Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

500
H.B.No._

Introduced by HONORABLE JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

“Magsasaka lang po ako. ” Thus goes a common self-deprecating identification
indicative of the prevalent lowly regard for farming. However, despite the upsurge of the service
sector and rapid worldwide industrialization in recent years, the Philippines’ agriculture sector
remains foremost in Philippine economy. In 2006, Agriculture, which is largely farming and
fisheries, employed 11.78 million persons or about 32.4 percent of the labor force. It contributes:
an average of 20 percent to the country's Gross Domestic Product. Unfortunate is the trend in
recent years which presents a dim picture for the agriculture sector and which culminated in a

tice shortage during the first half of 2008, with the government resorting to rationing rice in
urban centers.

Unutilized and under-utilized farmlands are extant in the country and this is not because
of the lack of competent farmers and farm laborers. It is because of the reluctance of farmers.
and the youth., to go into agriculture, particularly farming and fishing. The pervading perception,
quite correct, is that farming is not a lucrative livelihood. And so despite the presence of
unutilized and underutilized farming and the marginal potential in farming, enrolment in
agriculture courses declined from 94,900 in School Year 2001- 2002 to a low of 70,824 in 2004-
2005, a reduction of more than 24,000 in just three years.

“Food self-sufficiency and security.” That is a usual government exhortation which is
largely ignored in policy-making and implementation. Because of the foregoing reasons, the
Philippine agriculture sector suffers from insufficiency and insecurity.

This bill seeks to encourage the Filipino youth to pursue farming and fishery as an
occupation. Farming and fishing to be attractive to he youth should be productive and profitable
for farmers and fishers. Farmers and fishers should not be confined with planting and catching
fishes. They must also be equipped with learning in agriculture and with entrepreneurial skills.
Specifically, this bill mandates a scholarship program for agriculture and fisheries students as


well as support in agribusiness in exchange of extension services for our farmers and
fisherfolks.

Through this bill, it is hoped that the country would attain self-sufficiency and security in
due time. Philippine agriculture will soon be in the hands of the youth- subject, of course, to their

willingness to be at the helm of ensuring the survival of the present and future generations of
healthy and well-fed Filipinos.

In view of the foregoing, support for this bill is urged.

JUAN EDGARI
Representative
Lone District, Province of Aurora

“SONNY” M. ANGARA


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —_)
First Regular Session )

H. B. No. 500

Introduced by Honorable JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE YOUNG FARMERS PROGRAM, PROVIDING FUNDS
“ THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. Title. -This Act shall be known as the “Young Farmers Program Act of
2010.”

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - |t is hereby declared the policy of the State to imbue
among the Filipino youth a new perspective of farming and fishing, provide them career
guidance, equip them with entrepreneurial skills and maximize their learning from school-to-
work opportunities in the university's academic, research and extension activities, inspire and

make them productive partners in the development of the country’s agriculture and fishery
sector.

Sec. 3. Statement of Objectives. -This Act shall have the following objectives:
a) To attract incoming college students to choose and complete a field in agriculture and
fishery as a college course;
b) To prepare career options for students and graduates of agriculture and fishery courses;
) To involve agriculture and fishery students in the extension work of the university; and;
d) To support students, graduates and out-of-school youth with academic background in
agriculture and fisheries in their entrepreneurial pursuits in agribusiness.

Sec. 4, Definition of Terms. - The following terms shall be defined under this Act

a) “Program’ refers to the Young Program or YFP as established under this Act;
b) “Young Farmers” refers to the following:
1) State colleges and universities (SCUs) enrollees with a commitment to finish
2) college, diploma or certificate program in agriculture and fisheries under a
socialized tuition fee scheme of the Young Farmers Program;
3) Bachelor degree, diploma or certificate course graduates of any agriculture and
fishery courses of SCUs and private colleges and universities enlisted by the
4) Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-National Agriculture and Fisheries


5) System (NAFES) as members of the Young Farmers Program; and
6) Out-of-school youth who finished at least two years of college education in
agriculture and fisheries and are enlisted by the NAFES-SCUs as members of the
YFP,
¢) “National Agriculture and Fisheries Education System (NAFES)" refers to the integrated
system of agriculture and fishery education covering both public and private institutions
in all three levels of education chaired by the Commission on Higher Education and
created by the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997.

Sec. 5. Implementation of the Program. The Extension Offices of the members of the
National Agriculture and Fisheries System are hereby mandated to implement the Young
Farmers Program.

‘The NAFES Committee shall oversee and monitor the implementation of the Program. It
shall likewise promulgate the rules and regulations, implement and adopt procedures and
guidelines to effectively carry out the Program.

Sec. 6. Role of LGUs. - The LGUs shall endeavour to support the Program through
additional counterpart funding assistance. The Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) shall identify
farms or fishfarms in need of assistance to become the field laboratory of currently enrolled
Young Farmers in case they have not yet chosen laboratories of their own.

Sec. 7. Role of SUC and Private Education Institutions. The NAFES-SCUs shall:

a. Establish a Young Farmers Organization (YFO) out of their respective agriculture
and fishery enrollees.

b. Create a socialized tuition fee scheme for agriculture and fishery enrollees.

©. Trace graduates and those who finished at least two years of their respective

agriculture, and fishery programs and invite them to become members of the

university/college YFO; :

Conceptualize and implement an extension partnership with the Provincial

Agriculture Offices (PAOs) and Municipal Agricultural Offices;

Conceptualize a career path for the young farmers as agriculture and fishery

entrepreneurs, support their start-up agri-businesses and forge a contract of service

with them stipulating their assistance to small farmers and fisherfolks in exchange of

government support.

Sec. 8. Funding. The sum of FIFTY MILLION PESOS (PhP50,000,000.00) is hereby
appropriated out of any savings or unexpended balance in the National Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, to cover the amounts needed for the initial year of implementation. Thereafter,
such amount as shall be needed for the Program shall be included in the budget of the SCUs.
Amounts needed by the CHED for the management of the program and those, of the

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requirements of private colleges and universities for scholarships shall be released to the
CHED-NAFES. Alll funds currently being appropriated for the Young Farmers Program in the
Department of Agriculture shall be transferred to CHED-NAFES. Moreover, the CHED-NAFES
and the Agricultural Competitive Enhancement Fund (ACEF) National Committee shall develop
a rationalization scheme to allot a portion of ACEF-from both the seed fund as well as from
repayments of loans-to the Young Farmers Program. Scholarships of students in private
colleges and universities shall be given in the form of vouchers.

Sec. 9. Effectivity. This Act shall effect thirty (30) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation

Approved,