Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

F 280
House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
24 District, Tocos Norte

EXPLANATORY NOTE
Food security is in peril.

Recent studies have shown that the average age of Filipino farmers today
is 57 to 59 years old.* Filipino farmers are aging and the interest of the
younger generation to pursue a career in agriculture is diminishing.
Consequently, the number of enrollees in agriculture courses is declining. This
has led to a gap in the agricultural workforce which gravely affects food
production in the country.

While the government is working hard to boost the agriculture sector by
providing better irrigation facilities, institutional credit, farm subsidies, and
introduction of new farm technology, it must also find ways that would not
only give farm workers reason to stay in the field, but most importantly,
encourage the youth to pursue a career in agriculture. Hence, this bill.

This proposed measure seeks to establish a Young Farmers Challenge
Program that shall not only engage the youth in policy formulation and
implementation in the agriculture sector, but also ensure government support
for agri-business and agri-entrepreneurship.

The bill also proposes the creation of a Young Farmers Challenge Council
composed of representatives from all relevant government agencies and
promote a whole-of-government approach. Government agencies have also
been tasked to formulate policies that shall provide our farmers, especially the
young farmers, access to knowledge, information, and education; land;
financial services; green jobs, and the market participation.

In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is,earnestly

sought.
ae
ANGE! ‘COS BARBA
* De Guzman, Sarah Soliven. (June 18, 2018), Agriculture is dying in the Philippines. The Philippine Star. Retrieved

from https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/the-philippine-star/20180618/281625306017934 on October 17,
2019


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

ina
House Bill No. 9282

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA.
24 District, Ilocos Norte

AN ACT ESTABLISHING YOUNG FARMERS CHALLENGE
PROGRAM, CREATING THE YOUNG FARMERS CHALLENGE
COUNCIL, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short title. - This Act shall be known as the “Young
Farmers Challenge Program Act”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of
the State to recognize and engage the role of the youth in nation building and
rural development, providing for this purpose access to knowledge,
information and education, access to land, new sources of financial services
and capital, green jobs, access to new and niche markets, and participation in
policy dialogue.

SECTION 3. Young Farmers Challenge Program. — There is hereby
established a Young Farmers Challenge Program, hereinafter referred to as
the Program, that shall engage the younger generation to pursue a career in
agriculture, engage the youth in policy formulation and implementation
relative to the agriculture sector, and ensure government support for
agri-business and agri-entrepreneurship.

SECTION 4. Young Farmers Challenge Council. — There is hereby
created the Young Farmers Challenge Council, hereinafter referred to as the
Council.

The Council shall have the following members:

a. A representative from the National Youth Commission (NYC) or the
Sangguniang Kabataan (SK);

b. Arepresentative from the Department of Agriculture (DA);

c. Arepresentative from the Department of Trade and Industry (DT);


d. A representative from the Department of Science and Technology
(Dost);

e. A representative from the Department of Information and
Communications Technology (DICT);

f. Arepresentative from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED);
g. representative from the Department of Education (DepEd);
h. Arepresentative from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR);

i. A representative from the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR);

j. A representative from the governing body of the State Universities and
Colleges (SUC) and Private Education Institutions (PED;

k. Arepresentative from the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP);

1. Arepresentative from the Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA); and

m. A representative from the private sector, through the Philippine
Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce;

Provided, That the majority of the members shall be fifteen (15) to forty (40)
years of age from the rural farmer's sector Provided further, That the DA shall
convene and chair the Council and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI)
shall act as its Secretariat.

