Republic of the Philippines:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The average Filipino farmer is 57 years old with an educational attainment of
Grade 4. He makes roughly P23,000 ($529) a year’, less than 1/3 of what his Thai
counterparts earn. The poverty incidence of workers in the agriculture sector is the
highest in the country at 38.3% in 2012%, and has never gone below 20% since
1970°. These figures clearly show that the people who supply the food that we eat
everyday are poor, hungry and aging. Given our ever-ballooning population, serious
food inadequacy in the future is a looming threat that must be urgently addressed.

This bill envisions a Philippines with 100% food sufficiency and reduced
overall poverty incidence. The first step to which entails a massive upgrade of the
agriculture sector which accounts to 32% of the total employment in the country, but
contributes a dismal 11% to our gross domestic product (GDP) as per the Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA)*. This representation believes that our land and waters are
rich and bountiful, capable of producing enough harvest, catch and other goods not
only for Filipinos but for global consumption. We have only to involve this country’s
best resource — its youth

Half a million fresh graduates endeavor to join the workforce every year.
Unfortunately, work in agriculture is one that is primarily inherited, not pursued in
school. In fact, enrollment in agriculture and related courses continues to go down
despite the increasing demand for food and other farm products in the country®. This
bill recognizes the need to supply the agriculture sector with educated and tech-
savvy young blood that could meet the needs of the agriculture sector in terms of
innovation, policy formulation, and even agri-business integration

1 https:/Awww.rappler.com/business/industries/247-agriculture/63313-pangilinan-economic-growth-
farmers-fishermen-first

2 https:/ipsa.gov.ph/content/fishermen-farmers-and-children-remain-poorest-basic-sectors-O

3 http:/Awww.gmanetwork.com/news/money/content/306370/agriculture-the-deciine-of-the-poor-man-
s-sector/story!

+ https:/Awmw.rappler.com/move-phiissues/hunger/52372-agriculture-hunger-food-security

* https //ousinessmirror.com. ph/enrollment-in-agriculture-courses-continues-to-decline/


The bill seeks to establish a Tulong Kabataan sa Agrikultura scholarship
program in agriculture, fisheries, forestry and related areas which is a ladderized
program in Diploma in Agricultural Technology (DAT), Bachelor in Agricultural
Technology (BAT) and Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness (BSAgrib). The program
will be offered to senior high school students in the agricultural and fisheries tracks,
and similarly situated students of agriculture and fisheries in tertiary education who
intend to enroll or continue with their education. Beneficiaries shall be granted
financial assistance covering tuition and other school fees, monthly living and
transportation costs, as well as expenses on books and other school supplies.
Through this bill, this representation believes that more of our Filipino youth will be
encouraged to pursue studies in agriculture.

A Tulong Kabataan sa Agrikultura Trust Fund shall be created for the
implementation and continuance of this bill. The Fund shall be sourced from the
General Appropriations Act (GAA), a percentage of the total gross collections from
the Professional Registration Fee of the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC),
and other sources.

The agriculture industry has steadily declined over the past decades and
many reasons have been cited, namely: the lack of government support and
investments, absence of true land reform, and even the string of natural disasters
that annually devastate some parts of the country. Meanwhile, our population has
only increased, and our food inadequacy worsened. From 2010-2012, the
Philippines had the 5th highest food inadequacy at 54%, behind Cambodia (27.1%),
Myanmar (29.5%), Laos (38.3%), and Timor Leste (46.1%), according to the FAO®.
The lamentable fact is that we are not producing enough food to feed our current
population. Experts wam of a looming national food crisis’ should current trends
continue.

We cannot overemphasize the need to finally prioritize the agriculture sector
and to legislate a Tulong Kabataan sa Agrikultura scholarship program to involve our
youth in our pursuit of food adequacy and sustainable and inclusive economic
growth. In consideration of the foregoing premises, the passage of this bill is urgently
ought.

[4A

LUIS RAYMI RA VILLAFUERTE, JR.

® https:/Awww.rappler..com/move-phVissues/hunger/52372-agriculture-hunger-food-security
7 Ibid,


Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OY
(J

Queson City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

784

HOUSE BILL NO. 6

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
ENCOURAGING YOUTH SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN THE AGRICULTURAL
SECTOR, ESTABLISHING; FOR THE PURPOSE A ‘TULONG KABATAAN SA
AGRIKULTURA PROGRAM’ AND A ‘TULONG KABATAAN SA AGRIKULTURA
TRUST FUND’, APPROPRIATING; FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress Assembled:

ARTICLE | GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Title - This Act shall be known as the "Tulong Kabataan sa Agrikultura
Act of 2017”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy - The State shall give priority to education, science
and technology to accelerate social progress and promote development. Towards
this end, the goverment shall provide opportunities for all to obtain quality education
and for this purpose, scholarships in Agriculture, Agri-Entrepreneurship, 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.

