Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2416

House Bill No.

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

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

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 and Fisherfolk
Challenge Program that shall support and empower the young farmers and
fisherfolk to be active partners in food security and agricultural development
and modernization. It seeks to ensure young farmers and_fisherfolk
participation in policy formulation and program implementation relative to
the agriculture sector, and provide institutional support for agri-business and
agri-entrepreneurship initiatives of the youth to fully realize their roles as
agents and partners for development

+ 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


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The bill also proposes the creation of a council composed of
representatives from all relevant government agencies to oversee the
implementation of the Program. This promotes a whole-of-government
approach.

In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill isfarnestly
sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

416

2
House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2nd District, Ilocos Norte

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE YOUNG FARMERS AND _ FISHERFOLK
CHALLENGE PROGRAM, CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE YOUNG
FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK CHALLENGE COUNCIL,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 and
Fisherfolk Challenge Act’.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy State to ensure
that the rights of young farmers and fisherfolk are recognized, protected and promoted.
Pursuant to this, the State shall 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 and fishing ground, new sources of financial services and
capital, green jobs, access to new and niche markets, and participation in policy
dialogue.

SEC. 3. Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge Program. There is hereby
established a Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge Program, hereinafter referred
to as the Program, that shall support and empower the young farmers and fisherfolk to
be active partners in food security and agricultural development and modernization.
The Program shall encourage the youth to pursue a career or engage in activities
related to agriculture, ensure young farmers and fisherfolk participation in policy
formulation and program implementation relative to the agriculture sector, and
provide institutional support for agri-business and agri-entrepreneurship initiatives of
the youth to fully realize their roles as agents and partners for development.

SEC. 4. Beneficiaries of the Program. Young farmers and fisherfolk are those
between fifteen (15) to forty (40) years of age, are engaged in farming and fisheries
activities, and are included in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture
(RSBSA). The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall update its existing database to
reflect these indicators.


SEC. 5. Creation of a Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge Council. There
is hereby created the Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge Council, hereinafter
referred to as the Council to properly oversee the implementation of the Program.

The Council shall be composed of the following:

a. Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) or a duly authorized
representative who is at least an undersecretary, who shall be the Chair;

b. Representative of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) who shall

10 likewise be an Undersecretary;

un .. Representative of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST);

2 |. Representative of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED);

B e. Representative of the Department of Education (DepEd) who shall likewise be

14 an Undersecretary;

ae

15 f. Representative of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR);

16 g. Representative of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
7 (TESDA);

18 h. Representative of the Department of the Interior and Local Government

19 (DILG);

20 i. Representative of a national organization of young farmers’ cooperative or
21 association, provided that the representative shall be between fifteen (15) to
2 forty (40) years of age;

23 j. Representative of a national organization of fisherfolk’s cooperative or
Pry association, provided that the representative shall be between fifteen (15) to
25 forty (40) years of age;

26 k. Representative of a farmers’ women organization or cooperative, provided that
Pa the representative shall be between fifteen (15) to forty (40) years of age;

28 1. Representative of a national organization for agritourism; and

29 m. Representative of a national organization for food, restaurant, and business
30 sectors.

31

32 Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) shall serve as its
33 Secretariat.

34

35 SEC. 6. Powers and Functions of the Council. The Council shall have the
36 following powers and functions:

37

38 a. Formulate the Program, in consultation with research institutions such as the
39 Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in
40 Agriculture (SEARCA), Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and
41 Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), University of the
42 Philippines - Los Bafios (UPLB) and other relevant state universities and
43 colleges (SUCs);

44

45 b. Identify and streamline access to relevant capacity-building and livelihood
46 programs across the different departments and agencies of government,
a7 including on-the-job trainings, job fairs, employment in farm tourism and
48 agro-industrial zones, and other employment-bridging initiatives;