SECTION 5. Powers and Functions of the Council. - The Council shall
have the following powers and functions:

a. Formulate the Young Farmers Challenge Program, in consultation with
research institutions such as the Southeast Asian Regional Center for
Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Philippine
Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and
Development (PCAARRD), University of the Philippines — Los Baiios
(UPLB) and other relevant State Universities and Colleges;

b. Develop, in coordination with various departments and agencies
specific action plans for unambiguous tasking and quick
implementation;

c. Create special programs for marginalized sectors such as women,
indigenous people, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim
Mindanao (BARMM);


d. Develop initiatives in new farm sectors such as smart farming, farm
tourism, agro-, aqua-, and hydroponics, organic and boutique
vegetables;

e. Identify relevant training and livelihood budgets in the different
departments and agencies, including start-up capital;

f, Implement the action plans of the departments and agencies, engaging
the assistance of the Local Government Units (LGUs) and Sangguniang
Kabataan (SK);

g. Identify the best practices in the implementation of the program;
h. Initiate new packaging, promo, and marketing events;

i. Participate in agri and food tourism marketing events, nationally and
internationally;

j. Establish linkages with agricultural representatives of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other international farming
youth associations; and

k, Engage national and international leaders in formulating policies
directly addressing the concerns of young farmers.

SECTION 6. Access to Knowledge, Information, and Education. — A
whole government approach shall be utilized to inform and enlist young
farmers in agriculture:

a. The DepEd shall include in all levels, particularly in the K-12 program,
subjects focused of agriculture, such as garden farming, urban greening,
reforestation, and coastal management;

b. The TESDA, in coordination with the DICT and DOST, shall add
subjects in their training centers for agriculture entrepreneurship,
smart farming, and other advanced farming technologies, prioritizing
programs focused on agriculture. The TESDA shall also provide
scholarships and subsidized tuition fees for young farmers;

c. The DOLE shall provide on-the-job training programs for young
farmers, including the Special Program for Employment of Students
(SPES);

d. The CHED, SUCs, and Agricultural Schools shall provide scholarship
grants, stipends, and subsidies to qualified young farmers. Likewise,
the CHED, SUCs, and agricultural schools shall provide schemes for
distance, remote, and digital learning. The CHED shall include
agriculture in its National Service Training Program (NSTP)
curriculum, such as garden farming, urban greening, and coastal
management. Scholarships for post-graduate and doctoral degrees shall
be provided by both the CHED and the private colleges;


e. The DA, in particular the 4-H Club of the ATI, shall provide for
scholarship grants and stipends to qualified young farmers, targeting
specific marginalized sectors such as women, indigenous people, and
persons with disabilities (PWDs);

f. The DOST and DICT shall develop portals, utilize social media, and
exploit other electronic technologies, to publicize the program; and

g. The LGU shall inform and enlist the SK who shall act as trainer-leaders
to qualified and interested young farmers.

SECTION 7. Access to Land. ~ Short-leases, free land and agrarian
reform schemes shall be developed to provide access to young farmers:

a. The DENR shall explore the possibilities of extending short-term leases
for public land to young farmers, provide free or subsidized land for
cultivation, and develop such other packages as would allow young
farmers to use available or unutilized agricultural land. In coordination
with the LGUs and SK, the DENR may also create lease-to-buy
programs;

b. The DAR shall facilitate and expedite the lease, distribution, and award
of agrarian reform land to young beneficiaries;

c. The LGU shall prioritize the lease and acquisition of land for cultivation
by young farmers. Further, the LGU and SK shalll distribute hillside or
other undercultivated lands to young farmers, for farming and other
agricultural purposes; and

d. Whenever SUCs and PEIs own or occupy excess land holdings, young
farmers shall be given first option to use and cultivate such land
holdings for agricultural purposes.

SECTION 8. Access to Financial Services. — Young farmers shall be
provided financial assistance and given access to financial services:

a. The Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) shall develop favorable
financial packages for young farmers, waiving collateral, salary and
other typical bank requisites;

b. The DA shall develop financial packages specifically targeting young
farmers;

c. The DTI shall extend loans to young farmers for the trade and
marketing of their agricultural products;

d. The DOST, DICT, and DTI, pursuant to Republic Act No. 11337,
otherwise known as the “Innovative Start-up Act of 2018”, and other
programs shall include the agricultural enterprises for qualified young
farmer-entrepreneurs in their incubation efforts;


e. The Private Sector shall subcontract, partner, and extend financial
grants, initiate social partnerships and rural development initiatives, as
well as mentor young farmers on livelihood strategies, as party of their
corporate social responsibility and other community participation;

f. The LGU, in coordination with the SK, shall provide funding and
livelihood opportunities to young farmers;

g. The SK, using its ten percent (10%) Development Fund, and other
funds, shall provide entrepreneurial and finance packages for young
farmers; and

h. The NYC, in partnership with potential youth agri-entrepreneurs, shall
initiate donation and fundraising drives for the program, exploiting for
this purpose online advertising, crowd-sourcing, and other digital
means to generate funds for the Program.

