HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE:

'DA THEN AND NOW'

Created on Friday, 13 April 2012 Published Date

DA Secretary PROCESO J. ALCALA is a former Representative of 2nd District of Quezon. He

is considered as the 'Father of Organic Agriculture' in the Philippines, being the principal author
of the Organic Agricultural Act of 2010 (RA 10068). President Benigno S. Aquino III appointed
him as Secretary of Agriculture on June 30, 2010. Since then, he laid the Agri-Pinoy framework
as guide to the plans and goals of the Department to attain a sustainable and globally competitive
national agriculture and fisheries sector, and attain the goals and objectives under the Philippine
Development Plan of 2011-2016.

Eleven days after the proclamation of the Philippine Independence on June 12,
1898, President Emilio Aguinaldo formed his government with the Department of
Agriculture and Manufacturing as one of the first agencies.
The Department was headed by three directors, Jose Alejandrino (1898-1899),
Graciano Gonzaga and Leon Ma. Guerrero, both during the latter part of 1899.
In 1901 during the American regime, the Department was renamed Insular Bureau of
Agriculture under the Department of Interior and was headed by Americans, Frank
Lamson-Scribner (1902), WC Welborn (1904), and Dr. George Nesom (1907).
In 1910, the Bureau, under the supervision of the Department of Public Instruction, was
headed by Frederick Taylor (1911-1914) and Harry Edwards (1914-1916).
After Edwards, the helm of the bureau was again given to a Filipino, Adriano
Hernandez
who
himself
was
a
practicing
farmer.
In 1917, the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) took over the
functions of the bureau and was led by Secretaries Galicano Apacible (1917-1921),
Rafael
Corpuz
(1921-1923),
and
Silvestre
Apostol
(1923-1928).
During the administration of Secretary Rafael Alunan, Sr. (1928-1932), the DANR
became the Department of Agriculture and Commerce. The Bureau of Agriculture was
split into two bureaus, the Plant Industry and the Animal Industry.
The following year, the Fish and Game Administration and the Fiber Inspection Service
were established under the leadership of Secretary Vicente Singson Encarnacion

(1933-1934).
From 1934-1938, Eulogio Rodriguez, Sr. was appointed Secretary and was replaced
by Secretary Benigno S. Aquino, Sr. until 1941. During Aquinos term, the Fish and
Game Administration was restructured and the Division of Soil Survey was created.
Upon the outbreak of the Pacific War, Pres. Quezon re-appointed Secretary Rafael
Alunan, Sr. (1941-1942) as Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce.
After the Japanese liberalization on July 4, 1945, the government rebuilt the country and
reconstituted the agencies including the Department of Agriculture and Commerce
(DAC).
With the resumption of the Commonwealth Government, President Sergio Osmea
reappointed Vicente Singson Encarnacion as Secretary of the DAC.
Thereafter, Mariano Garchitorena (1946-1948) was appointed by President Manuel
Roxas.
In 1947, the Department was renamed as the Department of Agriculture and Natural
Resources
(DANR).
In September 1948, President Elpidio Quirino appointed Placido L. Mapa as Secretary.
Two years later, Vice President Fernando Lopez served concurrently as the DANR
chief. During his term, the Bureau of Agricultural Extension (now Agricultural Training
Institute) was established, along with the organization of the 4-H Clubs and Rural
Improvement
Clubs
(RICs)
nationwide.
In 1953, President Quirino reappointed Placido L. Mapa as Secretary. Under his
tenure, the Rice Economic Board was set up, making the rice industry the first
commodity
to
have
an
integrated
national
planning.
Salvador Araneta (1953-55) was later named as Secretary and three major agencies
under the DANR were created, namely: Agricultural Tenancy Commission, precursor of
the Department of Agrarian Reform; Philippine Tobacco Administration, forerunner of the
National Tobacco Administration; and Philippine Coconut Administration (now known as
Philippine
Coconut
Authority).
During the latter part of his term, President Magsaysay appointed Juan G. Rodriguez
(1955-60) as DANR chief, whose term was highlighted by several milestones: the
Philippines became a member of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO); launch of the National Rice and Corn Production Program; and creation of the
Rice and Corn Coordinating Council, forerunner of the National Agricultural and Fishery
Council
(NAFC).

On September 14, 1959, the DANR offices moved from Manila (at Agrifina Circle) to
Quezon
City
(along
Elliptical
Road
,
Diliman).
When Cesar Fortich became the DANR chief in 1961, the Abaca Development Board
(forerunner
of
the
Fiber
Development
Authority)
was
created.
Jose Locsin, then concurrent Chairman of the National Economic Council, succeeded
Fortich
from
September
to
December
1961.
In 1962, President Diosdado Macapagal appointed Benjamin M. Gozon as Secretary.
During his term, two agencies were created: the Bureau of Agricultural Economics
(forerunner of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics); and the National Rice and Corn
Administration or RCA (now known as the National Food Authority).
The following year, President Macapagal appointed RCA Administrator Jose Y.
Feliciano as concurrent Secretary of Agriculture. Feliciano launched the Agricultural
Marketing News Service that provided regularly farmers and consumers prices of
selected
commodities.
In 1965, President Ferdinand Marcos named Vice Pres. Lopez as Secretary, serving
for the second time in a concurrent capacity. Considered as the rice czar, he
successfully implemented a production program that enabled the Philippines to export
rice
for
the
first
time
in
1968.
During the early years of Martial Law, in May 1974, President Marcos reorganized and
split the DANR into two agencies: Department of Agriculture (DA); and Department of
Natural Resources (DNR). Arturo R. Tanco, Jr. was named as DA Secretary.
Four years later, government departments were transformed into ministries.
With Tanco remaining at the helm of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Masagana 99 rice
production program was launched which made the country self-sufficient and a rice
exporter. A similar program on corn also made the country self-sufficient in white corn.
In

June

1978,

the

MA

established

12

regional

offices

nationwide.

