FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
S.B. SENA% 
No. 
4 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Agricultural institutions have a big role to play in development efforts of the 
government for countryside agro-industrialization. Experience in developed countries has 
shown that colleges and universities involved in agriculture were instrumental in 
improving the productivity of the farming and rural communities. 
Through teaching, research and extension, these institutions provided the relevant 
high-level manpower, technology and services necessary to improve farm yields and 
incomes of agricultural workers. 
This hill aims to establish a National Agriculture Education System (NAES), 
which is an approach to stratify institutional goals, upgrade standards and increase the 
school's effectiveness in instruction, research and extension within the nation, region or 
province. Through the NAES, the State commits to the exposure of all aspects of 
agriculture to teachers, students and the community to create and maintain an 
understanding and appreciation of agriculture and related industries. It is a great 
opportunity to promote agriculture awareness and an understanding of the importance of 
agriculture to all members of society. 
Soil is one of our most precious resources. Therefore, we have to work on 
changing farm policy to emphasize its proper use. We must get farmers into classrooms. 
We must strive to move student out of the classroom and onto farms which model 
sustainable systems. Together, we can work toward the goal of sustainable agricultural 
systems. 
The hill attempts to improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of 
agriculture education programs while preserving the concern for equity or democratized 
access to higher education in the rural areas. It is also a response to the call for greater 
productivity, higher rural incomes and better quality of the Filipino people. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested, 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
BILLS & IRICE?: ./ 
,... 
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S.B. SENAY3 
No. 
4 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
AN ACT 
RATIONALJZING AGRICULTURE EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES BY 
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL SYSTEM OF AGRICULTURE EDUCATION 
INSTITUTIONS, PROVIDING FOR MECHANISMS OF IMPLEMENTATION, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repvesentafives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
CHAPTER I. TITLE AND POLICIES 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Agriculture Education Act". 
SEC. 2. Declarntiori of Policies. - 
a) The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens, regardless of sex, and 
creed to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such 
education accessible to all. 
b) The State shall establish, maintain, and support a complete an integrated system of 
agriculture education relevant to the needs of the economy, community and society. 
c) The State shall provide non-formal education and training to farmers, farm workers 
and out-of-school youths in the rural areas. 
d) Agriculture education shall be coordinated with agricultural policies of the State and 
shall be oriented particularly towards improvement of the productivity and incomes of 
small farmers and increased self-sufficiency of rural communities. 
CHAPTER 11. COVERAGE 
SEC. 3. Scope. - This Act shall apply to and govern both formal and non-formal 
continuing agriculture education programs being offered in all public and private 
educational institutions in the country. 
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - The following terms shall mean as defined herein: 
a) Agriculture - means cultivation of the soil, planting of crops, growing of fruit 
trees, management of forests, raising or catching of livestock or both, poultry or 
fish; including the harvesting and post harvest handling of such products and 


other activities and practices performed by a farmer/fisherman/forester in 
conjunction with such operations done by persons whether natural or juridical. 
b) Agriculture and Environmental Education - pertains to organized and 
institutionalised instructions relating to professional, technical and vocational 
skills development, research for technology development, and extension of 
technologies in the various fields/disciplines in agriculture and allied sciences 
such as crop science, animal science, agricultural engineering, fisheries, forestry 
and veterinary medicine. Environmental concerns are integrated in each 
discipline. 
CHAPTER 111. THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURE EDUCATION SYSTEM 
(NAES) 
SEC. 5. Purpose. - Qualified existing public and private institutes, colleges and 
universities shall be developed into a network of an integrated system of Agriculture 
Education to respond effectively to agriculture and rural development needs of the 
country. 
SEC. 6. The National Agriculture Education System (NAES) - The network of 
qualified public and private education institutions shall be formed and established into a 
National Agriculture Education System WAFS), in order for agriculture education to 
have a unified, coordinated and improved system of implementation of academic 
program thrusts geared toward achieving agriculture and rural development of the 
community and country. However, in case there is no institution offering agriculture and 
rural development of the community and country. However, in case there is no institution 
offering agriculture education in the service area which corresponds to the provision of 
Section 7 of this Act, the same shall be created or established according to implementing 
rules and regulations of this Act. 
SEC. 7. Components of the System. - From among the qualified agriculture education 
institutions, regardless of the institution’s system of governance as authorized by law, the 
network shall be composed of five (5) subsystems, namely: agriculture, agricultural 
engineering, fisheries, forestry and veterinary medicine. However, administrative 
organization and structures of the designated institutions shall be governed by their 
respective charters unless otherwise provided in this Act. 
a) The Agriculture Education Subsystem shall be composed of one (I) designated 
National College of Agriculture, one (1) designated Regional College of Agriculture in 
each region, and at least one (1) designated/converted/created Technical Institute of 
Agriculture per province as the case may be. 
b) The Agricultural Engineering Education Subsystem shall be composed of one (1) 
designated national College of Agricultural Engineering and a designated Regional 
College of Agricultural Engineering per region to be located within the network of the 
agriculture education subsystem. 
The Fisheries Education Subsystem shall be composed of one (1) designated 
Regional College of Fisheries to be located strategically in three (3) selected regions and 
a designated/converted/created Regional Institute of Fisheries Technology per region. 


