HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

RECEIVED
Republic of the Philippines pare, | BwUL 2016
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Pirst Regular Session

SSTRATION UNIT
BILLS 4\0 ANDEX. SERVICE

HOUSE BILL No.168

Introduced by HONORABLE STRIKE B, REVILLA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Agricultural institutions have a big role to play in development efforts of thegovernment
for countryside agro-industrialization. Experience in developed countries hasshown that colleges
and universities involved in agriculture were instrumental inimproving the productivity of the
farming and rural communiti

Through teaching, research and extension, these institutions provided the relevanthigh-
level manpower, technology and services necessary to improve farm yields andincomes of
agricultural workers.

This hill aims to establish a National Agriculture Education System (NAES),whieh is an
approach to stratify institutional goals, upgrade standards and inerease the school's effectiveness
in instruction, research and extension within the nation, region orprovince, Through the NAF
the State commits 10 the exposure of all aspects ofagriculture to teachers, students and the
community to ereate and maintain anunderstanding and appreciation of agriculture and related
industries. It is a greatopportunity to promote agriculture awareness and an understanding of the
mportance ofagriculture to all members of society

Soil is one of our most precious resources. Therefore, we have to work onchanging 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 modelsustainable systems. Together, we can
work toward the goal of sustainable agriculturalsystems.

The bill attempts to improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness ofagriculture
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 greaterproductivity, higher rural
incomes and better quality of the Filipino people.

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

REP. STRIKE B. RI
2™ District of Cavite



Republic of the Philippi
HOUSE OF REPRESENT
Quezon City

S
TVES

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

HOU:

E BILL NO.1684

Introduced by HONORABLE STRIKE B, REVILLA

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 inCongress
assembled:

CHAPTER L.

PITLE

ND POLICI

SECTION 1.

je. - This Act shall be known as the "Agriculture Education Act".

SECTION 2.Declaration of Poli
a) ‘The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens, regardless of sex, andereed to
quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps o make suchedueation

accessible to all.

b) The State shall establish, maintain, and support a complete an integrated system
ofagriculture education relevant to the needs of the economy, community and society.

c) Th
out-o|

tate shall provide non-formal education and training to farmers, farm workersand
school youths in the rural areas.

4d) Agriculture education shall be coordinated with agricultural policies of the State andshall
be oriented particularly towards improvement of the productivity and incomes ofsmall
farmers and increased self-sufficiency of rural communities.

CHAPTER II. COVERAGE
SECTION 3.Scope. - This Act shall apply to and govern both formal and non-

formalcontinuing agriculture education programs being offered in all public and
privateeducational institutions in the country

SECTION 4.Definition of Terms. - The following terms shall mean as defined herein:


a) Agriculture - means cultivation of the soil, planting of crops, growing of fruittrees,
management of forests, raising or catching of livestock or both, poultry orfish; including
the harvesting and post harvest handling of such products andother activities and
practices performed by a farmer/fisherman/forester inconjunction with such operations
done by persons whether natural or juridical.

b) Agriculture and Environmental Education - pertains to organized andinstitutionalized
instructions relating to professional, technical and vocationalskills development, research
for technology development, and extension oftechnologies in the various
fields/disciplines in agriculture and allied sciencessuch as crop science, animal science,
agricultural engineering, fisheries, forestryand veterinary medicine. Environmental
concerns are integrated in eachdiscipline

CHAPTER TH
THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURE EDUCATION SYSTEM
(NAES)

SECTION 5.Purpose. - Qualified existing public and private institutes, colleges
anduniversities shall be developed into a network of an integrated system of,
AgricultureEducation to respond effectively to agriculture and rural development needs of
thecountry.

SECTION 6, The National Agriculture Education System (NAES) - ‘The network
ofqualified public and private education institutions shall be formed and established into
aNational Agriculture Education System (NAES), in order for agriculture education tohave a
unified, coordinated and improved system of implementation of academicprogram thrusts geared
toward achieving agriculture and rural development of thecommunity and country. However, in
case there is no institution offering agriculture andrural development of the community and
country. However, in case there is no institutionoffering agriculture education in the service area
which’ corresponds to the provision ofSection 7 of this Act, the same shall be created or
established according to implementingrules and regulations of this Act.

