TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. 96
25 JUL-3 P5:00
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO CHILDREN AND 
DEPENDENTS OF FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK, PROVIDING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Education is an effective tooi in aiieviating poverty, eiiminating social inequality, 
and promoting holistic national development. While education should ideally be 
accessible and free for all, reality reveals otherwise.
The agricultural workers, while playing a vital part in our society, continue to 
be one of the poorest and most marginalized sectors. In 2021, the Philippine Statistics 
Authority (PSA) recorded that farmers and fisherfolk had the highest proportion of 
individuals belonging to families with income below the official poverty threshold 
among the basic sectors. Fisherfolks are at 30.6 percent poverty incidence, while the 
farmers are at 30.0 percent.1 Poverty incidences remain to be significant barriers to 
education.
Eradicating poverty can be achieved through expanding access to education, 
which also leads to better job opportunities and therefore, higher stable income. To 
achieve this, the government must assist in improving access to education of the 
marginalized sectors.
Thus, this proposed measure, seeks to grant educational assistance to children 
and dependents of farmers and fisherfolk, from basic education until their completion
1 Philippine Statistics Authority. (2023, March 24). Fisherfolks and Fanners Remain lo Have the Highest Poverty Incidences 
Among the Basic Sectors in 2021 | Philippine Statistics Authority. Psa.gov.ph. https://psa.gov.ph/content/fisherfolks-and- 
farmers-remain-have-highest-poverty-incidences-among-basic-sectors-2021


of tertiary education in public school. The educationai assistance inciudes free 
educationai materiais, board and iodging, transportation expenses, ciothing, and other 
simiiar expenses.
In iight of the foregoing, the approvai of this biii is earnestiy sought.
MARK A. VILLAR


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 JUL-3 P5--00
SENATE 
S. No. 96
rkl:' V.
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO CHILDREN AND 
DEPENDENTS OF FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK, PROVIDING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shaii be known as the " Educational Assistance
2 
for Children and Dependents of Farmers and Fisherfoiks Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Educational Assistance for Children and Dependents of Farmers and
4 
Fisherfoiks. -Children and dependents of farmers and fisherfoiks listed in the Registry
5 
System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) shall be entitled educational
6 
assistance from basic education until their completion of tertiary education in public
7 
school. The educational assistance includes free educational materials, board and
8 
lodging, transportation expenses, clothing and other similar expenses.
9 
Sec. 3. Special Funds for Educational Benefits. - In order to carry out the
10 
provisions of this Act, there is hereby established a Special Fund, to be known as the
11 
"Educational Benefits for Farmers and Fisherfoiks Fund", in the amount of Fifty Million
12 
Pesos (P50,000,000.00). Such Fund shall be perpetually maintained and used
13 
exclusively for the benefit of children and dependents of farmers and fisherfoiks;
14 
Provided, That r\ot more than 5% of this Fund shall be used for the administration of
15 
the Special Fund.


1 
Sec. 4. Administration of the Fund. - The Unified Student Financial Assistance
2 
System for Tertiary Education Governing (UniFAST) Board, in consultation with the
3 
Department of Agriculture (DA) and three (3) representatives from the farmers and
4 
fisherfolks selected from a verified procedure of selection as agreed upon by the
5 
farmers and fisherfolks, shall have the primary responsibility of managing and
6 
supervising the Fund. It shall also formulate policies, implement rules and regulations,
7 
guidelines and other related functions to oversee, manage and supervise operations
8 
of the Fund.
9 
The UniFAST Secretariat shall serve as the Secretariat providing administrative
10 
support to the Board and shall perform functions as authorized by the UniFAST Board.
11 
Sec. 5. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
12 
effectivity of this Act, the UniFAST Board in consultation with the Department of
13 
Agriculture shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations for this Act.
14 
Sec. 6. Separabiiity Ciause. — If any section or provision of this Act shall be
15 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or the provisions not affected
16 
thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
17 
Sec. 7. Repeating Ciause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, ruies and
18 
regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
19 
amended or modified accordingly.
20 
Sec. 8. Effectivity. —This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
21 
its complete publication in the Officiai Gazette ox in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,