Six years later, in June 1984, the agency was renamed Ministry of Agriculture and
Food (MAF). The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources was transferred from the
Ministry
of
Natural
Resources.
In 1984, under a parliamentary government, Assemblyman Salvador H. Escudero III
former Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry and MAF Deputy Minister served
as
MAF
Minister.
Escudero implemented the Intensive Rice Production Program (IRPP), an importsubstitution program, expanded governments animal dispersal program, particularly the

Bakahang Barangay (cattle raising the at village level) and Pagbababuyan (swine
raising).
On February 1986, as a result of the EDSA People Power Revolution, Corazon C.
Aquino was catapulted as President. She named Ramon V. Mitra, Jr. as MAF Minister
who implemented policy and institutional reforms that freed the agriculture markets,
enabling
farmers
to
enjoy
higher
farmgate
prices.
MAF Deputy Minister Carlos G. Dominguez was appointed to replace Minister Mitra.
On January 30, 1987, President Aquino signed and issued Executive Order No. 116,
which renamed and reorganized the MAF into the Department of Agriculture. Under
DA, Dominguez introduced reforms in the rural credit system and established
Comprehensive
Agricultural
Loan
Fund
(CALF).
In 1988, the Livelihood Enhancement for Agricultural Development (LEAD) program was
launched to speed up farmers' organizations access to financing, management
expertise, and marketing. Agriculture and Fishery Councils (AFCs) were set up at the
sectoral, regional, provincial and municipal levels to provide inputs on major programs
and
policy decisions
and
help
plan
and
monitor DA projects.
Senen C. Bacani, appointed in Janaury 1990, implemented the Rice Action Program
(RAP) and Corn Production Enhancement Program (CPEP) enabling the Philippines to
once again export rice in 1992 and attained self-sufficiency in corn, respectively.
In 1992, President Fidel V. Ramos named Roberto S. Sebastian as DA chief who
introduced the Key Production Approach (KPA) which became the basis in the
formulation of the Medium-Term Agricultural Development Plan (MTADP).
In 1996, President Ramos appointed Dr. Salvador H. Escudero III, serving for the
second time as DA Secretary. During that time, he launched the Gintong Ani food
production and security program. He also organized subsistence farmers into functional
groups and cooperatives, aimed at transforming them into viable producers and
entrepreneurs.
In July 1998, President Joseph Ejercito Estrada designated William D. Dar as Acting
DA Secretary who introduced the Estrada administration's 10-point agenda in
agriculture and fisheries under the Agrikulturang Makamasa program.
In March 1999, President Estrada named former Senate President Edgardo J. Angara
as DA Secretary who authored the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1998
or AFMA (Republic Act No. 8435). He put into action the laws visions of transforming
and
modernizing
the
countrys
agriculture
and
fisheries
sector.
Domingo F. Panganiban continued the implementation of AFMA as the governments
comprehensive framework and platform for rural development when he assumed office

in

January

2001.

A month later, he was replaced by Leonardo Q. Montemayor who implemented the

AFMA with special emphasis on its social equity aspect. He launched the Ginintuang
Masaganang Ani Countrywide Assistance for Rural Employment and Services (GMACARES).
Secretary Luis P. Lorenzo Jr., took the helm of the Department in December 2002 and
spearheaded the launching of the Roll-On, Roll-Off or RORO transport program. The
hybridization programs of the Department were intensified and interventions were
focused
on
the
Mindanao
regions.
Secretary Arthur C. Yap, appointed on August 23, 2004, continued to uphold the vision
of a modernized smallholder agriculture and fisheries, a diversified rural economy that is
dynamic, technologically advance and internationally competitive. Under his term, Goal
1 (develop two million hectares of new lands for agribusiness to contribute two million to
the 10 million jobs targeted by 2010) and Goal 2 (make food plentiful while keeping the
price
of
"wage
goods"
at
low
prices)
were
unveiled.
During Panganibans 2nd term as Secretary, a total of 203,000 hectares of idle lands
and 313,000 jobs were developed under Goal 1 and ten Huwarang Palengke
(outstanding markets) were identified under Goal 2. Food lanes were designated for
easier,
faster
and
kotong-free
transport
of
agricultural
products.
When Secretary Yap took the agri seat on October 23, 2006, he has aggressively and
consistently implemented various projects and policies towards the attainment of food
security and self-sufficiency. Under FIELDS, the governments centerpiece program on
agriculture, unveiled during the 2008 Food Summit, Yap has set achievement records
for
the
Philippine
agri
and
aqua
sectors.
Secretary Bernie Fondevilla continued DAs mandate of providing sufficient food and
sustainable livelihood for the Filipino people through modernized technologies and
facilities when he took the agri seat on March 2010.

On June 30, 2010, President Benigno S. Aquino III appointed two-term congressman of
Quezon and civil engineer by profession Proceso J. Alcala as Secretary. One of the
principal authors of Republic Act 10068, or the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, he is
keen on increasing rice production and do away with rice imports by 2013 by expanding
areas planted to rice to include uplands, marshlands and idle farmlands.
He introduced the concept of Agrikulturang Pilipino or Agr-Pinoy as the Department of
Agriculture's over-all strategic framework that serves as a guide in the implementation of
its
various
services
and
programs
in
2011-2016
and
beyond.
Agri-Pinoy optimizes the development of Philippine resources, natural and human, to

achieve goals in agriculture and fisheries, and contribute to national development with
its battlecry. "Sa Agri-Pinoy, asenso'y tuloy-tuloy."