Sixteenth Congress ofthe Republic 
Of the Philippines 
) 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
282 
, f"(t 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong RevilIa~'Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
.ilm,lltt' 
(eff,;.' "I llr- ,~"':T.tu~ 
'13 
JUL -2 A 9 :33 
Agricultural institutions have a big role to play in development efforts of the govermnent 
for countryside agro-industrialization, Experience in developed countries has shown that colleges 
and universities involved in agriculture were instrumental in improving the productivity of the 
farming and rural communities, 
Through teaching, research and extension, these institutions provided the relevant high-
level manpower, technology and services necessary to improve fann yields and incomes of 
agricultural workers, 
This hill aims to establish a National Agriculture Education System (NAES), which is an 
approach to stratify institutional goals, upgrade standards and increase the school's effectiveness 
in instruction, research and extension within the nation, region or province, Through the NAES, 
the State commits to the exposure of all aspects of agriculture to teachers, students and the 
community to create and maintain an understanding and appreciation of agriculture and related 
industries, It is a great opportunity to promote agriculture awareness and an understanding of the 
importance of agriculture to all members of society, 
Soil is one of our most precious resources, Therefore, we have to work on changing farm 
policy to emphasize its proper use, We must get farmers into classrooms, We must strive to 
move student out of the classroom and onto farms which model sustainable systems, Together, 
we can work toward the goal of sustainable agricultural systems, 
The bill attempts to improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of agriculture 
education programs while preserving the concern for equity or democratized access to higher 
education in the rural areas, It is also a response to the call for greater productivity J higher rural 
incomes and better quality of the Filipino people, 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested, 
~';;;R'VILLA'JR 


Sixteenth Congress of the Republic 
Of the Philippines 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
282 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
AN ACT 
's'nllltr 
lltff,;. "llil. ~,ml .. ¥ 
'13 JUl -2 1t9 :33 
RATIONALIZING AGRICULTURE EDUCATION IN THE PIDLIPPINES BY 
ESTABLISIDNG A NATIONAL SYSTEM OF AGRICULTURE EDUCATION 
INSTITUTIONS,'PROVIDING FOR MECHANISMS OF IMPLEMENTATION, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
CHAPTER I. Tll'LE AND POLICIES 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Agriculture Education Act". 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies. -
a) The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens, regardless of sex, and creed 
to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education 
accessible to all. 
b) The State shall establish, maintain, and support a complete an integrated system of 
agriculture education relevant to the needs of the economy, community and society. 
c) The State shall provide non-formal education and training to farmers, farm workers and 
out-of-school youths in the rural areas. 
d) Agriculture education shall be coordinated with agricultural policies of the State and shall 
be oriented particularly towards improvement of the productivity and incomes of small 
farmers and increased self-sufficiency of rural communities. 
CHAPTERll.COVERAGE 
SECTION 3. Scope. - This Act shall apply to and govern both formal and non-formal 
continuing agriculture education programs being offered in all public and private educational 
institutions in the country. 
SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. - The following terms shall mean as defined herein: 
a) Agriculture - means cultivation of the soil, planting of crops, growing of fruit trees, 
management of forests, raising or catching of livestock or both, poultry or fish; including 
1 


the harvesting and post harvest handling of such products and other activities and 
practices performed by a farmer/fisherman/forester in conjunction with such operations 
done by persons whether natural or juridical. 
b) Agriculture and Environmental Education - pertains to organized and institutionalized 
instructions relating to professional, technical and vocational skills development, research 
for technology development, and extension of technologies in the various 
fields/disciplines in agriculture and allied sciences such as crop science, animal science, 
agricultural engineering, fisheries, forestry and veterinary medicine. Environmental 
concerns are integrated in each discipline. 
CHAPTERllI 
THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURE EDUCATION SYSTEM 
(NAES) 
SECTION 5. Purpose. - Qualified existing public and private institutes, colleges and 
universities shall be developed into a network of an integrated system of Agriculture Education 
to respond effectively to agriculture and rural development needs of the country. 
SECTION 6. The National Agriculture Education System (NAES) - The network of 
qualified public and private education institutions shall be formed and established into a National 
Agriculture Education System (NABS), in order for agriculture education to have a unified, 
coordinated and improved system of implementation of academic program thrusts geared toward 
achieving agriculture and rural development of the community and country. However, in case 
there is no institution offering agriculture and rural development of the community and country. 
However, in case there is no institution offering agriculture education in the service area which 
corresponds to the provision of Section 7 of this Act, the same shall be created or established 
according to implementing rules and regulations of this Act. 
i 
SECTION 7. Components of the System. - From among the qualified agriculture 
education institutions, regardless of the institution's system of governance as authorized by law, 
the network shall be composed of five (5) subsystems, namely: agriculture, agricultural 
engineering, fisheries, forestry and veterinary medicine. However, administrative organization 
and structures of the designated institutions shall be governed by their respective charters unless 
otherwise provided in this Act. 
a) The Agriculture Education Subsystem shall be composed of one (1) designated 
National College of Agriculture, one (1) designated Regional College of Agriculture 
in each region, and at least one (I) designated/converted/created Technical Institute of 
Agriculture per province as the case may be. 
b) The Agricultural Engineering Education Subsystem shall be composed of one (1) 
designated national College of Agricultural Engineering and a designated Regional 
College of Agricultural Engineering per region to be located within the network of 
the agriculture education subsystem. 
The Fisheries Education Subsystem shall be composed of one (1) 
designated Regional College of Fisheries to be located strategically in three (3) 
selected regions and a deSignated/converted/created Regional Institute of Fisheries 
Technology per region. 
2 


