Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: Representative LORDAN G. SUAN 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The average age of farmers is 57-59.  The Philippines' farmers are decreasing in 
number, while the ones who are left are getting older—not an ideal situation for an 
agricultural country. NEDA also noted that the average years of schooling among 
farmers are 6.8 years which is lower than that of other industries. NEDA explains this 
by stating that, “out-of- agriculture migrants are mostly young workers with at least 
high school education. Younger workers have shown no interest in farming and most 
of them move out of agriculture upon reaching high school.” 
Young Filipinos are increasingly less interested in the agriculture industry, in 
part due to farmers being underpaid and underappreciated. According to the 
Philippine Statistics Authority, the number of rice farmers in the country went down 
from 2.6 million in 2010 to 2.2 million in 2015.  The Labor Force Survey presented 
data that showed a decline in 163,000 farm workers in 2012 which then worsened to 
803,000 leaving agriculture in 2017. Enrollment in higher education for agricultural 
studies is also declining amongst young people. Enrollment in agricultural studies 
averages only 3 percent of total higher education enrollment. 
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) study entitled, 
“Out- Migration in Agriculture: An Analysis of the Loss of Labor in the Agriculture 
Sector in the Philippines” showed the persistent downtrend in the net employment in 
the Philippine agriculture, hunting and forestry (AHF) beginning 2012 and this has 
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been accompanied by an aging agricultural workforce with lower educational 
attainment. 
The NEDA publication further reveals that sociocultural bias against 
agriculture as being a poor man's job, alongside with the preference for white collar 
jobs contribute to the declining interest to agriculture of the youth, even among 
those who finished agriculture-related courses. 
Similarly, a study conducted by the Asian Farmers' Association for Sustainable 
Rural Development (AFA) cited several factors as to why Filipino youth are turning 
away from agriculture. Some of these reasons included a general disregard for 
farming, lack of access to land, lack of access to capital, lack of participation in 
governance, and risks to agriculture brought by climate change. 
Who will carry out the important task of farming in the coming years?  The 
NEDA publication posed a set of policy recommendations, among which is the 
engagement of the youth in farming. 
In response to the ageing population of Filipino farmers, the Department of 
Agriculture (DA) initiated steps to strengthen the participation of the youth in the 
promotion of the agriculture sector. In January 2020, the Kapital Access for Young 
Agripreneurs (KAYA), Agrinegosyo were launched under the DA's Agricultural 
Credit Policy Council (ACPC), and Mentoring and Attracting Youth in Agribusiness 
(MAYA). These three programs encourage “agribusiness-minded” Filipino youth to 
try farming by providing them the needed financial and technical assistance. 
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 2019 Selected Statistics on Agriculture 
, “the agriculture sector employed 10.0 million persons and it represented a share of 
24.30 percent to the national employment” in 2018.  Agriculture remains to be one of 
our main economic driver.  And during the pandemic, with the disruption of food 
chain, we saw the importance of growing our own food. 
 
This proposed Magna Carta of Young Farmers seeks to provide a framework 
to fully utilize and maximize the capacity and potential of the youth in promoting 
and improving the country's agriculture industry. Through appropriate education 
and training, coupled with sufficient support for technology, credit and capital, the 


new generation of creative and innovative future of our country will become active 
agents of achieving our goals for food production and sustainability. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is highly 
recommended. 
LORDAN G. SUAN 
1st District 
Cagayan De Oro City 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: Representative LORDAN G. SUAN 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE MAGNA CARTA OF YOUNG FARMERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as ''The Magna Carta of Young 
Farmers”. 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The following are hereby declared to be the 
policies of the State: 
a) The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building
particularly in attaining food security and food sufficiency;
b) The State recognizes the indispensable contribution of young
farmers to the national economy.
c) The State acknowledges the invaluable contribution of young
farmers in the agricultural value chain;
d) The State recognizes the role of young farmers as advocates and
beneficiaries of a healthful and balanced ecology;
e) The State shall respect, preserve and maintain knowledge,
innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities of
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young farmers embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the 
conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity; and, 
f) The State recognizes that young farmers is a separate sector with 
distinct capacities, rights and responsibilities;  
 
