''h 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINE 
Introduced by Senator S. R. Osmefia 111 
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. 
Soil is one of our most precious resources. Therefore, we have to work on 
changing farm policy to emphasize the 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 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 the 
Filipino people. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
/ 
Senator 
& 
111 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINE 
1 
Firsf Regular Session 
) 
I 
E 
T 
Introduced by Senator S. R. Osmeiia 111 
AN ACT 
RATIONALIZING AGRICULTURE EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES BY 
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL SYSTEM OF AGRICULTURE EDUCATION 
INSTITUTIONS, PROW DI NG FOR MECHANISMS OF IMPLEMENTATION , 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assem bled: 
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CHAPTER I. TITLE AND POLICIES 
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SECTION 1. 
Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Agriculture 
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Education Act of 2004". 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policies. - 
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a) 
The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens, 
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regardless of sex, and creed to quality education at all levels and 
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shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to 
all. 
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b) 
The State shall establish, maintain, and support a complete an 
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integrated system of agriculture education relevant to the needs of 
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the economy, community and society. 
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c) 
The State shall provide non-formal education and training to 
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farmers, farmworkers and out-of-school youths in the rural areas. 
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d) 
Agriculture education shall be coordinated with agricultural policies 
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of the State and shall be oriented particularly towards improvement 
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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. 
defined herein: 
Definition of Terms. - The following terms shall mean as 
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. 
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 
fieldsldisciplines 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. 
b) 
CHAPTER Ill. 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. 


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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 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 (1) 
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. 
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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; 
Be responsible for the conduct of basic and applied researches and 
other scientific innovations; 
Assist the RCs and institutes in their development efforts towards 
excellence, effectiveness and relevance, in instruction, research 
and extension or technology transfer; 
Link up with national and international agencies to keep abreast of 
local needs and scientific advances; and 
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. 
b) 
c) 
d) 
e) 
SEC. 9. The Regional Colleges (RCs) shall: 
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Concentrate on Bachelor of Science degrees with reasonable 
involvement in the postgraduate and model technology courses; 
Focus an 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 
Link up with and assist government regional offices in planning and 
evaluating their programs and in training their staff for agriculture 
activities. 
IO. The Regional Institutes of Fisheries Technology shall: 
Concentrate on the Diploma in Fisheries Technology designed for 
the training of fisheries technicians on technical skills required of 
the fisheries industry; 
Conduct verification tests of new techniques developed by research 
institutions and transfer positive results to field technicians, 
fishermen and fkhfarmers; 
Assist the Fisherman’s Training Center of BFAR in planning, 
implementing and evaluating their programs and training; 
Assist high schools with fishery practical arts subjects to the 
development of their instructional materials. 
SEC. 11. The Provincial Technical Institutes (PTls) 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 
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same to technicians and farmers through fields days, short courses 
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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 
Extend improved appropriate agricultural technologies to secondary 
and vocational high schools. 
d) 
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/fisherfolk 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). - 
The existing Technical Panel for Agricultural Education (TPAE) is hereby 
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 (I) 
outstanding scientist, educationist or practitioner 
from each of the fields of Crop Science, Animal Science, 
Agricultural Engineering, Fisheries, Forestry, Veterinary 
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b) 
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functions: 
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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; 
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; 
One (I) 
representative from the Bureau of Higher Education, 
Department of Education, Culture and Sports; 
One (1) representative from the Professional Regulation 
Commission; 
One (1) representative from the Philippine Federation of 
Professional Associations; 
One (1) representative from the Federation or Association of 
Colleges of Agriculture in the Philippinesf; and 
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6) 
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One (1) representative from the Fund for Assistance to 
Private Education. 
Functions. - The AEDEC shall have the following duties and 
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; 


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5) 
To assess and identify the agriculture and environmental 
education, training and employment needs of the country in 
consultation with NEDA and other concerned agencies; 
To undertake policy, educational and evaluation research 
and recommend measures to improve agriculture and 
envi ronmental education; 
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; 
To develop and implement coordinative and collaborative 
mechanism of monitoring and 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 education programs in cooperation with 
appropriate agencies; 
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; 
To appoint AEPEC staff and employees 
upon the 
recommendation and endorsement of the Executive Director; 
and 
To formulate implementing rules and regulations of this Act 
and recommend the same to the Secretary of Education, 
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Culture and Sports 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 
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/consuItants/resource persons on full-time or part-time status shall be 
provided on special detail or secondment subject to the guidelines approved by 
AEDEC. 
SEC. 15. 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 PTls/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. 
c) 
This Act shall hereby allocate an endowment lumpsum amount of 
Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) per annum for the next ten (IO) 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 
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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 
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 (P3,000,000.00) 
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. 
CHAPTER VII. 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. 
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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,OOO.OO) 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 Central Bank of the Philippines through the 
Philippine, 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 VII. SPECIAL PROVISION 
SEC. 19. By virtue of this Act, the non-chartered DECS 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 Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports upon endorsement of 
the AEDEC through the recommendations of the provincial government or the 
regional development councils as the case may be 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 
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allowed to adopt the existing titles and academic ranks accorded to a college 
faculty: Provided, furthermore, That such institutes which are attached to mother 
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units shall have a Director by designation whereas those independent institutes 
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shall have a Director with a plantilla position. 
SEC. 21. Repealing Clause. - All existing laws, rules, and regulations or 
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
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superseded, or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 22. Separability Clause. - If any part, section or provision of this 
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Act shall be held invalid or unconstitutional, no other part, section or provision 
hereof shall be affected thereby. 
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SEC. 23. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (1 5) days after its 
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publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
1;