FOREWORD
The Agricultural Machinery Testing and Evaluation Center (AMTEC), in cooperation
with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension
(BPRE), National Agriculture and Fishery Council (NAFC), Philippine Society of
Agricultural Engineers (PSAE), Board of Agricultural Engineering of the Professional
Regulation Commission (BOAE-PRC), Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and
Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), Philippine Rice Research
Institute (PhilRICE), Bureau of Product Standards (BPS), Agricultural Machinery
Manufacturers and Distributors Association Foundation, Inc. (AMMDA), International Rice
Research Institute (IRRI), National Meat Inspection Council (NMIC), Susi Foundation,
Cavite State University (CvSU), De La Salle University, and University of the Philippines
Los Baños (UPLB), initiated the drafting of the Philippine Agricultural Engineering
Standards.
In 2000, thirty five (35) agricultural engineering standards were drafted and published
as Philippine Agricultural Engineering Standards Volume I series of 2001 (PAES I). PAES I
consists of standards on production machinery (15), engineering materials (6), and
agricultural structures (3). It underwent extensive technical reviews, circulations, and
separate public hearings conducted by the National Agriculture and Fishery Council (NAFC)
in Quezon City.
In 2001, additional twenty five (25) agricultural engineering standards were drafted
and are contained in this Philippine Agricultural Engineering Standards Volume II Series of
2001 (PAES II). The Metals Industry Research and Development Council (MIRDC) was
added as cooperating agency in the preparation of the standards. PAES II consists of
standards on production machinery (8), engineering materials (7), and agricultural structures
(10). Likewise, it underwent extensive technical reviews, circulations, and separate public
hearings conducted by NAFC in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The Department of Agriculture has adopted these standards (PAES I and PAES II) for
agricultural engineering. All offices of DA, including its regional field units, service units,
bureaus, attached agencies and corporations, shall adopt and comply with these standards.
Similarly, PSAE and BOAE-PRC have adopted these standards as technical standards for the
practice of agricultural engineering. These standards shall be used in the preparation,
implementation and monitoring of engineering designs, plans, specifications and performance
of agricultural machinery, materials and structures.
ARSENIO N. RESURRECCION, Ph.D.
Director/Project Leader
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to express our profound gratitude to the Bureau of Agricultural
Research (BAR) and the National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC) of the
Department of Agriculture (DA) for providing financial support to the projects.
Thanks are also due to the Study Teams and Technical Committee members from the
following institutions: Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers and Distributors Association
Foundation, Inc. (AMMDA), Bureau of Products Standards (BPS), Bureau of Postharvest
Research and Extension (BPRE), De La Salle University (DLSU), International Rice
Research Institute (IRRI), Kubota Agro-Industrial Machinery Philippines, Inc (KAMPI),
Metals Industry Research and Development Council (MIRDC), National Meat Inspection
Commission (NMIC), Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources
Research and Development (PCARRD), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PHILRICE),
Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers (PSAE), SUSI Foundation, and University of
the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), for their technical advices and invaluable suggestions and
for helping the project staff in attaining the objectives of the project.
Finally, grateful acknowledgement is rendered to all the private and government
agencies/organizations for their comments, suggestions and reactions on the draft standards.
INTRODUCTION
The centerpiece program of the government in poverty alleviation, food security,
rationale use of resources, global competitiveness, and sustainable development is the
Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA). A close examination of the major
tenets of AFMA points to a very heavy reliance on the support from the field of agricultural
engineering. Overall, AFMA places high priority on the following agricultural engineering
technologies: irrigation, postharvest, structures, rural electrification, mechanization,
alternative energy, domestic water supply, farm roads and bridges.
In responding to the challenge, sound agricultural engineering principles and practices
are required in the planning, design, construction, operation and optimization of agricultural
engineering technologies, systems and services. At the onset, the availability of Philippine
Agricultural Engineering Standards (PAES) is required to ensure to a great extent the
success of agricultural engineering projects in terms of technical performance.
However, in the Philippines, the development of agricultural engineering standards
has not been given due attention. The practice of agricultural engineering standards has been
based on standards from the US and other countries whose appropriateness to Philippine
conditions have not been verified. At most, what we have locally are Philippine standards for
selected machines such as power tillers, rice threshers, rice mills, corn shellers, and grain
dryers. Philippine standards for irrigation; structures for crops, livestock and fisheries; and
alternative energy are non-existent. And the standards for rural electrification, domestic
water supply, farm roads and bridges are lodged in other engineering fields and not with
agricultural engineering.
Development of standards for agricultural engineering in the Philippines started in the
late 1970’s with the Bureau of Product Standards of the Department of Trade and Industry
creating the Technical Committee on Machinery for agriculture and forestry (BPS/TC56).
Later, BPS/TC56 was replaced by TC 19 and the Agricultural Machinery Testing and
Evaluation Center (AMTEC) was designated as its official writing office. Pursuant to
Articles 5 and 6, Chapter I, Title II of Republic Act No. 7394, otherwise known as the
Consumer Act of the Philippines, standards development and its implementation was
identified to three agencies: Department of Agriculture (agricultural products), Department
of Health (drugs, cosmetics, devices and substances) and Department of Trade and Industry
(other products not covered by the two agencies).
It is stated in Rule 59.1 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act
No. 8435, otherwise known as Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 or
AFMA that AMTEC may be designated by the Department of Agriculture to issue standards
for agriculture and fisheries machinery. On 30 May 2001, the DA secretary issued
Administrative Order No. 11 series of 2001 stating that standard specifications and test
procedures of agricultural machinery shall be developed. AMTEC, in partnership with the
PSAE and concerned DA agencies, shall be charged with formulation and development of the
official agriculture and fisheries machinery standards. Such standards, to be known as the
“Philippine Standards for Agriculture and Fisheries Machinery” shall be subjected to public
hearings by the NAFC through its Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Committee
(AFMeC), prior to its approval by the Secretary of Agriculture.
There is an urgent need to develop our Philippine Agricultural Engineering Standards.
Existing Philippine National Standards for agricultural engineering developed more than 10-
20 years ago must be updated. Pending draft standards must be pursued and become PAES.
Some sections of Philippine National Standards of related engineering fields such as
electrical, civil, chemical, and mechanical engineering must be reviewed and modified for
applicability to agricultural engineering. International standards for agricultural engineering
must be reviewed and modified to suit Philippine conditions. New standards unique to the
needs of AFMA must be written.
The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Bureau of Agricultural
Research (BAR), Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE), Philippine Council
for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD),
Professional Regulation Commission – Board of Agricultural Engineers (PRC-BOAE) and
the Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers (PSAE) upon realization of the dire need for
standards, initiated projects that will develop a set of Philippine National Standards for
Agricultural Engineering to contribute to agricultural modernization, national development
and global competitiveness. The Agricultural Machinery Testing and Evaluation Center
(AMTEC) of UPLB is implementing these projects.
PREPARATION OF DRAFT STANDARDS
(SECRETARIAT)
REVIEW AND MODIFICATION OF DRAFT STANDARD
(TECHNICAL COMMITTEE)
CIRCULATION AND PUBLIC HEARING OF DRAFT
STANDARD
FINALIZATION OF DRAFT STANDARD
(SECRETARIAT)
RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF STANDARDS RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF STANDARDS
(CAFMECH) (PSAE)
ADOPTION OF PAES ADOPTION OF PAES
(DA) (BOAE-PRC)
PUBLICATION
(SECRETARIAT)
Flow Chart for Development of Standards
