Dilg Mc No. 2008-167

DILG Memo Circular No. 2008-167

Addressed to all Provincial Governors, City/Municipal Mayors, Sanggunians and DILG Regional Directors for the --“ INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING PROFESSION IN THE LGUS SUPPLEMENTING DILG MC NO. 2001-25 RE: IMPLEMENTATION OF RA. NO. 8559.”

AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER NOW A MUST IN LGUS Date:Tuesday, November 25, 2008 The government’s effort to develop the agriculture sector got a boost with the institutionalization of the Agricultural Engineering profession in provinces, cities and municipalities of the country. This developed as Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno issued a memorandum circular recently enjoining all provincial governors, city and municipal mayors and sanggunian members to institutionalize the position of agricultural engineer in their respective local governments. Puno said the institutionalization of the agricultural engineering profession is mandated by Republic Act 8559 or the Philippine Agricultural Engineering Act of 1998. He explained that RA 8559 was enacted to promote, upgrade and regulate the practice of agricultural engineering profession in the country in terms of planning, designing, supervision and management, research and extension, testing, evaluation and inspection, valuation, consultation, marketing and management of agricultural , fishery and forest machinery, buildings and structures, irrigation, soil and water conservation and utilization and other engineering facilities, systems and technologies. The said also further enhance the delivery of basic agricultural services and facilities which had been devolved to local government units by the Local Government Code. In his directive, the DILG secretary reminded local officials that with the institutionalization of the agricultural engineering profession LGUs shall ensure that planning, designing and implementation of small water impounding projects, communal irrigation, tractor and agricultural machinery pools, post harvest facilities, agricultural buildings and structures, slaughterhouses, poultry dressing plans, farm-to-market roads and other agricultural engineering facilities and systems are performed by licensed and registered agricultural engineers in their localities. The registered agricultural engineer shall also be the one who will sign the design, plans, technical specifications and cost estimates in the procurement and implementation of LGU’s programs and projects on agricultural and fishery machinery, buildings and structure, post harvest facilities, slaughterhouses, farm-to-market roads and other engineering facilities and systems. Puno said that with the implementation of RA 8559, LGUs may also reallocate agriculturist positions and other positions performing agricultural engineering works to the existing engineer class of positions subject to the approval of the sanggunian concerned through an ordinance enacted for the purpose.

In his directive, the DILG Secretary reminded local officials that with the institutionalization of the agricultural engineering profession, LGUs shall ensure that planning, designing and implementation of small water impounding projects, communal irrigation, tractor and agricultural machinery pools, post harvest facilities, agricultural buildings and structures, slaughterhouses, poultry dressing plants, farm-to-market roads and other agricultural engineering facilities and systems are performed by licensed and registered agricultural engineers in their localities.

At the same time, LGUs shall implement and enforce provisions of the law and the Philippine Agricultural Engineering Standards as part of the licensing, registration and issuance of business permits of firms engaged in agricultural and fishery machinery manufacturing, distribution and operation including issuance of building permits of agricultural buildings and structures. ###

DILG Memo Circular No. 2008-167 Internal Institutionalization  LGUs must have licensed AEs to plan, design and

supervise the implementation of irrigation, FMR, post harvest facilities and other AE projects. 1. Reallocation of Agriculturist and Other Positions performing AE works into Engineer Positions 2. Creation of Agricultural Engineer Positions in the Agriculture and Engineering Offices of LGUs 3. Appointment of licensed AEs to Head the LGU AE Groups and AE positions 4. Capability Enhancement of LGU AEs through CPE

REALLOC ATI ON OF POSIT ONS : 1) Agriculturist, Agricultural Technologist and other Positions of LGU AEs to Engineer Positions 2) LGU AEs are performing AE works 3) LGU AEs concerned should submit request to the Governor or Mayor • •

endorsed by the Chief of Office Approved by the Sangunian

CREATIO N OF A E POSIT ONS : 1) Various level of AE Positions (permanent, casual, contractual/job order) is the Offices of Mandatory Positions • • •

Agriculturist Engineer Others : Assessors, Planning and Dev. Coord., etc.

2) Provincial, City and Municipal AE Positions as separate Department- long term/First Class LGUs 3) Result of the Ocular Inspection and monitoring of BoAE, PRC and DILG

AE Positions are needed

Provincial Planning and Dev. Office

Provincial Assesor’s Office

Provincial Engineer’s Office

Provincial Agriculture and Coop Office

Provincial Env. & Nat. Resources Office

AE Positions are needed

CROPS AND ENGINEERING DIVISION

AE Positions are needed

PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING DIVISION

ENGINEERING DISTRICTS

PLANNING, RENTAL & STOCKROOM SECTION

FIELD OPERATION SECTION

AE Positions are needed

FOREST AND LAND MANAGEMENT DIVISION

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL MAYOR OFFICE OF THE CICE MAYOR SANGGUNIANG BAYAN

Note : This structure is similar to City LGUs

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE SANGGUNIANG BAYAN

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATOR

Office of the Municipal Treasurer

Office of the Municipal Assessor

Office of the Municipal Agriculturist

Office of the Municipal Accountant

Office of the Municipal Budget Officer

Office of the Municipal Engineer

Office of the Municipal Registrar

AE Positions are needed Barangays

Municipal Health Officer

Municipal Planning & Dev. Office

Municipal Social Welfare & Dev. Office

DILG Memo Circular No. 2008-167 External Institutionalization  LGU to require the plans and designs of AE

facilities be signed and sealed by licensed AE in its regulatory activities: 1) Issuance of Building Permits for agricultural buildings and structures – complements with BOAE MC No. 208-18 2) Issuance of Business Licenses for Agricultural Machineries and Agro-processing Firms

4.6. The LGUs shall implement and/or enforce pertinent provisions of R.A. No. 8559 and the Philippine Agricultural Engineering Standards as part of the licensing, registration and issuance of business permits of firms and establishments engaged in agricultural and fishery manufacturing, distribution and operation; agro-processing and other agricultural engineering activities; and likewise in the issuance of building permits for agricultural buildings and structures. As such, the LGUs shall require that plans, designs, technical specifications and cost estimates in the application of business licenses and/or permits on agricultural engineering facilities and systems shall be signed and sealed by licensed and registered agricultural engineer

DILG Memo Circular No. 2008-167 External Institutionalization  Implementation of AE Law in the LGU

Procurement of Agricultural Machineries, Buildings and structures 1) Plans and Designs and Technical Specifications to be signed by AEs as part of the bidding documents 2) Constructors must have licensed AEs as Sustaining Technical Employee or PCAB AE Works Specialty License