, 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B·-1282 
Introduced by Senator Poe 
Explanatory Note 
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Fifty fifty (55) years old, that is the average age of the Filipino fanner today --- one of 
the findings reached in a study conducted by the Central Mindanao University (CMU). The 
concJusion is similar to a report of the Congressional Oversight Committee on Agriculture and 
Fisheries almost ten years ago. This is aianning considering that agriculture is considered the 
Iynchpin of Philippine cconomy, with about 70% of our rural population dependent on 
agriculture, and most of them poor or subsistence farmers. 
The high average age of the country's farming population shows that the Filipino youth 
are eschewing the idea of tilling the soil as a profession or business undcrtaking. 
Much of the 
younger generation today shun farming hecause of its perceived hardships, and many famling 
families are part of the country's poor sector. Recent statistics indicated that there has been a 
steady decline in the emolment of students in the agriculture, fisheries and related courses, and 
the perceived low employment opportunities after graduation from these courses by both 
students and parents, is making the situation worse. If this scenario will continue unabated, it 
will eventually redound to the limited human resource capital that is badly needed to develop the 
agriculture sector, in the long term. 
The proposed legislation is aimed at providing opportunities for high school graduates to 
pursue careers in agriculture management and agri-entrepreneurships. It also establishes a 
comprehensive scholarship program focused on agriculture, fisheries, forestry and related 
courses to be called the "Tulong Kabataan sa Agrikultura at Kabuhayan Program." 
. Opportunities in agriculture have to be created and made more lucrative to attract more 
young individuals to emoll in agriculture courses. Similarly, agriculture education policies and 
curricular programs have to be tilted to produce graduates who are not simply job-seekers but 
-will become agri~business managers and entrepreneurs who will eventually generate employment 
for their kababayans. Likewise, a sustained food security policy is harnessed in the process. 
/l:~~ 
fRACEPOE 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. ~82 
Introduced by Senator Poe 
AN ACT 
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TO ENCOURAGE YOUTH SECTOR OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRICULTURE, 
ESTABLISHING FOR THE PURPOSE A 'TULONG KABATAAN SA AGRIKUL TURA 
AT KABUHAYAN PROGRAM', AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
,: :;~ ! 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress Assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title - This Act shall be known as the "Tulong Kabataan sa Agrikultura at 
Kabuhayan Act of2013". 
SECTION 2. Statement of Policy - The State shall give priority to education, science 
and technology to accelerate social progress, and promote development. Towards this end, the 
government shall provide opportunities for all to obtain quality education and for this purpose, 
scholarships in Agriculture, Agri-Entrepreneurship', 
1 Forestry and Fisheries are hereby 
strengthened. It is also the policy of the State to develop graduates who will become competent 
agribusiness managers and entrepreneurs. 
SECTION 3. Objectives - The following are the objectives of this Act: 
1. Develop competency skills and knowledge of students in agricultural technologies and 
agribusiness; 
2. Provide opportunities to poor but deserving students to realize their potentials in 
agribusiness and entrepreneurships; 
3. Increase food production utilizing idle lands of state universities and colleges (SUCs); 
4. Commercialize proven viable technologies to increase food production and income of 
rural communities through the development of livelihoods and markets, 
5. Provide income to students while doing experiential learning and on-the-job; training 
which form part of their degree programs; 
6.. Link young farmer-students with credit, financing and marketing institutions; and 
7. Contribute to the alleviation of poverty. 
SECTION 4. Definition of Terms - In this Act, the following terms shall have the 
following meaning: 
4.1. 
Tulong Kabataan sa Agrikultura at Kabuhayan - a scholarship program designed 
to benefit poor but deserving graduates of agricultural and vocational high schools 
including similarly situated freshmen students in agriculture and related courses. 


4.2. 
Agribusirless Venture Laboratory - refers to agricultural subjects and classes 
designed as business ventures in agriculture, fisheries, forestry and agri-entrepreneurship 
including but not limited to raising of poultry, goats, corn or rice or crop production and 
counted as satisfying the laboratory requirement of a course. 
4.3. 
Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP) -
a technology 
transfer program being implemented by the Department of Science and Technology 
(DOST) designed to assist small and medium enterprises by providing packages of 
technologies and interest free capital for the acquisition oftechnologies 
SECTION 5. Establishment of a Tulong Kabataan sa Agrikultura at Kabuhayan p 
Program in State Universities and Colleges. - A scholarship program in agriculture, fisheries, 
forestry and related areas shall be established. A ladderized program in Diploma in Agricultural 
Technology (DAT), Bachelor in Agricultural Technology (BAT) and Bachelor of Science in 
Agribusiness (BSAgrib) will be prescribed to the student-scholars. The DAT-BAT curriculum 
will be enhanced with agribusiness and entrepreneurship components consistent with the 
minimum standards and guidelines prescribed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). 
Target beneficiaries are high school graduates from agricultural and vocational high 
schools with general weighted average of at least eighty percent (80 %): Provided, that currently 
enrolled students in agricultural courses in State Universities and Colleges (SUC) may be 
considered for scholarships with grades equivalent to eighty percent (80 %). 
. SECTION 6. Entrepreneurship Components of the Program - To enhance the 
entrepreneurship components of the curriculum about 25% of the entire curriculum shall be in 
the form of on-the-job training or related learning experience. Laboratory components of various 
agriGultural subjects shall be in the form of agribusiness ventures. Proven viable agribusiness 
ventures shall be packaged for students to engage in, and these shall serve as their laboratory 
classes under a supervised farming scheme. Each agribusiness venture shall be under the 
supervision of a faculty who is also a technology expert in the chosen commodity. 
The agribusiness venture laboratory to be developed must have short gestation, 3 to 12 
months, should be science and technology based agribusiness, the end products should be highly 
marketable and the facilities needed are present/existing within the SUC. 
SECTION 
7. 
Scholarships 
and 
Agri-Business 
and 
Agri-Entrepreneurship 
Assistance. Consistent with the Law Creating the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement 
Fund (ACEF) under RA 8178 as amended by RA 9586, the Department of Agriculture and the 
Commission on Higher Education shall come up with a strengthened scholarship program in 
agribusiness, forestry, fisheries, and veterinary medicine, and graduate studies in environmental 
and marine sciences, hydrology, renewable energy and agribusiness management programs. 
Provided, That the ACEF shall also be utilized for feasible, or outstanding or viable agri-
business and agri-entrepreneurship proposals submitted by students and graduates. 
. 
The Department of Science and Technology shall assist the Program by providing 
additional technology packages and making available funds allocated for the Small Enterprise 
Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP). 
SECTION 8. Use of Idle Lands for the Agribusiness Venture Laboratory - The 
SUCs shall provide the lands and facilities to be used by the students under the Program. Where 
appropriate and viable the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall 
make available untenured public lands under its jurisdiction for the use of students in their 
agribusiness ventures under appropriate arrangements with CHED and the participating SUCs. 


· SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The CHED in coordination with 
the DA, DOST, 
and DENR and relevant private sector stakeholders shall prepare the 
implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of this Act and promulgate it within ninety (90) days 
after approval of this Act. 
o 
SECTION 10. Separability Clause. If any prOVISIOn of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the provisions hereof which are not affected shall continue to have 
force and effect. 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules or regulations 
thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby modified or repealed accordingly. 
SECTION 12. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation, whichever comes earlier 
Approved,