Policy analysis of agricultural mechanisation in the Philippines: an institutional analysis and development framework

Madlangbayan, G. T. (2026) Policy analysis of agricultural mechanisation in the Philippines: an institutional analysis and development framework. PhD thesis, University of Reading. doi: 10.48683/1926.00129061

Abstract/Summary

Agricultural mechanisation in the Philippines has a long history but its development has been plagued with setbacks resulting in low levels of mechanisation compared to its neighbouring countries. This has been the situation despite having several laws enacted in support of agricultural modernization in the country. The Agriculture and Fishery Mechanization Law (AFMech Law) 2013 is the most recent law enacted towards this end that focused solely on mechanisation. With this serving as the policy background for agricultural mechanization development in the country, this study aimed to analyse its policy design and structure and gain an understanding of the current level of agricultural mechanisation in the Philippines. Applying the Institutional Grammar Tool (IGT) specifically to Article VI of the AFMech Law as the focal unit of analysis and following the guidelines of Brady et al (2018) for rules in form revealed that the institutional statements were composed of the following: norms (68%), strategy (14%) and constitutive statements (18%). Parsed statements were clustered by Attribute and then by aIm, this revealed the role of each agency and their relationship with the other agencies. These interrelationships were investigated further through the conduct of key informant interviews at the national level. At the national level, the AFMEch Law expanded the existing mandates of some of the Attributes. Likewise, it also created new Attributes. A modified Ostrom’s Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) Framework was applied to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) program which has an agricultural mechanisation component. This was done to analyse how the Attributes implemented the mechanisation component of their program. Key informant interviews supplemented the analysis. All key informant interviews were subjected to thematic analysis following Braun and Clarkes’ (2006) guidelines. The different themes developed from the study further affirm the effect of devolution, rationalization of government agencies, government procurement laws, and unfunded mandates as among the factors that affect the level of agricultural mechanisation in the country. The combination of all these factors operating within an observed incoherence in national and local policies and the disconnect of organisational structures from the national level to the farming communities envelope the current level of agricultural mechanisation in the country. The study recommends updating the AFMech Law and or its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). In addition, the unfunded mandates of the different Attributes need to be addressed. Local government units (LGUs) must secure and include the budget necessary to perform the devolved tasks in their plans. While the current policy setting allows for collaboration among Attributes, there is a need to have these collaborations transcend changes in the leadership both at the executive branch of government and at the level of the LGUs. An alternative framework should include the addition of plantilla positions at the LGU level to handle the tasks that were devolved to the LGUs and to ensure that areas without municipal agrarian reform officers will have a staff that could implement, monitor and coordinate agricultural mechanization related programs particularly in areas where there are active Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs). In addition, the observed policy incoherence affecting agricultural mechanisation programs needs to be addressed. As such, future studies on agricultural mechanisation with a governance perspective are also recommended.

Item Type	Thesis (PhD)
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/129061
Identification Number/DOI	10.48683/1926.00129061
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Agriculture, Policy and Development
Date on Title Page	February 2025
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