To: Bureau Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Superintendents
Presidents, State Colleges and Universities
Heads of Private Schools, Colleges and Universities
Vocational School Superintendents/Administrators

1. Realizing that the development of the agricultural and rural sector is a top priority in the national economic recovery and development plan which can effectively be supported by an efficient agriculture education, research and extension system, there is need to ensure maximum contribution of agriculture education to the goals of national development.
2. Pursuant to the 1986 Constitution and Executive Order No. 117 (1987) directing the establishment of an integrated system of education as a stated policy, and for agriculture education to achieve its mandate, it is necessary to rationalize the agriculture education institutions into a National Agriculture Education System (NAES) in order to:
   1. Optimize the utilization of available resources for agriculture education; and
   2. Improve the quality of instruction, advance knowledge through coordinated research and develop technology to improve national agricultural productivity, income and quality of rural life.
3. The National Agriculture Education System shall be organized with generally four level, namely: A National University, three Zonal Universities, one Regional Agricultural College in each region and a number of Technical Institutes, one for each province. The system shall be composed of the agriculture, forestry, fisheries, agricultural engineering and veterinary education sub-systems.
4. At least one Technical Institute of Agriculture in each province with forestry, fishery or other related programs that may be additionally offered whenever feasible shall be established and headed by a Director. Such institutes shall be determined and organized from among the existing agricultural schools and colleges including the existing Regional Institutes of Fishery Technology; furthermore, such institutes shall be allowed to adopt the existing titles and academic ranks accorded to their faculty.
5. Funding of the System shall be as provided in the identified institutions’ budget, from funds available in the Department and other external sources and in the General Appropriations Acts thereafter.
6. The existing Technical Panel for Agricultural Education with a permanent Secretariat Staff under the Office of the DECS Secretary shall have additional functions as follows:
   1. Formulate plans and strategies to effectively operationalize the National Agriculture Education System embodied in a Macro Plan for Agriculture Education.
   2. Assist the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports through the Board of Higher Education in the development and implementation of policies, programs, standards, and voluntary accreditation for the national agriculture education system.
7. This Order shall apply us and govern both formal and non-formal education in all public and private institutions offering agriculture and related programs including those offering vocational agricultural and 1, 2 or 3 years post-secondary agricultural courses. By virtue of this Order, agriculture education includes all courses related to professional, scientific, technological, technical and vocational development in the fields of animal science, veterinary medicine, crop science, agricultural engineering, fisheries and forestry.
8. All DECS rules, regulations and other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Reference: BPS Circulars Nos. 30, s. 1960 and 7, s. 1966
Allotment: 1-2-3-4—(M.O. 1-87)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
AMENDMENT
BUREAUS AND OFFICES
COURSE OF STUDY, COLLEGIATE
FUNDS
LEGISLATION
OFFICIALS
RULES AND REGULATIONS
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION