Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

19" CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House euino, 1295

Introduced by. REP. WILBERT T. LEE

AN ACT
GRANTING FREE TERTIARY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION, AND OTHER RELATED
COURSES TO ALL DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF QUALIFIED INDIGENT FARMERS, AND.
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 2018, we enacted R.A. No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law. This opened
our local market to competition from imported rice. This exposed the inefficiencies in
our local rice production industry; something that we hope to address moving
forward. The same can be said with the rest of our agricultural sector outside of rice
production.

The hope is that through various programs, including modernization of
‘equipment and application of modern agricultural techniques, we would be able to
produce at costs that can compete with the rest of the world.

Key to our agricultural progress is ensuring that we have well-trained and
educated citizenry who will take our agricultural sector to the next level.

This bill seeks to provide free agricultural education to the children of indigent
farmers by providing them with scholarships, allowances, and other assistance. This,
will not only help break the cycle of poverty in agricultural communities but will be
an investment for the future of our agricultural sector. Through education, we seek


to encourage many of our students to stay in agriculture and be a part of
development.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of thi bill is earnestly sought.

ILBERT T. LEE
JAGRI Party List



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

19" CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1295

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. WILBERT T. LEE

AN ACT
GRANTING FREE TERTIARY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION, AND OTHER RELATED
COURSES TO ALL DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF QUALIFIED INDIGENT FARMERS, 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 Free Tertiary
Agricultural Education Act.”

SEC. 2. Statement of Policy. — It is the declared policy of the State to promote
sound agricultural development in the country and to achieve global competitiveness
in the agricultural sector. Towards this end, education and trainings on Agriculture
shall be encouraged among the youth to inculcate the latest agricultural principles
and techniques. The State, therefore, shall extend the avenue for this learning
process by providing accessible education on agriculture and other related courses.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall be
defined as:

1. Qualified Dependent Children ~ refers to the children of indigent farmers
who are enrolled or about to enroll in State Colleges and Universities
where Agriculture and its related courses are offered.

2. Registered Indigent Farmers — are those indigent individuals whose sole
source of income is agriculture, who actually cultivate or till the land,
whether as owner or lessee of the land, or who actually engage in crop
production, livestock and poultry farming, and who are included in the
registry of farmers of the Department of Agriculture (DA)

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SEC. 4, Implementation of Free Tertiary Agricultural Education. - The DA, in
coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall establish a
scholarship program for Tertiary Agricultural Education. Qualified dependent
children of registered indigent farmers intending to enroll or already enrolled in
agricultural courses or any related field offerings in state colleges and universities
shall be exempt from payment of tuition and other school fees and shall be entitled
to such other incentives or subsidies, including living and transportation allowance,
as may be granted in accordance with such rules and regulations to be promulgated
to carry out the provisions of this Act. Provided, that they meet the admission
requirements of the SUCs where they intend to enroll in

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ Within six (6) months after the
effectivity of this Act, the DA and the CHED shall issue the necessary guidelines, rules,
and regulations for the proper implementation of the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 6. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act, or parts thereof, is
declared unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the
other portions.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
implementing rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,