Towards this end, the State shall establish mechanisms for the promotion and 
protection of young farmers' rights that will ensure their empowerment, 
productivity and competitiveness in the local and international trade. 
 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms are 
defined as follows: 
 
       
a) “Agriculture” refers to farming in all of its branches and the 
cultivation and tillage of the soil, dairying, the production, 
cultivation, growing and harvesting of any agricultural, aquacultural, 
floricultural or horticultural commodities, the growing and 
harvesting of forest products upon forest lands, the raising of 
livestock including horses, the keeping of horses as a commercial 
enterprise, the keeping and raising of poultry, swine, cattle and 
other domesticated animals used for food purposes and any forestry 
or lumbering operations, performed by a farmer; 
 
b) “Agricultural Value Chain” refers to the identified the set of actors 
and activities that bring a basic agricultural product from 
production in the field to final consumption, where at each stage 
value is added to the product. A value chain can be a vertical linking 
or a network between various independent business organizations 
and can involve processing, packaging, storage, transport and 
distribution. It shall likewise pertain to the composition of various 
types of business models that link different actors along the chain. 
 
c)  “All-around farm workers” refers to all types of work in the farm, 
performed by an individual or a group of people, which is oftentimes 


assigned to more laborious tasks such as harvesting, plowing, 
planting, application of fertilizers and farm supervision; 
 
d)  “Discrimination” refers to any distinction, exclusion or restriction 
which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the 
recognition, enjoyment or exercise by young farmers, irrespective of 
their age, status of income, on a basis of equality, human rights and 
fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, 
civil, or any other field. It includes any act or omission, including by 
law, policy, administrative measure, or practice, that directly or 
indirectly excludes or restricts young farmers in the recognition and 
promotion of their rights and their access to and enjoyment of 
opportunities, benefits, or privileges.  
 
e) "Eco-warriors” refers to the staunch advocates of environmental 
protection and practitioners of sustainable farming; 
 
f) "Food Security” refers to the condition in which all people, at all 
times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient safe 
and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food 
preferences for an active and healthy life; 
 
g) “Family Farming” is a means of organizing agricultural, forestry, 
fisheries, pastoral and aquaculture production which is managed 
and operated by a family and predominantly reliant on family 
labour, including both women and men; 
 
h) “Good Agricultural Practices”  refers to a collection of principles to 
apply for on-farm production and postproduction processes, 
resulting in safe and healthy food and non-food agricultural 
products, while taking into account economic, social and 
environmental sustainability. 
 
 


i) “Lessee” refers to a person who, by themselves, or with the aid 
available from within their immediate farm household, cultivates the 
land, belonging to or lawfully possessed by another, with the latter's 
consent, for purposes of agricultural production, for a price certain 
in money or in produce or both.  
 
j)  “Organic Agriculture” refers to all agricultural systems that promote 
the ecologically sound, socially acceptable, economically viable and 
technically feasible production of food and fibers. It shall also mean 
reduction of external inputs by refraining from the use of chemical 
fertilizers, pesticides and pharmaceuticals. It also covers areas such 
as, but not limited to, soil fertility management, varietal breeding 
and selection under chemical and pesticide-free conditions, the use 
of biotechnology and other cultural practices that are consistent 
with the principles and policies of this Act, and enhance productivity 
without destroying the soil and harming farmers, consumers and the 
environment; 
 
k) “Sustainability” refers to meeting the needs of the present without 
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own 
needs; 
 
l) “Tenant” refers to a person who, themselves, or with the aid 
available from within their immediate farm household, cultivates the 
land belonging to, or possessed by another, with the latter's consent 
for purposes of production, sharing the produce with the landholder 
under the share tenancy system, or paying the landholder a price 
certain or ascertainable in produce or in money or both, under the 
leasehold tenancy system; 
 
m) “Young Farmer” refers to an individual whose primary source of 
income comes from agriculture, with an age range of 15-35 years 
old, who is an owner, a tenant, a lessee or a worker of the land in 
which they personally cultivate and till. 


