QUEZON CITY – The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) recently concluded its series of stakeholder consultations aimed at revisiting the current guidelines governing the allocation of honoraria for individuals engaged in delivering agriculture and fisheries extension (AFE) services.
The consultations brought together a diverse pool of experts from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao including the representatives from the national government agencies in the National Capital Region. Aside from the ATI’s network of training centers, participants came from various institutions such as state universities and colleges, local government units, and the private sector particularly the rural-based organizations and the Learning Sites for Agriculture certified by the Institute.
Central to the discussions was a thorough review of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Administrative Order No. 22, series of 2013, which set the standard for granting honoraria and other incidental expenses for personnel providing AFE services for the DA. In support of updating the current guidelines on cost standards specific to the grant of honoraria, other legal documents were likewise referred to most especially the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) budget circulars on granting honoraria to lecturers, resource persons, coordinators, and facilitators as well as to the governing boards of collegial bodies.
Following these consultations, the ATI through the Policy and Planning Division will consolidate the insights gathered to update the current guidelines. Once approved by the Agriculture Secretary, the document will serve as a reference in the proper planning and budgeting of proposed programs, projects, and activities with the adequate remuneration of resource persons, lecturers, coordinators, and facilitators engaged by various DA agencies in delivering relevant AFE programs and services.