SECTION 7.Components of the System. - From among the qualified agriculture
educationinstitutions, regardless of the institution’s system of governance as authorized by law,
thenetwork shall be composed of five (5) subsystems, namely: agriculture,
agriculturalengineering, fisheries, forestry and veterinary medicine. However,
administrativeorganization and structures of the designated institutions shall be governed by
theirrespective charters unless otherwise provided in this Act

a) The Agriculture Education Subsystem shall be composed of one (1)
designatedNational College of Agriculture, one (1) designated Regional College of
Agriculture ineach region, and at least one (1) designated/converted/created Technical
Institute of Agriculture per province as the ease may be.

b) The Agricultural Engineering Education Subsystem shall be composed of one
(I)designated national College of Agricultural Engineering and a designated
RegionalCollege of Agricultural Engineering per region to be located within the
network of theagriculture education subsystem.

‘The Fisheries Education Subsystem shall be composed of one (1)
designatedRegional College of Fisheries to be located strategically in three (3)


a)

b)

dy

selected regions anda designated/converted/created Regional Institute of Fisheries
Technology per region.

The Forestry Education Subsystem shall be composed of one (1)
designatedNational College of Forestry and a designated Regional College of
Forestry per region tobe located within the agriculture education subsystem, if
possible.

The Veterinary Education Subsystem shall be composed of one (1)
designatednational College of Veterinary Medicine and four (4) designated regional
College ofVeterinary Medicine to be located strategically in four (4) selected regions
within theagriculture education subsystem.

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

SECTION 8. The National Colleges (NCs) shall:

a) Concentrate on the post-graduate programs and curricular models in the tertiarylevel;

b) Be responsible for the conduct of basic and applied researches and other
scientificinnovations;

©) Assist the RCs and institutes in their development efforts towards
excellence,effectiveness and relevance, in instruction, research and extension or
technologytransfer;

d) Link up with national and international agencies to keep abreast of local needsand
scientific advances; and

e) Share its expertise and facilities with the Government and private sector as far

aspolicy recommendations, program planning and evaluation, and staff training
areconcerned.

SECTION 9. The Regional Colleges (RCs) shall.

Concentrate on Bachelor of Science degrees with reasonable involvement in
thepostgraduate and model technology courses:

Focus an adaptive researches needed in the region with reasonable involvement inbasic
and applied researches and verification projec

Assist technical institutes in strengthening their institutional _ capabilities
towardsrelevance, effectiveness and excellence in instruction, action research
andtechnology transfer; and

Link up with and assist government regional offices in planning and evaluatingtheir
programs and in training their staff for agriculture activities.

SECTION 10. The Regional Institutes of Fisheries Technology shall:


a) Concentrate on the Diploma in Fisheries Technology designed for the training
offisheries technicians on technical skills required of the fisheries industry:

b) Conduct verification tests of new techniques developed by research institutionsand
transfer positive results to field technicians, fishermen and fish farmers:

©) Assist the Fisherman's Training Center of BFAR in planning, implementing
andevaluating their programs and training;

d) Assist high schools with fishery practical arts subjects to the development of
theirinstructional materials,

SECTION 11. 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 selecteddegree and
non-degree post-secondary advanced technology related courses inagriculture:

b) Conduct pilovaction researches and verification trials to demonstrate advances
inagricultural technology and tansfer the same to technicians and farmers
throughfields days, short courses and training programs;

©) Serve as a learning and technology resource for development agencies in theprovince
in planning and evaluating programs and in training technicians, smallfarmers,
agricultural producers and entrepreneurs; and

d) Extend improved appropriate agricultural technologies to secondary andvocational
high schools.

ECTION 12,Other Roles and Functions of the Institutions.- In addition to their
regularroles and functions, all the member institutions mentioned above shall also serve as
theagricultural training centers in their respective areas and offer continuing and adulteducation
courses for related line agency staffifarmers/fisherfolk and community leadersto hasten
technology transfer, improve attitudes towards farming, and inculcate theimportance of
agriculture in nation building in support to the Magna Carta for SmallFarmers. It shall also be the
function of the institutions to provide assistance to studentsin conducting their income-
generating projects as well as placement of their graduates

CHAPTER V
IMPLEMENTING AND COORDINATING MECHANISMS.