The Forestry Education Subsystem shall be composed of one (1) 
designated National College of Forestry and a designated Regional College of 
Forestry per region to be located within the agriculture education subsystem, if 
possible. 
The Veterinary Education Subsystem shall be composed of one (1) 
designated national College of Veterinary Medicine and four (4) designated regional 
College of Veterinary Medicine to be located strategically in four (4) selected regions 
within the agriculture education subsystem. 
CHAPTER IV 
ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF INSTITUTIONS 
IN EACH LEVEL OF THE NETWORK 
SECTION 8. The National Colleges (NCs) shall: 
a) Concentrate on the post-graduate programs and curricular models in the tertiary level; 
b) Be responsible for the conduct of basic and applied researches and other scientific 
innovations; 
c) Assist the RCs and institutes in their development efforts towards excellence, 
effectiveness and relevance, in instruction, research and extension or technology 
transfer; 
d) Link up with national and international agencies to keep abreast of local needs and 
scientific advances; and 
e) Share its expertise and facilities with the Government and private sector as far as 
policy recommendations, program planning and evaluation, and staff training are 
concerned. 
SECTION 9. The Regional Colleges (RCs) shall: 
a) Concentrate on Bachelor of Science degrees with reasonable involvement m the 
postgraduate and model technology courses; 
b) Focus an adaptive researches needed in the region with reasonable involvement in basic 
and applied researches and verification projects; 
c) Assist technical institutes in strengthening their institutional capabilities towards 
relevance, effectiveness and excellence in instruction, action research and technology 
transfer; and 
d) Link up with and assist government regional offices in planning and evaluating their 
programs and in training their staff for agriculture activities. 
SECTIONJO. The Regional Institutes of Fisheries Technology shall: 
a) Concentrate on the Diploma in Fisheries Technology designed for the training of 
fisheries technicians on technical skills required of the fisheries industry; 
3 


b) Conduct verification tests of new techniques developed by research institutions and 
transfer positive results to field technicians, fishermen and fish farmers; 
c) Assist the Fishennan's Training Center of BFAR in planning, implementing and 
evaluating their programs and training; 
d) Assist high schools with fishery practical arts subjects to the development of their 
instructional materials. 
SECTION 11. The Provincial Technical Institutes (PTIs) shall: 
a) Concentrate their curricular programs on technical and technology courses designed 
for farming and extension work with reasonable involvement in selected degree and 
non-degree post-secondary advanced technology related courses in agriculture; 
b) Conduct pilot/action researches and verification trials to demonstrate advances in 
agricultural technology and transfer the same to technicians and farmers through 
fields days, short courses and training programs; 
c) Serve as a learning and technology resource for development agencies in the province 
in planning and evaluating programs and in training technicians, small farmers, 
agricultural producers and entrepreneurs; and 
d) Extend improved appropriate agricultural technologies to secondary and vocational 
high schools. 
SECTION 12. Other Roles and Fuuctions of the Institutions. - In addition to their 
regular roles and functions, all the member institutions mentioned above shall also serve as the 
agricultural training centers in their respective areas and offer continuing and adult education 
courses for related line agency staff/farmers/fisherfolk and community leaders to hasten 
technology transfer, improve attitudes towards farming, and inculcate the importance of 
agriculture in nation building in support to the Magna Carta for Small Farmers. It shall also be 
the function of the institutions to provide assistance to students in conducting their income-
generating projects as well as placement of their graduates. 
CHAPTER V 
IMPLEMENTING AND COORDINATING MECHANISMS 
SECTION 13. Agricultural Education Development Council (AEDEC). - The 
existing Technical Panel for Agricultural Education (TPAE) is hereby transformed into the 
Agricultural Education Development Council (AEDEC) as the governing advisory policy body 
which is autonomous and attached to the Department of Education (DepEd) with the following 
composition and functions: 
a) Composition. - The AEDEC shall be composed ofthe following members to be appointed 
by the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports as its Ex-Officio Chairman: 
1) One (1) outstanding scientist, educationist or practitioner from each of the fields of 
Crop Science, Animal Science, Agricultural Engineering, Fisheries, Forestry, 
Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture Teacher Education who shall be nominated by 
4 