The Forestry Education Subsystem shall be composed of one (1) designated 
National College of Forestry and a designated Regional College of Forestry per region to 
be located within the agriculture education subsystem, if possible. 
The Veterinary Education Subsystem shall be composed of one (1) designated 
national College of Veterinary Medicine and four (4) designated regional College of 
Veterinary Medicine to be located strategically in four (4) selected regions within the 
agriculture education subsystem. 
CHAPTER IV. ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF INSTITUTIONS 
IN EACH LEVEL OF THE NETWORK 
SEC. 8. The National Colleges (NCs) shall: 
a) Concentrate on the post-graduate programs and curricular models in the tertiary 
level; 
b) Be responsible for the conduct of basic and applied researches and other scientific 
innovations; 
c) Assist the RCs and institutes in their development efforts towards excellence, 
effectiveness and relevance, in instruction, research and extension or technology 
transfer; 
d) Link up with national and international agencies to keep abreast of local needs 
and scientific advances; and 
e) Share its expertise and facilities with the Government and private sector as far as 
policy recommendations, program planning and evaluation, and staff training are 
concerned. 
SEC. 9. The Regional Colleges (RCs) shall: 
a) Concentrate on Bachelor of Science degrees with reasonable involvement in the 
postgraduate and model technology courses; 
b) Focus an adaptive researches needed in the region with reasonable involvement in 
basic and applied researches and verification projects; 
c) Assist technical institutes in strengthening their institutional capabilities towards 
relevance, effectiveness and excellence in instruction, action research and 
technology transfer; and 
d) Link up with and assist government regional offices in planning and evaluating 
their programs and in training their staff for agriculture activities. 
Sec. 10. The Regional Institutes of Fisheries Technology shall: 
a) Concentrate on the Diploma in Fisheries Technology designed for the training of 
fisheries technicians on technical skills required of the fisheries industry; 
b) Conduct verification tests of new techniques developed by research institutions 
and transfer positive results to field technicians, fishermen and fish farmers; 
c) Assist the Fisherman's Training Center of BFAR in planning, implementing and 
evaluating their programs and training; 
d) Assist high schools with fishery practical arts subjects to the development of their 
instructional materials. 
SEC. 11. The Provincial Technical Institutes (F'Tls) shall: 


a) Concentrate their curricular programs on technical and technology courses 
designed for farming and extension work with reasonable involvement in selected 
degree and non-degree post-secondary advanced technology related courses in 
agriculture; 
b) Conduct pilot/action researches and verification trials to demonstrate advances in 
agricultural technology and transfer the same to technicians and farmers through 
fields days, short courses and training programs; 
c) Serve as a learning and technology resource for development agencies in the 
province in planning and evaluating programs and in training technicians, small 
farmers, agricultural producers and entrepreneurs; and 
d) Extend improved appropriate agricultural technologies to secondary and 
vocational high schools. 
SEC. 12. Other Roles and Functions of the Institutions. - In addition to their regular 
roles and functions, all the member institutions mentioned above shall also serve as the 
agricultural training centers in their respective areas and offer continuing and adult 
education courses for related line agency staff/farmers/fisherfok and community leaders 
to hasten technology transfer, improve attitudes towards farming, and inculcate the 
importance of agriculture in nation building in support to the Magna Carta for Small 
Farmers. It shall also be the hnction of the institutions to provide assistance to students 
in conducting their income-generating projects as well as placement of their graduates. 
CHAPTER V. IMPLEMENTING AND COORDINATING MECHANISMS 
SEC. 13. Agricultural Education Development Council (AEDEC). - The existing 
Technical Panel for Agricultural Education (TPAE) is liereby transformed into the 
Agricultural Education Development Council (AEDEC) as the governing advisory policy 
body which is autonomous and attached to the Department of Education (DepEd) with 
the following composition and functions: 
a) Composition. - The AEDEC shall be composed of the following members to be 
appointed by the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports as its Ex-Officio Chairman: 
1) One (1) outstanding scientist, educationist or practitioner from each of the fields 
of Crop Science, Animal Science, Agricultural Engineering, Fisheries, Forestry, 
Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture Teacher Education who shall be nominated by 
heads of faculties, scientific or professional groups for a term of three (3) years, 
and from among themselves a Vice-chairman shall be chosen; 
2) One (1) representative each from the Department of Agriculture, Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agrarian Reform, 
Department of Science and Technology, Department of Budget and Management 
and the National Economic and Development Authority; 
3) One (1) representative from the Bureau of Higher Education, Department of 
Education, Culture and Sports; 
4) One (1) representative from the Professional Regulation Commission; 
5 )  One (1) representative from the Philippine Federation of Professional 
6) One (1) representative from the Federation or Association of Colleges of 
Associations; 
Agriculture in the Philippines; and 