SECTION 9. Access to Green Jobs. - Young farmers shall be given
priority in access to green jobs, as follows:

a. The DOLE, through the SPEs, shall include green jobs, reforestation,
coastal management, fisheries, and other rural-based jobs, in
cooperation with LGUs. The DOLE shall prioritize young farmers
employment in public projects or private agro-industries and
corporations;

b. The TESDA shall develop on-the-job trainings, job fairs, employment
bridging initiatives, and private partnerships in producing, processing,
packaging, and marketing youth products;

¢. The DOT shall prioritize employment of young farmers in eco and
agro-tours, and encourage youth entrepreneurship in farm tourism;

d. The PEZA shall prioritize farmers for jobs in agro-industrial ecozones,
provide access to modern farm technology, promote linkages in
agriculture-related enterprise, and accelerate the creation of green jobs
for young farmers; and

e. The DA, particularly the 4-H Club of the ATI, shall provide jobs and
embark upon farming start-ups in new and niche agricultural sectors
such as organic farming, agroponics, aquaponics, hydroponics, dairy,
livestock, coffee, cacao, and other areas of farming.

SECTION 10. Access to Markets. — Young farmers shall have access to
markets through the following:

a. The DTI shall assist young farmers in the packaging, marketing, and
promotion of their products, including branding, advertising, and
subsidizing their participation in trade fairs and exhibits;


b. The LGU shall provide subsidized rental rates for public retail areas
and public markets, encourage agricultural tourism, and develop other
opportunities for young farmers;

c. The DOT shall promote the products of young farmers through tourism
conventions, events and other tourist souvenir sales opportunities;

d. The private sector shall market and promote the products of young
farmers, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and
other development efforts; and

e. The media shall promote and advertise the products of the young
farmers and the Program.

SECTION 11. Engagement in Policy Dialogue. - The young farmers are
encouraged to participate in policy dialogues, as follows:

a. The NYC shall ensure that young farmers are represented in all
decision-making bodies relating to the establishment of mechanisms
for the promotion and protection of the rights of young farmers;

b. The SK, through local and Congressional youth representatives, shall
liaise with the Local Government Leagues and the Congress of the
Philippines to consult and engage young farmers policy in
policy-making; and

c. The DA shall ensure that young farmers are equitably represented and
consulted in its decision-making process to fully realize the young
farmers role as agents and partners for national development.

SECTION 12. Waiver of Government Fees and Charges. — Subject to the
exceptions provided in Section 8 of Republic Act No. 11261, otherwise known
as the “First-Time Jobseekers Assistance Act”, all government agencies and
instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations
(GOCCs), LGUs, and government hospitals shall not collect fees or charges
from any young farmer: Provided, That such fee or charge is in connection
with the application for and the granting of licenses, proofs of identification,
clearances, certificates or other documents usually required in the course of
employment locally or abroad: Provided further, That the benefit provided
shall only be availed of once.

SECTION 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90)
days from the effectivity of this Act, the DA and DAR, in coordination with the
DOST, DICT, DOLE, DENR, DepEd, CHED, LBP, and NYC shall issue the
necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act.

SECTION 14. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to initially
implement the provisions of this Act shall be charged against the
appropriations of the current year of the concerned departments and agencies.
Thereafter, such sums, as me be necessary, for its continued implementation


shall be included in the appropriation of the concerned departments and
agencies in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 15. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is
declared invalid, the remainder or any provisions thereof not affected thereby
shall remain in force and effect.

SECTION 16. Repealing Clause. - All acts and decrees, executive orders,
implementing rules and regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 17. Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect upon its
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,