heads of faculties, scientific or professional groups for a term of three (3) years, and 
from among themselves a Vice-chairman shall be chosen; 
2) One (1) representative each from the Department of Agriculture, Department of 
Enviromnent and Natural Resources, Department of Agrarian Reform, D"partment of 
Science and Technology, Department of Budget and Management and the National 
Economic and Development Authority; 
3) One (1) representative from the Bureau of Higher Education, Department of 
Education, Culture and Sports; 
4) One (1) representative from the Professional Regulation Commission; 
5) One (1) representative from the Philippine Federation of Professional 
6) One (1) representative from the Federation or Association of Colleges of 
Associations; Agriculture in the Philippines; and 
7) One (I) representative from the Fund for Assistance to Private Education. 
b) Functions. - The AEDEC shall have the following duties and functions: 
I) To study and review the overall philosophy and goals of agriculture and enviromnent 
education in relation to the regional, national and international developments in 
ab'ficulture and industry and formulate alternative directions and plans; 
2) To assess and identifY the agriculture and environmental education, trammg and 
employment needs of the country in consultation with NEDA and other concerned 
agencies; 
3) To undertake policy, educational and evaluation research and recommend measures to 
improve agriculture and enviromnental education; 
4) To formulate and recommend guidelines and minimum educational standards with 
respect to curricula, faculty, equipment and facilities, library resources, student services, 
quality of output and other related criteria which shall be applicable to all NAES 
member-institutions; 
5) To develop and implement coordinative and collaborative mechanism of monitoring and 
evaluation of activities ofNAES; 
6) To establish and operate a Management Information System (MIS) for the NAES; 
I 
7) To provide technical assistance to educational institutions in the planning, development 
and implementation of agriculture and environmental education programs in' cooperation 
with appropriate agencies; 
8) To receive or recommend grants or both for the funding of educational research and 
development following the existing accounting and auditing manual for research 
operations; 
9) To appoint AEPEC staff and employees upon the recommendation and endorsement of 
the Executive Director; and 
5 


, . 
10) To formulate implementing rules and regulations of this Act and recommend the same to 
the Secretary of Education within six (6) months after the effectivity of this Act: and 
11) To perform such other functions as may be deemed necessary. 
SECTION 14. Secretariat. - The AEDEC shall be assisted by technical and 
administrative staff with appointment on permanent status to be headed by an Executive 
Director. The Secretariat's office shall be at the University where the National College of 
Agriculture is located. The services of a pool of experts/consultants/resource persons on full-time 
or part-time status shall he provided on special detail or secondment subject to the guidelines 
approved by AEDEC. 
SECTION 15. Budgetary Scheme shall he as follows: 
a) The current appropriations or budgets of the public educational institutions in the 
NAES designated as the national colleges and regional colleges shall continue and 
shall be modified or adjusted in succeeding years in order to meet the standards of the 
rationalized programs of the institutions as approved by the Department of Budget 
and Management and shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act. 
b) The PTIslRIFTs in the NAES which are designated or newly created under this Act 
shall likewise be provided budgetary support based on their programs and new 
staffing pattern as approved by the Department of Budget and Management and shall 
be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act. Additional institutes that may 
be established in the province shall solely be supported by provincial government 
funds. 
c) This Act shall hereby allocate an endowment lump sum amount of Five million pesos 
(PS, 000,000.00) per annmn for the next ten (10) years and shall be included in the 
General Appropriations Act starting calendar year 1994. This fund shall be called as 
the Agriculture Education Program Development Fund to support the development, 
improvement and implementation of priority agriculture education and farmers' 
entrepreneurial training programs of NAES member institutions: Provided, further, 
That such fund shall be invested in government bonds and securities and managed by 
AEDEC using only the interest earnings of the said fund. 
d) The operations of the AEDEC shall he ftmded initially from the DECS budget 
allocation for the Technical Panel for Agricultural Education (TPAE). Upon the 
effectivity of this Act, TP AE shall be replaced by the AEDEC and all equipment, 
qualified personnel and projects of the TP AE shall be transferred to AEDEC. 
Subsequently, the initial amount of at least Three million pesos (p3, 000,000.00) shall 
be allocated for the AEDEC in the Annual General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 16. Fiduciary, Endowment and Revolving Funds. - The Fiduciary and 
Revolving Funds centralized under P.D. 711 are hereby authorized and reallocated to the 
institutions in NAES to encourage them to demonstrate the technologies that they develop in 
their laboratories, experimental fanns and income-generating projects, furthermore endowment 
funds shalt be authorized to be accmnulated in the institutions, out of any funds generated from 
unallocated savings, earnings or from any other external sources to be used as incentives for 
professorial chairs, teachers/employees incentives award systems, faculty fellowship programs 
and the like. Such funds shalt be disbursed in accordance with law and guidelines set by AEDEC 
and the Commission on Audit. 
Approved, 
6