Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._3613

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2™ District, Hocos Norte

EXPLANATORY NOTE
Food security is in peril.

Recent studies have shown that the average age of Filipino farmers today is
57 to 59 years old. Filipino farmers are aging and the interest of the younger
generation to pursue a career in agriculture is diminishing. Consequently, the
number of enrollees in agriculture courses is declining. This has led to a gap in
the agricultural workforce which gravely affects food production in the country.

While the government is working hard to boost the agriculture sector by
providing better irrigation facilities, institutional credit, farm subsidies, and
introduction of new farm technology, it must also find ways that would not only
give farm workers reason to stay in the field, but most importantly, encourage the
youth to pursue a career in agriculture.

Hence, this bill.

This proposed measure seeks to establish a Young Farmers and Fisherfolk
Challenge Program that shall support and empower the young farmers and
fisherfolk to be active partners in food security and agricultural development and
modernization. It seeks to 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 roles as agents and partners for
development.

The bill also proposes the creation of a council composed of representatives
from all relevant government agencies to oversee the implementation of the
Program. This promotes a whole-of-government approach.

In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly

sought.
wok ME: BARBA

* De Guzman, Sarah Soliven. (June 18, 2018), Agriculture is dying in the Philippines. The Philippine Star. Retrieved
from https://imww.pressreader.com/philippines/the-philippine-star/20180618/281625306017934 on October 17,
2019


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._3613

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2™ District, Ilocos Norte

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

Be it enacted by the Senate and the 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. — It is hereby declared the policy
State to ensure that the rights of young farmers and fisherfolk are recognized,
protected and promoted. Pursuant to this, the State shall engage the role of
the youth in nation building and rural development, providing for this
purpose access to knowledge, information and education, access to land and
fishing ground, new sources of financial services and capital, green jobs,
access to new and niche markets, and participation in policy dialogue.

SECTION 3. Young Farmers 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 roles as agents and partners for development

SECTION 4. Beneficiaries of the Program. ~ Young farmers and
fisherfolk are those between fifteen (15) to forty (40) years of age, 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 a Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge
Council. There is hereby created the Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge


Council, hereinafter referred to as the Council to properly 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 Science and Technology (DOST);

d. Representative of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED);

e. Representative of the Department of Education (DepEd) who shall
likewise be an Undersecretary;

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;

j. Representative of a national organization of fisherfolk's cooperative or
association, provided that the representative shall be between fifteen
(45) 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;

1. Representative of a national organization for agritourism; and

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

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
(PCAARRD), 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;


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

|. Monitor initiatives in emerging best practices and products 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;

. Improve and facilitate access to marketing services such as packaging,
promotions including branding and advertising, networking events,
subsidy for participation in trade fairs and exhibits, and linkage with
media;

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

. 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;

. 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 all 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;

Ensure scholarships and subsidized tuition fees for young farmers and
fisherfolk in SUCS;

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;

. 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;

Expedite the lease, distribution, and award of agrarian reform land to
qualified beneficiaries;


m, Facilitate the use of excess land holdings of SUCs and PEls 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";

©. 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

g. 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. Tax Exemption on Donations. - All grants, bequests,
endowments, donations and contributions made to and used actually, directly
and exclusively 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
(GOCCs), LGUs, and government hospitals shall not collect fees or charges
from young farmers and fisherfolks who are first-time job seekers: 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 3oth 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, LBP, and NYC, 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 (a5) days

after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,