 
Sec. 4.  Duties of State Agencies and Instrumentalities. 
 -  It shall be the duty 
and responsibility of State Agencies and Instrumentalities to: 
a) Recognize and promote the rights of young farmers defined and 
guaranteed under this Act by, whenever possible, creating enabling 
programs and projects for young farmers; 
b) Ensure inclusive and non-discriminatory policies and programs that 
would enhance participation and access of young farmers to 
government programs and projects; 
c) Provide all the necessary support to attract young farmers to engage 
in agriculture and make them productive and competitive in the 
value chain; 
d) Promote and fulfill the rights of young farmers in all aspects 
including but not limited to their right to food, education and 
training, support services and access to land. 
Sec. 5. Duties of Private Sector. - It is the duty of the private sector to support 
young farmers' agenda through social partnerships between people's organizations 
and industries. Private sectors are encouraged to assist in providing technical and 
financial assistance, and rural development initiatives which may include livelihood 
strategies, agricultural products, and facilities for development of agricultural 
innovations along the value chain. 
Sec. 6. Non-Diminution of the Rights of the Young Farmers. - All other young 
farmers' rights and programs provided under existing laws shall remain in full force 
and effect: Provided, That it follows the definition of a young farmer as stated in this 
Act. 
Sec. 7. Education and Training. - The State shall ensure equal access to quality 
education and training of young farmers and encourage partnership and linkage 
with public and private basic and secondary educational institutions, and state 
universities and colleges (SUCs) on information and technology transfer to young 
farmer individuals and organizations. 


a) Inclusion and revival of agriculture subjects in the elementary and 
high school levels of the Philippine education system; 
b) Scholarship. - Any graduate of Technical and Livelihood Education 
with specialization on Agriculture and Fisheries under the K to 12 
curriculum shall be entitled to scholarship grant incentives to any 
agricultural and fisheries related courses in any SUC of choice upon 
compliance of the following conditions: 
1) Completion of the application requirements of the SUC; 
and, 
2) Meet the minimum rating qualification in the admission 
level of chosen SUC. 
c) Agricultural Training Service Extension. - Agricultural SUCs shall 
serve as an extension service provider for practical application, 
learning 
seminars, 
hands-on 
training 
and 
knowledge 
on 
technological advancements of young farmers' organizations and 
individuals through the proper facilitation of the Department of 
Agriculture (DA). 
d) In partnership with the private sector, the Department of Agriculture 
shall develop a Mentoring Program for the Youth to develop 
competent, 
highly-skilled 
and 
employment-ready 
youthful 
workforce or players in the agri-business. Through experiential 
learning, it seeks to level-up the agriculture sector beyond its 
production-focused orientation, but will include learning platforms 
on input production, farm operations and management, equipment 
and supplies manufacturing, food/non-food processing, marketing, 
trading and retailing.  
 
Sec. 8. Access to Technology, Credit and Capital. — The State shall ensure 
that young farmers are provided the following: 
a) Equal access to farm technologies and mechanization; 
b) Ensure innovation, development and proliferation of young farmer- 
friendly technologies and mechanization of agricultural production 
and processing; 


c) Equal access to formal sources of credit and capital including crop 
insurance and its derivatives, clean loans and Mortgage, Redemption 
and Insurance (MRI); and, 
d) Equitable share to the produce of farms and aquatic resources. 
 
Sec. 9. Access to Information. — Young farmers' access to information 
regarding policies, programs, projects, subsidies, and funding outlays that will 
strengthen good agricultural practices and support innovation, shall be ensured. 
 
Sec. 10. Right to Resources for Food Production. - The State shall guarantee 
young farmers' vital role in the food production and food security by prioritizing 
their rights to land, technical training and assistance, access to seeds and farm 
inputs, and assistance for product and market linkage and development. 
a) Land Transfer Tax Exemptions. - Transactions including, but not limited 
to, purchase, inheritance and donation of land, which is one (1) hectare 
and below, to young farmers, as defined under this Act, are hereby exempt 
from all taxes of whatever kind: Provided, however, That the beneficiary 
guarantees that the land will be kept and maintained by him or her for at 
least five (5) years. 
b) Land and Farm Planning Management. - The Department of Agriculture 
(DA) together with the local government units, shall provide full 
assistance to young farmers, in the architecture of  community-level farm 
and fishery plans and management to ensure optimal and sustainable 
utilization, production, and profitability of agricultural activities. The 
Department shall utilize existence of Farmer Field Schools and 
Agricultural Extension Training Centers as learning sites to ensure full-
scale assistance to young farmers including understanding the value 
chain. 
c) National Young Farmers Roadmap. - The DA, including its attached 
agencies and corporations, in coordination with the Department of 
Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources (DENR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department 
of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Education (DepEd), 
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), National 


Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), National Youth Commission 
(NYC), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Commission on Higher 
Education (CHED), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) and all 
agricultural-related agencies attached under the Office of the President 
(OP), and in consultation with farmers and fishers cooperatives or 
associations, and youth organizations, shall formulate and implement a 
National Young Farmers Roadmap within six months from the effectivity 
of this Act. This body shall likewise ensure meaningful participation of 
young women farmers, young farmers with disabilities, and young 
indigenous farmers. 
 