7) One ( 1 )  representative from the Fund for Assistance to Private Education. 
b) Functions. - The AEDEC shall have the following duties and functions: 
1) To study and review the overall philosophy and goals of agriculture and environment 
education in relation to the regional, national and international developments in 
agriculture and industry and formulate alternative directions and plans; 
2) To assess and identify the agriculture and environmental education, training and 
employment needs of the country in consultation with NEDA and other concerned 
agencies; 
3) To undertake policy, educational and evaluation research and recommend measures to 
improve agriculture and environmental education; 
4) To formulate and recommend guidelines and minimum educational standards with 
respect to curricula, faculty, eqnipment and facilities, library resources, student services, 
quality of output and other related criteria which shall be applicable to all NAES 
member-institutions; 
5) To develop and implement coordinative and collaborative mechanism of monitoring 
and evaluation of activities of NAES; 
6) To establish and operate a Management Information System (MIS) for the NAES; 
7) To provide technical assistance to educational institutions in the planning, 
development and implementation of agriculture and environmental education 
programs in cooperation with appropriate agencies; 
8) To receive or recommend grants or both for the funding of educational research and 
development following the existing accounting and auditing manual for research 
operations; 
9) To appoint AEPEC staff and employees upon the recommendation and endorsement 
of the Executive Director; and 
10) To formulate implementing rules and regulations of this Act and recommend the 
same to the Secretary of Education within six (6) months after the effectivity of this 
Act: and 
11) To perform such other hnctions as may be deemed necessary 
SEC. 14. Secretariat. - The AEDEC shall be assisted by technical and administrative 
staff with appointment on permanent status to be headed by an Executive Director. The 
Secretariat’ s office shall be at the University where the National College of Agriculture 
is located. The services of a pool of experts/consultants/resource persons on fiill-time or 
part-time status shall he provided on special detail or secondment subject to the 
guidelines approved by AEDEC. 
SEC. 15. Budgetary Scheme shall he as follows: 


a) The current appropriations or budgets of the public educational institutions in the 
NAES designated as the national colleges and regional colleges shall continue and shall 
be modified or adjusted in succeeding years in order to meet the standards of the 
rationalized programs of the institutions as approved by the Department of Budget and 
Management and shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act. 
b) The PTlsBIFTs in the NAES which are designated or newly created under this Act 
shall likewise be provided budgetary support based on their programs and new staffing 
pattern as approved by the Department of Budget and Management and shall be included 
in the Annual General Appropriations Act. Additional institutes that may be established 
in the province shall solely be supported by provincial government funds. 
c) This Act shall hereby allocate an endowment lump sum amount of Five million pesos 
(P5,000,000.00) per annum for the next ten (10) years and shall be included in the 
General Appropriations Act starting calendar year 1994. This fund shall be called as the 
Agriculture Education Program Development Fund to support the development, 
improvement and implementation of priority agriculture education and farmers’ 
entrepreneurial training programs of NAES member institutions: Provided, further, That 
such fund shall be invested in government bonds and securities and managed by AEDEC 
using only the interest earnings of the said fund. 
d) The operations of the AEDEC shall he funded initially from the DECS budget 
allocation for the Technical Panel for Agricultural Education (TPAE). Upon the 
effectivity of this Act, TPAE shall be replaced by the AEDEC and all equipment, 
qualified personnel and projects of the TPAE shall be transferred to AEDEC. 
Subsequently, the initial amount of at least Three million pesos (P3,000,000.0sOh)al 1 be 
allocated for the AEDEC in the Annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 16. Fiduciary, Endowment and Revolving Funds. - The Fiduciary and Revolving 
Funds centralized under P.D. 71 1 are hereby authorized and reallocated to the institutions 
in NAES to encourage them to demonstrate the technologies that they develop in their 
laboratories, experimental farms and income-generating projects, furthermore 
endowment funds shall be authorized to be accumulated in the institutions, out of any 
funds generated from nnallocated savings, earnings or from any other external sources to 
be used as incentives for professorial chairs, teachers/employees incentives award 
systems, faculty fellowship programs and the like. Such funds shall be disbursed in 
accordance with law and guidelines set by AEDEC and the Commission on Audit. 
Approved,