Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Queson Cuy

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

423

HOUSE BILL No. "©"

Introduced by HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The future of Philippine agriculture and fisheries depends on the active participation of
its youth. Yet today, fewer young Filipinos see agriculture as a viable career path. The
Philippine Statistics Authority reports that the average age of Filipino farmers is 57,'
highlighting the urgency of encouraging generational renewal in the sector. Despite existing
government programs and efforts, young Filipinos remain deterred by outdated practices,
limited access to land and capital, and low profitability.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlights the importance of engaging
youth in agriculture to drive innovation, improve productivity, and increase sustainability? A
2023 study by Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in
Agriculture (SEARCA) found that youth exposed to agricultural innovations such as smart
farming, hydroponics, aquaponics, and agri-tourism saw improved productivity and
profitability, making agriculture more attractive and economically rewarding. * Furthermore, the
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) recognizes that youth empowerment
in agriculture is vital to achieving national and global development goals.‘ As the Philippines
works toward food security and rural development, youth involvement is crucial to building a
resilient, innovative, and forward-looking agricultural sector

This proposed bill responds to these challenges. It establishes the Young Farmers and
Fisherfolk Challenge Program which provides access to education, training, financial services,
land, green jobs, marketing platforms, and participation in policymaking. It integrates the
program into local development plans and uses measurable indicators such as youth
enrollment, number of beneficiaries, and success of agri-enterprises to monitor progress. To
ensure its effective implementation, the bill also creates the Young Farmers and Fisherfolk
Challenge Council, composed of key government agencies, academic and research
institutions, and youth and private sector representatives.

Further, this proposed bill is firmly grounded in several key national policies that
recognize the importance of youth involvement in ensuring long-term sustainability of
agriculture and rural development such as the Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act
(AFMA), the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022, and the Republic Act No. 11337.
or the Innovative Start-Up Act of 2018.

Philippine Statistics Authorty. (2020). Tho average age of Filpino farmers. Philippine Statistics Authonty
‘tips psa gov phicontenvaverage-age-flipino-farmers,

Food and Agneulture Organization (FAO). (2014). Youth and agnculture. Key challenges and opportunites. Food anc
‘Agniculture Organization. hitp./!www fa0.org/3/i3947eN3947e pat

‘Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Researcn im Agnculture. (2023). Impact of agicultural innovations
‘on youth. Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture. hltps./www searca.org/
* National Economic and Development Authonty (2022). Youth empoworment in agneulture for sustamabve devalopmert goals
National Economic and Development Authority https /www.neda gov phy



With strong institutional backing and sustained support, the Young Farmers and
Fisherfolk Challenge Act builds a future-oriented, inclusive, and resilient agricultural sector.

This legislative proposal was previously approved on third and final reading by the
House of Representatives in the 19th Congress, demonstrating urgency, relevance, and broad
legislative support.

In view of the foregoing, the enactment of this bil\is hereby proposed

MIGUEL LUS R. VILLAFUERTE


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

423

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE YOUNG FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK CHALLENGE
PROGRAM, CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE YOUNG FARMERS AND
FISHERFOLK CHALLENGE COUNCIL, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Young Farmers and Fisherfolk
Challenge Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. itis hereby declared the policy of the State to ensure that
the rights of young farmers and fisherfolk are recognized, protected and promoted. Pursuant
to this, the State shall engage the youth in nation building and rural development, providing
for this purpose access to knowledge, information and education, access to land, new sources
of financial services and capital, green jobs, access to new and niche markets, and
participation in policy dialogue.

SECTION 3. Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge Program. There is hereby
established a Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge Program, hereinafter referred to as
the Program, that shall support and empower the young farmers and fisherfolk to be active
partners in food security and agricultural development and modernization. The Program shall
encourage the youth to pursue a career or engage in activities related to agriculture, ensure
young farmers and fisherfolk participation in policy formulation and program implementation
relative to the agriculture sector, and provide institutional support for agri-business and agri-
entrepreneurship initiatives of the youth to fully realize their role as agents and partners for
development.

SECTION 4. Beneficiaries of the Program. The Program is intended to support young
farmers and fisherfolk between fifteen (15) to forty (40) years of age, who are engaged in
farming and fisheries activities, and are included in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in
Agriculture (RSBSA). The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall update its existing database
to reflect these indicators.

SECTION 5. Creation of the Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge Council. There is
hereby created a Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge Council (hereinafter, the Council),
which shall oversee the implementation of the Program.
The Council shall be composed of the following:
(a) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) or a duly authorized representative
who is at least an Undersecretary, who shall be the Chair;
(b) Representative of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) who shall likewise be
an Undersecretary;


(c) Representative of the Department of Education (DepEd) who shalll likewise be an
Undersecretary;

(d) Representative of the Department of Science and Technology (OOST)

(e) Representative of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED);

(f) Representative of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR);

(g) Representative of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA),

(h) Representative of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)

(i) Representative of a national organization of young farmers’ cooperative or association,
provided that the representative shall be between fifteen (15) to forty (40) years of age;

@) Representative of a national organization of fisherfolk's cooperative or association,
provided that the representative shall be between fifteen (15) to forty (40) years of age;

(k) Representative of a farmers’ women organization or cooperative, provided that the
representative shall be between fifteen (15) to forty (40) years of age.