49


Identify and streamline access to possible sources of credit across the different

departments, agencies, and instrumentalities, including access to start-up
capital;

|. Monitor initiatives in emerging best practices and products in agriculture such

as smart farming, farm tourism in compliance with RA 10816 or the “Farm
Tourism Development Act of 2016,” agroponics, aquaponics, hydroponics, and
organic and boutique vegetables;

Improve and facilitate access to marketing services such as packaging,
promotions including branding and advertising, networking events, subsidy for
participation in trade fairs and exhibits, and linkage with media;

Coordinate with local government units (LGUs) in providing subsidized rental
rates for public retail areas and public markets to farmers and fisherfolk;

._ Serve as a conduit between stakeholders and national and international leaders

including Congress and the private sector in formulating policies directly
addressing the concerns of young farmers and fisherfolk;

|. Propose subjects related to agriculture and agribusiness such as gardening,

backyard farming, urban farming, reforestation, agricultural appreciation,
agricultural entrepreneurship, smart farming, farm tourism, and coastal
management in all pertinent levels of the DepEd’s K-12 system with the end
goal of increasing enrollment in the technical-vocational track in Senior High
School in courses related to agriculture, CHED, including the National Service
Training Program (NSTP) and TESDA;

Ensure scholarships and subsidized tuition fees for young farmers and
fisherfolk in SUCs;

Provide on-the-job training programs for young farmers and fisherfolk in areas
such as green jobs, reforestation, coastal management, fisheries, and other
rural-based jobs, through the DOLE’s Special Program for Employment of
Students (SPES) and other livelihood and training programs;

. Explore and facilitate the extension of short-term leases for public land to

young farmers and fisherfolk, providing free or subsidized land for cultivation
and for aquaculture, and developing other packages such as, lease-to-buy
schemes that would allow young farmers and fisherfolk to use available or
unutilized agricultural land or fishing ground for the purposes of said Program;

Expedite the lease, distribution, and award of agrarian reform land to qualified
beneficiaries;

. Facilitate the use of excess land holdings of SUCs and PEls for agricultural

training and developmental processes;

. Foster the formation of new ideas and technologies by assisting agricultural

enterprises of qualified young farmers and fisherfolk entrepreneurs, pursuant to


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Republic Act No. 11337, otherwise known as the “Innovative Start-up Act of
2018”;

0. Initiate social partnerships and rural development initiatives in partnership with
the private sector;

p. Optimize existing loan guarantee funds administered by various government
entities to increase the credit worthiness of young farmers and fisherfolk
experiencing difficulty in obtaining loans from banks due to lack of acceptable
collaterals, credit knowledge and credit track record; and

q. Accept donations, contributions, grants, bequests or gifts, in cash or in kind,
from various sources, domestic or foreign, for purposes relevant to the functions
of the Council. Said donations shall be deemed automatically appropriated for
purposes specified by the donor or in the absence thereof, for the programs and
projects as may be approved by the Council subject to the usual accounting and
auditing rules and regulations: Provided, That cash donations shall not be used
to fund the personal services requirements of the Council.

SEC. 6-A. Tax Exemption on Donations. All grants, bequests, endowments,
donations and contributions made to and used actually, directly and exclusively shall
be exempt from donor’s tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction
from gross income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the donor, in
accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as
amended.

SEC. 7. 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
Jobseckers 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 young farmers and fisherfolks who are
first-time job seekers: 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.

SEC. 8. Annual Report. The Council shall submit to the President and to both
Houses of Congress, not later than the 30" of March of every year following the
effectivity of this Act, a report giving a detailed account on the effective
implementation of this Act, and recommended legislation where applicable and
necessary.

SEC. 9 Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the DA and DAR shall, in coordination with the DOST, DOLE,
DENR, DepEd, CHED, LBP, and NYC, issue the necessary rules and regulations for
the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 10. Appropriations. The funds necessary to carry out the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s budget of the
Department of Agriculture. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the


continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 11. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in
full force and effect.

SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, administrative orders, and
rules and regulations inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed or amended
accordingly.

SEC. 13. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,