Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 511

Introduced by Representative Jaime R. Fresnedi

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to address our aging and lack farm workers by granting free tertiary
agricultural education and such other allied courses to dependent children of qualified indigent
farmers. The Free Tertiary Agricultural Education Program shall cover all dependent children
of registered indigent farmers and will cover tuition and other schoo! fees in state universities
and colleges (SUCs) that offer agriculture and related courses. It shall also provide additional
allowances such as living and transportation subsidies to help ease the financial burden of
pursuing higher education.

With a land area of 30 million hectares, of which, only one-third is used for agricultural
activities, the Philippines still relies heavily on local food produce. According to the data
provided by the Philippine Statistics Authority, this was due to the annual increases in the value
of production of crops, livestock, poultry, and fisheries. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
(AFF) accelerated at a faster rate of 2.2 percent in the first quarter of 2023, compared with the
0.2 percent growth in the same quarter of 2022. The Philippine Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) posted a growth of 6.4 percent in the first quarter of 2023, of which, one of the major
economic sectors, AFF, with 2.2 percent.? However, despite the figure of only one-third of 30
million hectares is used for agricultural activities, it is without a doubt that the agricultural
sector still plays a very crucial role in the country’s economy especially with the issue on food
security.

Despite the importance of agriculture in nation building, its contribution in the economy
and the current report which states the increase in the value of production, the agricultural
sector is often beset with a myriad of problems that never seem to disappear. The farmers are
the ones whose plights are often unheeded. They would till the land hours for them to be able
to provide for their families’ daily sustenance, but often, their financial capabilities are not
enough. Despite globalization and modernization trends, the educational needs of their
children are often overlooked. Investments in technology and innovation are necessary to

* Gross National Income and Gross Domestic Product, Philippine Statistics Authority-1" Quarter 2023,
hutps //psa.gov.ph/national-accounts/sector/Agriculture,%20Forestry%20an 1%20Fishing, accessed on Jul 18,
2023
bid.



diversify and transform the country’s agricultural productivity. Increased production support
and improved policies are necessary to achieve the prioritization of the agricultural sector,
specifically the farmers and fisherfolks. All these can be achieved by educating the farmers
and the future farmers.

Further, the aging farmer population and the seeming disinterest of the youth in farming
endanger the future of food security in the country. It is therefore necessary to equip their
dependent children with knowledge and skills in food production and at the same time uplift
their economic status.

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

JAIMI ‘SNEDI
Representative
Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _5]1

Introduced by Representative Jaime R. Fresnedi

AN ACT
GRANTING FREE TERTIARY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND OTHER
RELATED COURSES TO ALL DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF QUALIFIED
INDIGENT FARMERS, PROVIDING 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 “Free Tertiary Agricultural
Education for Dependent Children of Indigent Farmers Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to promote sound
agricultural development in the country 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

a. 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.

b. 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).

SEC. 4. Free Tertiary Agricultural Education Program. —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

1


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 within one (1) year from the completion
of the course, the scholar shall render a return to service work in the local agriculture sector for
a period of not less than one (1) year.

SEC. 5. Conditions of the Scholarship Grant. - The Free Tertiary Agricultural
Education Program shall have the following conditionalities:

a. The scholar may be allowed, for valid reasons preventing his enrollment, to defer
availment of the scholarship and file a leave of absence for a period not exceeding
one (1) school year; and

b. The scholar shall receive and continue to enjoy the benefits of the scholarship until
the completion of the course.

=C. 6. Information Dissemination. - The DA shall conduct regular information
dissemination and recruitment with regard to the Free Tertiary Agricultural Education Program
to encourage qualified dependent children to become agricultural scholars.

SEC. 7. Appropriations. ~ The amount necessary to carry out the implementation of
this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the DA and CHED. Thereafter,
the amount necessary for the continuous implementation of the free tertiary agricultural
education as provided in this Act shall be included in the universal access to quality tertiary
education program of the CHED in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within six (6) months after the
effectivity of this Act, the DA and CHED, in consultation with various SUCs shall promulgate
the necessary guidelines, rules, and regulations for the proper implementation of the provisions
of this Act.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision, section, or part of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate, or impair any other
provisions, sections, or parts hereof.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, issuances, circulars, rules and
regulations or parts hereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,