Toward full devolution of agri-fishery extension in the Philippines
On Nov. 6, 2025, President Marcos signed Executive Order No. 103, amending EO 138 to extend the transition period for the full devolution of some national government functions to local government units until 2028. EO 138 originally required LGUs to fully implement devolved functions by 2025. However, EO 103 acknowledges the realities on the ground as many LGUs remain unprepared to shoulder the full weight of national responsibilities as originally mandated by the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991.
Among these is agri-fishery extension, a sector vital to food security and rural development. With the extended transition period, EO 103 provides LGUs with more time to strengthen institutional capacity, mobilize resources, and build technical expertise.
The challenge was compounded by the reorganization of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in 1986, which transformed the Bureau of Agricultural Extension into the Agricultural Training Institute. While ATI has made important contributions in training and knowledge sharing, its institutional design is inadequate for the demands of a devolved extension service. ATI lacked the authority to serve as the central hub for agri-fishery extension in a devolved environment. Instead, it became a training arm primarily, leaving a vacuum in strategic leadership and coordination.
Recognizing these systemic gaps, the DA introduced the Province-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Systems in 2019. Pafes is a promising innovation: it empowers provincial governments to lead extension initiatives, supported by national agencies, state universities and colleges, and private sector stakeholders. By positioning provinces as hubs of extension, Pafes seeks to harmonize efforts across municipalities and cities, ensuring that farmers and fisherfolk benefit from coordinated programs rather than piecemeal interventions. However, while Pafes is a step in the right direction, the current institutional arrangements remain insufficient to meet the evolving needs of rural communities and the demands of agricultural modernization.
There is an urgent need to transform ATI into the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Extension. Establishing BAFEx as a dedicated bureau within the DA would provide the national authority and central coordinating body that our extension system sorely lacks. BAFEx would be tasked with providing strategic leadership, policy coherence, and capacity building across all levels of government. It would serve as the anchor institution for agri-fishery extension, ensuring that national priorities are aligned with local initiatives and that LGUs are adequately supported in delivering services to their constituents.
Institutionalizing BAFEx would strengthen the implementation of Pafes. With a bureau dedicated to extension, provinces would have a reliable partner in harmonizing efforts, mobilizing resources, and building capacities. BAFEx could establish clear standards for extension delivery, monitor outcomes, and provide technical backstopping to LGUs. It could also foster stronger partnerships with local institutions, ensuring that extension services are grounded in science, responsive to market demands, and inclusive of marginalized groups. This reform provides the leadership and coherence that only a national bureau can offer.
If the country is serious about achieving food security, rural prosperity, and agricultural competitiveness, it must invest in institutions that can deliver and move beyond incremental reforms to embrace a bold vision for agri-fishery extension. The future of the Philippine agriculture and fisheries sectors depends on it.
Dr. Rex L. Navarro,
rex.navarro923@gmail.com