The roadmap shall serve as the convergence program of government line-
agencies to ensure the maximum role of young farmers in food security. It 
shall also present measures that will allocate safe, culturally acceptable, 
nutritionally adequate diet through a sustainable food system that 
maximizes self-reliance and social justice.  
 
The roadmap shall include the following: 
1) A comprehensive presentation of the national status of the 
country's food security and sufficiency; 
2) Baseline data research on young farmers through a Young 
Farmers Registry System which includes young farmers' 
socio-economic status; 
3) Community-based Food Security and Sufficiency Plan that 
shall identify viable food security systems and potential agri-
business particular to the roles of young farmers along the 
food value-supply chain; and, 
4) Index of programs of identified government agencies to 
develop and attract the youth to engage in agriculture. 
 
d) Young Farmer Community Seed Banks. - DA shall facilitate the selection, 
establishment and management of strategic community-based seed banks 
to ensure sustainable food and agricultural resource for young farmers. 


 
Sec. 11. Environmental Protection. — DA, in partnership with DENR and DOST 
shall establish model farms that feature sustainable farming practices such as 
integrated and diverse organic farming systems, organic urban farming systems, 
good agricultural practices and the like to serve as knowledge transfer and training 
institutions to young farmer and agricultural workers and provide an avenue for the 
active participation of young farmers in environmental protection and practice of 
sustainable farming. 
 
Sec. 13. Recognition and Preservation of Cultural Identity and Indigenous 
Farming Traditions. - The DA and the NCIP shall collaborate in implementing a 
program that will preserve and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices of 
indigenous and local communities of young farmers embodying traditional lifestyles 
relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. 
 
Sec. 14. Creation of the National Young Farmers Council. - There is hereby 
created the National Young Farmers and Fisherfolks Council which shall be attached 
to the National  Agricultural and Fishery Council of DA. 
 
The Council shall have the following powers and functions: 
a) Act as an advisory, recommendatory and consultative body to 
ensure he success of the department's programs and activities 
pertinent to Young Farmers; 
b) Perform oversight functions as regards to young farmers' 
programs and projects of the Department including its attached 
agencies and corporations. 
 
Sec. 15. Representation and Participation. - The State shall ensure young 
farmers' representation in the decision-making and policy-making processes 
initiated by government and private entities including but not limited to the National 
and Local Agrarian Reform Councils, National Organic Agricultural Board, National 
Youth Commission and the National Anti-Poverty Commission to fully realize their 
roles as agents and partners for development. 
 
Sec. 16. Strengthen Young Farmer Organizations. - DA, together with DAR, DTI, 
DOST, NYC, DepEd, CHED and CDA shall create a training module on organizational 
management and development specific to the sensitivity and needs of young farmer 


organizations within one hundred twenty (120) days upon the effectivity of this Act 
to assist and provide young farmer organizations capacity- building, organizational 
management and development schemes. 
 
Sec. 17. Legal Protection on Negotiations and Trade Partnership Agreements. - 
The State shall ensure provision of safeguard clauses for vulnerable, sensitive and 
volatile sectors to preserve family farming model of the Philippines. 
 
Sec. 18. Farm Insurance. — Young Farmers shall automatically become 
members of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) as protection from 
losses of non-crop agricultural assets from force majeure. 
 
Sec. 19. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, DA, in coordination with Philippine Council for Agriculture 
and Fisheries (PCAF), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), DILG, DAR, 
DENR, DTI, DOST, DepEd, CHED, NYC, and NAPC shall issue the necessary rules and 
regulations for the implementation of this Act. 
 
Sec. 20. Appropriation of Funds. - The amount necessary for the 
implementation of this Act shall be charged from the budget allocation of the DA 
including its attached agencies and corporations, DAR, DENR, DTI, DOST, DepEd, 
CHED, and NAPC. Such amounts necessary for the continued implementation of this 
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.  The local 
governments are likewise encouraged to allocate at least 10% of their annual budget 
to support this policy. 
 
Sec. 21. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
Sec. 22. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
modified, or amended accordingly. 


Sec. 23. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,