnership with the Philippine Society of Agricultural
Engineers (PSAE) and concerned DA agencies, shall be charged with the formulation and
development of the official agriculture and fisheries machinery standards. Such
standards, to be known as the “Philippine Standards for Agriculture and Fisheries
Machinery” shall be subjected to public hearings by the NAFC, through its Agricultural
and Fisheries Mechanization Committee (AFMeC), prior to its approval by the Secretary
of Agriculture. The standards shall conform with the International Standards Organzation
(ISO) requirements.
4. The AMTEC shall be the testing and evaluation arm of the DA. All agriculture and
fisheries machinery to be acquired under the various programs and projects of the DA
shall pass through testing by the AMTEC.

5. All Regional Directors of DA-Regional Field Units (DA-RFUs) and BFAR-Regional

Offices (BFAR-RFOs) are hereby directed to include, in close collaboration with the
LGUs, agriculture and fisheries mechanization component in their regional, provincial,
city and municipal action programs.

6. All program directors or heads of the different programs of the DA are hereby directed to
coordinate with CAFMech the development, planning and budgeting of agriculture and
fishery mechanization programs, projects and activities of their respective commodity or
program concerns.

This order shall take effect immediately.

LEORNARDO Q. MONTEMAYOR
Secretary