Department of Agriculture (Philippines)
| Established: | June 23, 1898 |
| Secretary: | Domingo F. Panganiban |
| Budget: | P2.916 billion (2005) |
| Website: | www.da.gov.ph |
The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (Filipino: Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka), abbreviated as DA, is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for boosting the income of farmers as well as reducing the incidence of poverty in the rural sector, as stipulated in the Government's Medium Term Philippine Development Plan.
History
The Department of Agriculture had its beginnings when President Emilio Aguinaldo established the Department of Agriculture and Manufacturing on June 23, 1898.
By 1901, under the American colonial government, priority was given to the development of other agricultural products, such as rice and other basic commodities, as well as fishing, forestry, and mining. This new focus necessitated the establishment of the Insular Bureau of Agriculture. This bureau was put under the Department of the Interior through the Philippine Legislature's Act No. 271.
The Bureau of Agriculture grew rapidly until it was abolished by the enactment of Act No. 2666, otherwise known as "An Act to Re-organize the Executive Department of the Government of the Philippine Islands," on November 18, 1916, which was implemented on January 1, 1917. This act provided for the establishment of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR), which would take over direct executive control, direction, and supervision of the Bureaus of Agriculture, Forestry, Lands, Science, and Weather, as well as all matters concerning hunting, fisheries, sponges and other sea products, and such others as may be assigned to it by law.
By virtue of another Reorganization Act in 1932, the DANR became the Department of Agriculture and Commerce. The Bureau of Commerce, which used to be under the Department of Commerce and Communication, was placed under the reorganized Department. The Bureau of Agriculture was split into the Bureau of Plant Industry and Bureau of Animal Industry.
The following year, by virtue of the same Reorganization Act, Secretary Vicente Singson Encarnacion organized the Offices of Accounts and Property and Statistics and Publication, the Fish and Game Administration, established the Divisions of Mineral Resources, Industrial Engineering, and Home Economics, a Fiber Inspection Service, and established a Scientific Library.
Under Secretary Eulogio Rodriguez, the Divisions of Mineral Resources and Industrial Engineering, and the Scientific Library were placed under the Bureau of Science. It was also during Rodriguez's administration that the Division of Mineral Resources was converted into the Bureau of Mines by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 136.
During World War II, President Manuel L. Quezon re-appointed Rafael Alunan, Sr. as Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce up to 1942. The Department of Agriculture and Commerce was reconstituted on July 1, 1945 upon the resumption of the Commonwealth Government. President Sergio Osmeña re-appointed Vicente Singson Encarnacion as Secretary.
In 1947, the Department of Agriculture and Commerce was renamed Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources by virtue of a Reorganization Act. The Department of Commerce and Industry was formed as a result of which the Bureau of Commerce, Bureau of Patents and Weather Bureau were spun off from the DANR.
The Philippines became a member of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization under Secretary Juan G. Rodriguez. It was also during his tenure that the National Rice and Corn Production Program was launched and was coupled with the creation of the Rice and Corn Coordinating Council, which was the forerunner of the National Food and Agriculture Council (NFAC), which is now the National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC). On September 14, 1959, the DANR moved to its permanent building in Diliman, Quezon City from the Agrifina Circle in Manila.
With the election of President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Vice-President Fernando Lopez was appointed Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources for the second time. It was during his tenure that the Philippines became an exporter of rice in 1968.
By virtue of Presidential Decree (P.D.) 461, which was signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos, the DANR was reorganized in May 1974 into two departments, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources. On June 22, 1978, by virtue of P.D. 1397, all departments were changed to ministries. At the helm of the Ministry of Agriculture was Minister Arturo R. Tanco, Jr., who launched the innovative Masagana 99 rice production program which revolutionized the rice industry and made the Philippines a rice-exporter and self-sufficient in white corn. By virtue of P.D. 461, in June 1978, the MA established 12 regional offices each headed by a Regional Director.
On February 28, 1986 as a result of the EDSA People Power Revolution, the ministership was transferred from Minister Salvador Escudero III to Ramon V. Mitra, who was immediately appointed by President Corazon C. Aquino upon her assumption into office. Guided by the principle that agriculture is business, the DA implemented policy and institutional reforms that freed the agriculture markets, enabling farmers to enjoy higher farmgate prices. These reforms included the dismantling of agricultural monopolies and the elimination of agricultural taxes. Reforms in the agricultural credit system, such as the phase-out of the direct lending scheme, was also initiated.
The reorganization of the Department of Agriculture was contained in Executive Order (EO) No. 116 and was signed by President Aquino on January 30, 1987. The EO mandated the DA to promote agricultural development by providing the policy framework, public investment, and support services, which are needed for domestic and export-oriented business enterprises.
Secretaries/Ministers of Agriculture
| Month started | Month finished | Name | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secretaries of Agriculture and Natural Resources | |||
| 1917 | 1921 | Galicano Apacible | |
| 1921 | 1923 | Rafael Corpuz | |
| 1923 | 1928 | Silvestre Apostol | |
| 1928 | 1932 | Rafael Alunan, Sr. | |
| Secretaries of Agriculture and Commerce | |||
| 1932 | 1932 | Rafael Alunan, Sr. | |
| 1998 | 1934 | Vicente Singson Encarnacion | |
| 1998 | 1938 | Eulogio Rodriguez | |
| 2001 | 1941 | Benigno S. Aquino, Sr. | |
| 2001 | 1942 | Rafael Alunan, Sr. | |
| 1942 | 1945 | World War II | |
| 1945 | 1946 | Vicente Singson Encarnacion | |
| 1946 | 1947 | Mariano Garchitorena | |
| Secretaries of Agriculture and Natural Resources | |||
| 1947 | 1948 | Mariano Garchitorena | |
| 2005 | 1950 | Placido L. Mapa | |
| 2005 | 1953 | Fernando Lopez | |
| 1953 | 1953 | Placido L. Mapa | |
| 1953 | 1955 | Salvador Araneta | |
| 1955 | 1960 | Juan G. Rodriguez | |
| 1960 | 1961 | Cesar Fortich | |
| 1961 | 1961 | Jose Locsin | |
| 1962 | 1963 | Benjamin M. Gozon | |
| 1963 | 1965 | Jose Y. Feliciano | |
| 1965 | 1971 | Fernando Lopez | |
| 1971 | May 1974 | Arturo R. Tanco, Jr. | |
| Ministers of Agriculture | |||
| May 1974 | 1984 | Arturo R. Tanco, Jr. | |
| 1984 | 1986 | Salvador H. Escudero III | |
| 1986 | 1986 | Ramon V. Mitra | |
| Ministers of Agriculture | |||
| 1986 | 1987 | Ramon V. Mitra | |
| 1987 | 1989 | Carlos G. Dominguez | |
| 1989 | 1992 | Senen C. Bacani | |
| 1992 | 1996 | Roberto S. Sebastian | |
| 1996 | June 1998 | Salvador H. Escudero III | |
| June 1998 | May 1999 | William D. Dar | |
| May 1999 | January 2001 | Edgardo J. Angara | |
| January 2001 | March 2001 | Domingo F. Panganiban | |
| March 2001 | December 2002 | Leonardo Q. Montemayor | |
| December 2002 | August 2004 | Luis P. Lorenzo, Jr. | |
| August 2004 | July 2005 | Arthur C. Yap | |
| July 2005 | present | Domingo F. Panganiban | |
