Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House BillNo,___ 475

Introduced by Hon. Rodolfo G. Biazon

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 bill 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.

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 students out of the classroom and onto farms which model sustainable
systems. Together, we can work toward the goal of sustainable agricultural systems.

‘The bill 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 life for the Filipino people.

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

ar i d BIAZON

Representative
Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 475

Introduced by Hon, Rodolfo G. Biazon

AN ACT
RATIONALIZING 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 Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

CHAPTER I. TITLE AND POLICIES

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Agriculture Education
Act of 2013”.

Sec. 2. Declaration 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 and integrated
system of agriculture education relevant to the needs of the economy,
community and society.

©)

‘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 II. 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 III. THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURE EDUCATION
SYSTEM (NAES)

Sec. 5. Purpose. ~ Qualified existing public and private institutions, 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 (NAES), 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
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) sub-systems, 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 Sub-system shall be composed of one (1)
designated National College of Agriculture, one (1) designated Regional
College of Agriculture in cach 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 Sub-system 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 sub-system.

°)

The Fisheries Education Sub-system 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.

d

‘The Forestry Education Sub-system 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 sub-system, if possible.

©)

The Veterinary Education Sub-system 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
sub-system.

CHAPTER IV. ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF INSTITUTIONS,
IN EACH LEVEL OF THE NETWORK

Sec. 8. Roles and Functions of National Colleges. ~ 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;

5

Assist the Regional Colleges and institutions 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 the private
sector as far as policy recommendations, program planning and evaluation,
and staff training are concerned.

3


Sec. 9. Roles and Functions of Regional Colleges. — The Regional Colleges
(RCs) shall:

a) Concentrate on Bachelor of Science degrees with reasonable involvement
in the post-graduate and model technology courses;

b) Focus on adaptive researches needed in the region with reasonable
involvement in basic and applied researches and verification projects;

) Assist technical institutes in strengthening their institutional capabilities
towards relevance, effectiveness and excellence in instruction, action
research and technology transfer; and

4) Link up with, and assist government regional offices in planning and
evaluating their programs and in training their staff for agriculture
activities.

Sec. 10. Roles and Functions of Regional Institutes of Fisheries Technology.
~ The Regional Institutes of Fisheries Technology (RIFT) 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;

©) Assist the Fisherman’s Training Center of the Bureau of Fisheries and
‘Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in planning, implementing and evaluating their
programs and training;

d) Assist high schools with fishery practical arts subjects in the development
of their instructional materials.

Sec. 11. Roles and Functions of Provincial Technical Institutes. ~ The
Provincial Technical Institutes (PTIs) 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;

¢) 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
4


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 stafi/farmers/fisher folk 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 function 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).
existing Technical Panel for Agricultural Education (TPAE) is hereby trar
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, educator or practitioner from each of
the fields of Crop Science, Animal Science, Agricultural
Engineering, Fisheries, Forestry, Veterinary Medicine and
Agriculture Teacher Education, who shall be nominated by heads
of faculties, scientific or professional groups for a term of three (3)
years, and ftom among them 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 (NEDA);

3

‘One (1) representative from the Commission on Higher Education;

4) One (1) representative from the Professional Regulation
Commission;

5) One (1) representative from the Philippine Federation of
Professional Associations;

6

One (1) representative from the Federation or Association of
Colleges of Agriculture in the Philippines; and

5


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
the 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, equipment 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
mechanisms 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 AEDEC staff and employees upon the recommendation
and endorsement of the Executive Director;

10) To formulate implementing rules and regulations of this Act and
recommend the same to the Commission on Higher Education
within six (6) months after the effectivity of this Act; and

11) To perform such other functions 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
6


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 full-time or part-time status shall be provided
on special detail or secondment subject to the guidelines approved by AEDEC.

See. 15. Budgetary Scheme. ~ The budgetary scheme shall be 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 PTIs/RIFTs 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.

©) 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
2008. 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 be funded initially from the CHED
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 (P3,000,000.00) shall 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. 711 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 unallocated 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.

7


CHAPTER VI. INCENTIVES, PRIVILEGES AND BENEFITS

Sec. 17. Incentives for Private Institutions. - Private colleges or universities
that may be designated to perform any role in the system shall basically be supported
out of their private funds raised and solicited for its operations. They shall be
supported through the Fund for Assistance to Private Education (FAPE), national
grants, educational development subsidies, and other forms of incentives such as
deregulation of tuition and other fees and tax exemptions especially on importation of
books and equipment.

Sec. 18. Incentives for Agriculture Education Graduates. — The following
incentives are hereby provided to graduates to facilitate and maximize their
contributions to agriculture and national government:

a) Agriculture Education Entrepreneurial Loan. — Graduates desiring to
establish agribusiness enterprises shall be provided with a loan not
exceeding One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) upon submission of
an authenticated diploma, a good feasibility study and is secured by a
chattel mortgage of assets acquired from the loan. Mechanisms to
operationalize said loan shall be provided by the Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas through the Land Bank of the Philippines and other interested
commercial or cooperative banks with the assistance of the AEDEC.

b)

‘Tax Incentives. ~ Graduates venturing into priority agribusiness processing
and manufacturing industries may avail of tax incentives under the Board
of Investments priority plan as provided by law and the Kalakalan 20
under R.A. No. 1648.

CHAPTER VIL. SPECIAL PROVISIONS.

Sec. 19. Compliance of Non-chartered CHED-managed Colleges. - By virtue
of this Act, the non-chartered CHED managed colleges that may be designated to
perform the role of a regional college in the NAES shall follow the structure of a state
college as provided for in the guidelines of the Department of Budget and
Management starting at level four.

Sec. 20. Provincial Technical Institutes. ~ This Act shall hereby authorize the
Chairman of CHED upon endorsement of the AEDEC through the recommendations
of the provincial government or the regional development councils as the case may be
in the designations and/or change of status of potential institutions into Technical
Institutes of Agriculture in each province and Institutes of Fisheries Technology in
each region within the NAES: Provided, however, That such designations including
the institutions identified within the NAES be published in the Government's official
gazette: Provided, further, That such institutes shall be headed by a Director and shall
be allowed to adopt the existing titles and academic ranks accorded to a college
faculty: Provided, furthermore, That such institutes which are attached to mother
units shall have a Director by designation whereas those independent institutes shall
have a Director with a plantilla position.


See. 21. Repealing Clause. — All existing laws, rules, and regulations or parts
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, superseded, or
modified accordingly.

Sec. 22. Separability Clause. ~ \f any part, section or provision of this Act
shall be held invalid or unconstitutional, no other part, section or provision hereof
shall be affected thereby.

Sec. 23. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,