Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2030
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: HON. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

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

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Enrolment in agriculture related courses are not so popular among the young generation
despite the huge demand for food and farm products. Most farmers in our country today belong to
the poor sector in our community and yet they are the one responsible for supplying food products
that is generally sold to the market and consumed by a huge number of consumers. There is a need
for the young generation to participate in the development of our agricultural sector.

This bill seeks to establish a Lingkod Kabataan sa Agrikultura scholarship program in
agriculture business and other related industries. This scholarship program will entice young

+ individuals to pursue agriculture industries by giving the qualified students financial assistance for
tuition fees, cost of living allowances, and schoo! materials.

‘The direct participation of the youth in the development of our agricultural industry is
important in the development of our nation’s economy.

Hence, this proposal is submitted for consideration.

“KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO-S
Representative

First District of Bulacan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2030
HOUSE BILLNO.

Introduced by: HON. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT
ENCOURAGING YOUTH SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR,
ESTABLISHING FOR THE PURPOSE A LINGKOD KABATAAN SA AGRIKULTURA
PROGRAM AND A LINGKOD 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 I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SI ION 1. Title - This Act shall be known as the "Lingkod Kabataan sa
Agrikultura Act”

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 government 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 entreprencurships,

©) Develop competency skills’ and’ knowledge of students in agricultural
technologies and agribusiness,

d) Increase food production;

¢) Commercialize proven’ viable technologies to increase food production and
ineome of rural communities through the development of livelihoods and markets,

|) 4) 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). "Lingkod 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) "Lingkod 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 yentures 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 LINGKOD KABATAAN SA AGRIKULTURA PROGRAM

SEC. 5. Establishment of a Lingkod Kabataan sa Agrikultura Program. - A
Lingkod 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 Baftos 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,

mevevNBy Outright grant for prescribed textbooks and essential Seino] supplies,

Aga) fp Transportation expenses, and |! iN

© 1s. d) Monthly living allowance.
‘ulema {ie aie Th
SEC. & 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) ot his permanent representative, as Chairperson

of the Committee,
i


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

¢) The Dean of the University of 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 facilites needed should be present within

: hg Suc, tf

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 Il
THE LINGKOD KABATAAN SA AGRIKULTURA TRUST FUND

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

a) The amount of Fifty Million Pesos (Php 50.0000 00) as seed capital;

by The equivalent of ten pereent (10%) annual shigeontheltotilgrosé Collections
+ of the travel tax;

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

d) Grants} donations. ait endowments ff domestic and foreign sources, pursuant
to existing laws and regulations,


e) 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 (90) 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 are hereby modified or repealed accordingly.
fi fo

t shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation,

his SEC: 17. Effectivity.- This
publication in the Official Gazet
whichever comes earlier.

MUpproventiye A
ip

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