SEC. 3. Objectives. — The objectives of this Act are to:
a) Increase youth participation in the agricultural sector;

b)

Provide opportunities to poor but deserving students to realize their potentials
in agribusiness and entrepreneurships;

Develop competency skills and knowledge of students in agricultural
technologies and agribusiness;

°)

d)

Increase food production;


e) Commercialize proven viable technologies to increase food production and
income of rural communities through the development of livelihoods and
markets;

f) Provide income to students while doing experiential learning and on-the-job
training which form part of their degree programs;

g) Link young farmer-students with credit, financing, and marketing institutions;
and

h) Contribute to the alleviation of poverty.
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. — For the purposes of this Act:

a) “Tulong Kabataan sa Agrikultura Program" or "The Program" refers to
the scholarship program established by this Act which targets poor but
deserving graduates of agricultural and fisheries tracks in senior high schools
and similarly situated students taking up agriculture and related courses in
tertiary education;

b)

“Tulong Kabataan as Agrikultura Trust Fund" or "The Fund" refers to the
trust fund created under this Act to ensure the achievement of this Act's
incentives;

©) “Agribusiness 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,
com or rice or crop production and counted as satisfying the laboratory
requirement of a course.

ARTICLE Il
THE TULONG KABATAAN SA AGRIKULTURA PROGRAM

SEC. 5. Establishment of a Tulong Kabataan sa Agrikultura Program. — A
Tulong Kabataan sa Agrikultura scholarship program in agriculture, fisheries,
forestry and related areas to be administered by the Commission on Higher
Education (CHED) is hereby established. The program shall be a ladderized
program in Diploma in Agricultural Technology (DAT), Bachelor in Agricultural
technology (BAT) and Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness (BSAgrib). The program
shall initially be offered by the University of the Philippines - Los Bafios College of
Agriculture in the first two (2) years of this Act's effectivity. The program shall be
offered in SUCs which provide courses in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and other
allied fields.

SEC. 6. Target Beneficiaries. - The Program shall target senior high school
graduates of agricultural and fisheries tracks, and similarly situated students of
agriculture and fisheries in tertiary education, who have a general weighted average
of at least eighty percent (80%) or its equivalent: Provided, that beneficiaries who
complete the agriculture and fisheries tracks of senior high and who enroll in an


agriculture, forestry, fisheries, or other similar course in tertiary education shall
continue to be covered by the Program.

SEC. 7. Assistance to Grantees. — Beneficiaries of the Program shall be entitled to
financial assistance, which shall include the following:

a) Tuition and other school fees;

b) Outright grant for prescribed textbooks and essential school supplies;
c) Transportation expenses; and

d) Monthly living allowance

SEC. 8. Curriculum Formulation. - There is hereby established a technical
committee which shall design the curriculum of the Program. The Committee shall be
composed of the following:

a) The Chairperson of the CHED, or his permanent representative, as
Chairperson of the Committee;

b) The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), or his permanent
representative, as the Vice Chairperson;

c) The Dean of the University o f the Philippines-Los Bafios College of
Agriculture; and

d) One (1) representative each from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao from other
colleges of agriculture, who shall be appointed by the President, and who
shall each serve a term of one (1) year.

At least twenty-five percent (25%) of the entire curriculum of the Program shall be in
the form of on-the-job training or related learning experience. Laboratory
components of various agricultural subjects shall be in the form of agribusiness
ventures.

SEC. 9. Strengthening Agri-Fisheries Tracks in Senior High. ~ To achieve the
objectives of this Act, the Department of Education (Deped) is hereby directed to
ensure that agri-fisheries tracks are offered in as many senior high school programs
in appropriate areas nationwide.

SEC. 10. Agribusiness Venture Laboratories. - 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, around three to twelve (3 to 12) months, should be science and
technology based agribusiness, the end products should be highly marketable and
the facilities needed should be present within the SUC.

SEC. 11. Use of Idle Lands for the Agribusiness Venture Laboratory. - 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.

ARTICLE Ill
THE TULONG KABATAAN SA AGRIKULTURA TRUST FUND

SEC. 12. Tulong Kabataan sa Agrikultura Trust Fund. - To ensure the financial
sustainability of this Act, a Tulong Kabataan sa Agrikultura Trust Fund is hereby
created. The Fund shall be used exclusively to fund the Program, and shall be
funded from the following sources:

a) The amount of Fifty Million Pesos (Php 50,000,000.00) as seed capital;

b) The equivalent of ten percent (10%) annual share on the total gross
collections of the travel tax;

c) The equivalent of ten percent (10%) annual share on the total gross
collections from the Professional Registration Fee of the Professional
Regulatory Commission;

d) Grants, donations and endowments from domestic and foreign sources,
pursuant to existing laws and regulations;

) Such amounts as may be indicated under the General Appropriations Act
(GAA) for the purpose of sustaining the Fund; and

f) All interest income of the trust fund.

SEC. 13. Administration of the Fund. - The CHED shall administer the fund and
shall make available all records of how the funds are utilized, disbursed, and
invested, in accordance with existing laws.

ARTICLE IV FINAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ The CHED in coordination with
the DA, and DENR and relevant private sector stakeholders shall prepare the
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of this Act and promulgate it within ninety
(80) days after approval of this Act.

SEC. 15. 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.

SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules or regulations
thereof. inconsistent with this Act arc hereby modified or repealed accordingly.


SEC. 17. 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,