Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

04
House Bill No, 1945

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE YOUNG FARMERS PROGRAM,
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Statistics show that despite the upsurge of the services sector and rapid
worldwide industrialization in recent years, the Philippine agriculture sector
remains foremost in the country’s economy and national development. In 2008,
agriculture, which is largely composed of farming and fisheries activities,
employed nearly 11.78 million persons or about 32.4 percent of the labor force.
The agriculture sector also contributes an average of 20% to the country's Gross
Domestic Product.

This, notwithstanding, there remains huge tracks of unutilized and under-
utilized farmlands in the country. This has been attributed to the lack of
competent farmers and farm laborers. Also, it has been observed that the youth.
have become reluctant to venture in agriculture due to the false notion that
farming is not a lucrative livelihood. Thus, for the past years, the Philippines has
experienced a steady decline in the enrolment in agriculture courses and this
trend is perceived to continue in the coming years.

In light of the status quo, the proposed Bill seeks to re-introduce the
Filipino youth to farming and fishery as a means of livelihood. Specifically, the
Bill mandates the creation of a scholarship program for agriculture and fisheries


students as well as establish support mechanisms in agribusiness in exchange of
extension services for farmers and fisherfolks.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

DIOSDADO PAGAL ARROYO GLO! IACAPAGAL ARROYO
Second District, Camarines Sur Secénd District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

eel
House Bill NoL945

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE YOUNG FARMERS PROGRAM,
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. —This Act shall be known as the “Young Farmers
Program Act of 2013.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the
State to imbue among the Filipino youth a new perspective on farming and
fishing, to provide them career guidance, to equip them with entrepreneurial skills
and to maximize their learning from school-to-work opportunities in the
university's academic, research and extension activities, to inspire and make
them productive partners in the development of the country’s agriculture and
fishery sector.

SECTION 3. Statement of Objectives. —This Act shall have the following
objectives:

A. To attract incoming college students to choose and
complete a field in agriculture and fishery as a college course;

B. To prepare career options for students and graduates
of agriculture and fishery courses;


C. To involve agriculture and fishery students in the
extension work of the university; and

D. To support students, graduates and out-of-school
youth with academic background in agriculture and fisheries in their
entrepreneurial pursuits in agribusiness.

SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. — The following terms shall be defined
under this Act as follows:

A. “Program” refers to the Young Farmers Program or
YFP as established under this Act;

B. “Young Farmers” refer to’

1. State colleges and universities (SCUs)
enrollees with a commitment to finish college, diploma
or certificate program in agriculture and fisheries
under a socialized tuition fee scheme of the Young
Farmers Program;

2. Bachelor degree, diploma or certificate
course graduates of any agriculture and fishery
courses of SCUs and private colleges and universities
enlisted by the Commission on Higher Education
(CHED)-National Agriculture and Fisheries System
(NAFES) as members of the Young Farmers
Program; and

3. Out-of-school youth who finished at
least two years of college education in agriculture and
fisheries and are enlisted by the NAFES-SCUs as
members of the YFP.

C. _ National Agriculture and Fisheries Education System
(NAFES) refers to the integrated system of agriculture and fishery
education covering both public and private institutions in all three
levels of education chaired by the Commission on Higher Education
and created by the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of
1997

SECTION 5. Implementation of the Program. — The Extension Offices of the
members of the National Agriculture and Fisheries System are hereby mandated
to implement the Young Farmers Program.

v


The NAFES Committee shall oversee and monitor the implementation of
the Program. It shall likewise promulgate the rules and regulations, implement
and adopt procedures and guidelines to effectively carry out the Program.

SECTION 6. Role of LGUs. ~ The LGUs shall endeavor to support the
Program through additional counterpart funding assistance. The Municipal
Agriculture Office (MAO) shall identify farms or fishfarms in need of assistance to
become the field laboratory of currently enrolled Young Farmers in case they
have not yet chosen laboratories of their own

SECTION 7. Role of SCU and Private Education Institutions. - The NAFES-
SCUs shall

A. _ Establish a Young Farmers Organization (YFO) out of
their respective agriculture and fishery enrollees.

B. Create a socialized tuition fee scheme for agriculture
and fishery enrollees.

Cc. Trace graduates and those who finished at least two
years of their respective agriculture and fishery programs and invite
them to become members of the university/college YFO;

D. Conceptualize and implement an extension
partnership with the Provincial Agriculture Offices (PAOs) and
Municipal Agricultural Offices;

E. — Conceptualize a career path for the young farmers as
agriculture and fishery entrepreneurs, support their start-up agri-
businesses and forge a contract of service with them stipulating
their assistance to small farmers and fisherfolks in exchange of
government support

SECTION 8. Funding. — The sum of FIFTY MILLION PESOS
(PhP50,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated out of any savings or unexpended
balance in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to cover the
amounts needed for the initial year of implementation of this Act. Thereafter,
such amount as shall be needed for the Program shall be included in the budget
of the SCUs. Amounts needed by the CHED for the management of the program
and those of the requirements of private colleges and universities for
scholarships shall be released to the CHED-NAFES. All funds currently being
appropriated for the Young Farmers Program in the Department of Agriculture
shall be transferred to CHED-NAFES. Moreover, the CHED-NAFES and the
Agricultural Competitive Enhancement Fund (ACEF) National Committee shall
develop a rationalization scheme to allot a portion of ACEF from both the seed
fund as well as from repayments of loans to the Young Farmers Program


Scholarships of students in private colleges and universities shall be given in the
form of vouchers.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof, is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or
issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or
regulation contrary to or is inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby
repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall effect thirty (30) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,