(I) Representative of a national organization for agritourism; and

(m)Representative of a national organization for food, restaurant, and business sectors.

The Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) shall serve as its
Secretariat.

SECTION 6. Powers and Functions of the Council. The Council shall have the following
powers and functions:

(a) Formulate the Program, in consultation with research institutions such as the
Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture
(SEARCA), Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources
Research and Development (PAARRD), University of the Philippines-Los Bafios
(UPLB) and other relevant state universities and colleges (SUCs):

(b) Identify and streamline access to relevant capacity-building and livelihood programs
across the different departments and agencies of government, including on-the-job
trainings, job fairs, employment in farm tourism and agro-industrial zones, and other
employment bridging initiatives;

(c) Identify and streamline access to possible sources of credit across the different
departments, agencies, and instrumentalities, including access to start-up capital;

(d) Monitor initiatives in emerging best practices in agriculture such as smart farming, farm
tourism in compliance with RA 10816, or the "Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016,"
agroponics, aquaponics, hydroponics, and organic and boutique vegetables;

(e) Improve and facilitate access to marketing services such as through product
packaging, promotions including branding and advertising, networking events,
provision of subsidies to enable participation in trade fairs and exhibits, and linkage
with media;

(f) Coordinate with local government units (LGUs) in providing subsidized rental rates for
public retail areas and public markets to farmers and fisherfolk;

(g) Serve as a conduit between stakeholders and national and international leaders
including Congress and the private sector in formulating policies directly addressing
the concerns of young farmers and fisherfolk;

(h) Propose subjects related to agriculture and agribusiness such as gardening, backyard
farming, urban farming, reforestation, agricultural appreciation, agricultural
entrepreneurship, smart farming, farm tourism, and coastal management in the
pertinent levels of the DepEd's K-12 system with the end goal of increasing enrollment
in the technical-vocational track in Senior High School in courses related to agriculture,
CHED, including the National Service Training Program (NSTP) and TESDA;

(i) Ensure scholarships and subsidized tuition fees for young farmers and fisherfolk in
SUCs;

(i) Provide on-the-job training programs for young farmers and fisherfolk in areas such as
“green jobs’, reforestation, coastal management, fisheries, and other rural-based jobs,


through the DOLE's Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) and other
livelihood and training programs;

{k) Explore and facilitate the extension of short-term leases for public land to young
farmers and fisherfolk, providing free or subsidized land for cultivation and for
aquaculture, and developing other packages such as, lease-to-buy schemes that
would allow young farmers and fisherfolk to use available or unutilized agricultural land
or fishing ground for the purposes of said Program:

(l) Expedite the leasing, distribution, and award of agrarian reform land to qualified
beneficiaries;

(m) Facilitate the use of excess land holdings of SUCs and public educational institutions
for agricultural training and developmental processes;

(n) Foster the formation of new ideas and technologies by assisting agricultural
enterprises of qualified young farmers and fisherfolk entrepreneurs, pursuant to
Republic Act No. 11337, otherwise known as the “Innovative Start-up Act of 2018",

(0) Initiate social partnerships and rural development initiatives in partnership with the
private sector;

(p) Optimize existing loan guarantee funds administered by various government entities
to increase the credit worthiness of young farmers and fisherfolk experiencing difficulty
in obtaining loans from banks due to lack of acceptable collaterals, credit knowledge
and credit track record; and

(q) Accept donations, contributions, grants, bequests or gifts, in cash or in kind, from
various sources, domestic or foreign, for purposes relevant to the functions of the
Council. Said donations shall be deemed automatically appropriated for purposes
specified by the donor or in the absence thereof, for the programs and projects as may
be approved by the Council subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules and
regulations: Provided, That, cash donations shall not be used to fund the personal
services requirements of the Council

SECTION 6-A. Tax Exemption on Donations. All grants, bequests, endowments, donations
and contributions made to and used actually, directly and exclusively by the Council shall be
exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction from gross
income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the donor, in accordance with the
provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended

SECTION 7. Waiver of Government Fees and Charges. Subject to the exceptions provided
in Section 8 of Republic Act No. 11261, otherwise known as the “First-Time Jobseekers
Assistance Act," all government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned
and controlled corporations, LGUs, and government hospitals shall not collect fees or charges
from young farmers and fisherfolk who are first-time jobseekers: Provided, That such fee or
charge is in connection with the application for and the granting of licenses, proofs of
identification, clearances, certificates or other documents usually required in the course of
employment locally or abroad: Provided further, That the benefit provided shall only be availed
of once.

SECTION 8. Annual Report. The Council shall submit to the President and to both Houses
of Congress, not later than the 30th of March of every year following the effectivity of this Act,
a report giving a detailed account on the effective implementation of this Act, and
recommended legislation where applicable and necessary.

SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the DA and DAR shall, in -coordination with the DOST, DOLE, DENR,
DepEd, CHED, Land Bank of the Philippines, and National Youth Commission, issue the
necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act.


SECTION 10. Appropriations. The funds necessary to carry out the initial implementation of
this Act shall be charged against the current year’s budget of the Department of Agriculture.
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 11. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in full force
and effect.

SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, administrative orders, and rules
and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly,

SECTION 13. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,