SECTION 13.Agricultural Education Development Council (AEDEC).- The
existingTechnical Panel for Agricultural Education (TPAE) is hereby transformed into
theAgricultural Education Development Council (AEDEC) as the governing advisory
policybody which is autonomous and attached to the Department of Education (DepEd) withthe
following composition and functions:

a) Composition. - The AEDEC shall be composed of the following members to beappointed
by the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports as its Ex-Officio Chairman:


b)
Dy)

4)

5)

6)

i)

8)

1) One (1) outstanding scientist, educationist or practitioner from each of the fieldsof
Crop Science, Animal Science, Agricultural Engineering, _ Fisheries,
Forestry, Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture Teacher Education who shall be
nominated byheads 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
ofEnvironment and Natural Resources, Department of Agrarian Reform,Department
of Science and Technology, Department of Budget and Managementand the National
Economic and Development Authority;

3) One (1) representative from the Bureau of Higher Education, Department
ofEducation, Culture and Sports;

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

One (1) representative from the Philippine Federation of Professional

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

7) One (1) representative from the Fund for Assistance to Private Education,

Functions. - The AEDEC shall have the following duties and functions:

To study and review the overall philosophy and goals of agriculture and
environmenteducation in relation to the regional, national and international developments
inagriculture and industry and formulate alternative directions and plans;

To assess and identify the agriculture and environmental education, training
andemployment needs of the country in consultation with NEDA and other
concernedagencies;

To undertake policy, educational and evaluation research and recommend measures
toimprove agriculture and environmental education;

Yo formulate and recommend guidelines and minimum educational standards withrespect
to curricula, faculty, equipment and facilities, library resources, student services,quality
of output and other related criteria which shall be applicable to all NAESmember-
institutions;

To develop and implement coordinative and collaborative mechanism of monitoringand
evaluation of activities of NAES;

To establish and operate a Management Information System (MIS) for the NAES;

To provide technical assistance to educational institutions in the planning,development
and implementation of agriculture and environmental educationprograms in cooperation
with appropriate agencies:

To receive or recommend grants or both for the funding of educational research
anddevelopment following the existing accounting and auditing manual for
researchoperations:


9) To appoint AEPEC staff and employees upon the recommendation and endorsementof
the Executive Director; and

10) To formulate implementing rules and regulations of this Act and recommend thesame to
the Secretary of Education within six (6) months after the effectivity of thisAct: and

11) To perform such other functions as may be deemed necessary

SECTION 14.Secretariat. - The AEDEC shall be assisted by technical and
administrativestaff with appointment on permanent status to be headed by an Executive Director.
TheSecretariat’s office shall be at the University where the National College of Agriculture
located. The services of a pool of experts/consultants/resource persons on full-time orpart-time
status shall he provided on special detail or secondment subject to theguidelines approved by
AEDEC.

TION 15. Budgetary Scheme shall he as follows:

a) The current appropriations or budgets of the public educational institutions in
theNAES designated as the national colleges and regional colleges shall continue and
shallbe modified or adjusted in succeeding years in order to meet the standards of
therationalized programs of the institutions as approved by the Department of Budget
andManagement 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
Actshall likewise be provided budgetary support based on their programs and new
staffingpattern as approved by the Department of Budget and Management and shall
be includedin the Annual General Appropriations Act. Additional institutes that may
be establishedin 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
theGeneral Appropriations Act starting calendar year 1994. This fund shall be called
as theAgriculture 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, Thatsuch fund shall be invested in government bonds and securities and
managed by AEDECusing only the interest earnings of the said fund.

d) The operations of the AEDEC shall he funded initially from the DECS
budgetallocation for the Technical Panel for Agricultural Education (TPAE). Upon
theeffectivity 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 beallocated for the AEDEC in the Annual General Appropriations
Act.

SECTION 16.Fiduciary, Endowment and Revolving Funds.- ‘The Fiduciary and
RevolvingFunds centralized under P.D. 711 are hereby authorized and reallocated to the
institutionsin NAES to encourage them to demonstrate the technologies that they develop in
theirlaboratories, experimental farms and income-generating projects, furthermoreendowment
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 tobe used as incentives for
professorial chairs, teachers/employees incentives awardsystems, faculty fellowship programs
and the like. Such funds shall be disbursed inaccordance with law and guidelines set by AEDEC
and the Commission on Audit,


Approved,