NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
i%;|| denari 
of U)«’
‘22 JUL 25 PI 57
SENATE
S. ho, 845
RKEiVcOBV:
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
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
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Agricultural institutions play a major role in the efforts of the government to 
develop countryside agro-industrialization. Data gathered from different developed 
countries have shown that colleges and universities directly involved in agriculture are 
instrumental in improving the product!/ity of rural farming communities and contribute 
to the overall agricultural health of a nation.
We can ensure the growth and survival of our agricultural sector through the 
enhancement of agricultural education In the country. By improving agricultural 
education, we provide the sector with a high-level workforce that can assure better 
farm yields and proper use of natural resources which ultimately lead to better income 
for agricultural workers and the betterment of the sector as a whole.
This Act aims to establish the National Agriculture Education System (NAES), 
which is a step towards the stratification of institutional goals, upgrading standards 
and the Improvement of school effectiveness In instruction, research and extension 
within the nation, region or province. Through NAES, the State commits the exposure 
of agriculture In all aspects to educators, students and the community to create an 
understanding and appreciation of agriculture and related industries to it. The NAES


is a great opportunity for; the State to promote agricultural awareness, and to enlighten 
the nation on the significance of agriculture to all members of society.
Our country is rich in many natural resources, undeniably, one of our most precious 
resources is soil. The Earth's climate constantly changes. In recent years, things have been 
taking a turn for the worst. We have to make sure, therefore, that our policies and our 
ways of utilization keep up with the times. We have to push for the betterment of farm 
policy and agricultural education to make sure we use our resources properly for a 
sustainable future. We must get our farmers into classrooms, and we must let our 
students venture out onto farms. It is the duty of the State to not only protect but also 
preserve the land, to ensure its welfare for the next generation of our nation. We must 
work together in order to achieve a truly sustainable agricultural system.
This bill aims to improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of agricultural 
education programs across the nation while preserving the concern for equity or 
democratized access to higher education in the rural areas. It is a response to call for 
greater productivity, higher rural incomes and overall a better quality of life for the Filipino 
people across the nation.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is immediately sought.
RAMOiyBONG REVILLA, JR.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
845
S. No.
mmtt
of ll)e fe'iaflan)
*22 JUL25 PI 57
RECElVtD BV.
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR,
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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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
2022'
Section 1. Tide. - This Act shall be known as the ''Agriculture Education Act of
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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.
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 income of small farmers and increased self-sufficiency 
of rural communities.


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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 of fish; including the harvesting and post harvest handling 
of such produds 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 Environment Education - pertains to organized and 
institutionalized instructions relating to professional, technical and 
vocational skills development, research for technology development, and 
extension of technologies in rhe 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.
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 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.


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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.
c) 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.
d) The Forestry Education Subsystem shall be composed of one (1) 
designated National College of Forestry and designated Regional College 
of Forestry per region to be located within the agriculture education 
subsystem. If possible.
e) 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 
system.
Sec. 8. The National Colleges (NCs) shall:
a) Concentrate on the post-graduate programs and curricular models in 
the tertiary level;


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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 n^commendations, 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 research 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 Institute 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 development 
of their instructional materials.


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Sec. 11. The Provincial Technical Institutes (PTJs) 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/actlon research and verification trials to demonstrate 
advances In agricultural technology and transfer the same to technicians 
and farmers through field 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 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 Roies 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 ; course for related line agency staff/farmers/fisherfolk and 
communit/ 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.
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 autonomdus and attached to the Department of Education (DepEd) with 
the following composition and functions:
a) Compositiori. - 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,


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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| Environmental 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 fro-n the Federation or Association of Colleges 
of Associations; Agriculture In the Philippines; and
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 ,n agriculture and industry and formulate 
alternative directions and plans;
2) To assess and identif/ 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, equipment and facilities,


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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 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/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.
Sec. 15. Budgetary Scheme snail 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.


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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 institutions 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 (Php 5,000,000.00) 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 opera dons 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 (Php 3,000,000.00) shall be allocated for the 
AEDEC in the General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 16. Fiduciary, Endowment and Revoiving Funds. - The Fiduciary and 
Revolving Funds centralized under Presidential Decree No. 711 are hereby authorized 
and reallocated to the institutions In NAES to encourage them to demonstrate 
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


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the like. Such funds shall be disbursed in accordance with law and guidelines set by
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AEDEC and the Commission on Audit.
Approved,