Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no.191 1

Introduced by MAGBUBUKID PARTY-LIST Representative FERDINAND “B1” L. BELTRAN

EXPLANATORY NOTE
‘Ang mga kabataan ay mahalagang bahagi ng paghubog ng kinabukasan ng
bansa. Ayon sa Saligang Batas ng Pilipinas, tungkulin ng Estado na kilalanin ang papel
ng kabataan sa nation building, lalo na sa pagsulong ng kaunlaran sa kanayunan at
sektor ng agrikultura. Sa kabila nito, patuloy na bumababa ang bilang ng mga
kabataang pumapasok sa larangan ng pagsasaka at pangingisda, dulot ng kakulangan
sa oportunidad, kaalaman, puhunan, at access sa lupa at merkado.

Kinikilala rin ng panukala ang kahalagahan ng pagsasama ng kabataan sa
paggawa ng mga patakarang makakaapekto sa kanilang sektor, upang higit silang
maging aktibong katuwang ng pamahalaan sa pagtataguyod ng seguridad sa pagkain
at kaunlarang pang-rural.

‘Ang panukalang batas na ito ay isang komprehensibong tugon sa lumalalim na
krisis sa sektor ng agrikultura at pangingisda, at isang strategic investment sa
kinabukasan ng bansa. Sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng tamang suporta sa
kabataan, hindi lamang natin pinapalakas ang sektor ng agrikultura at pangingisda,
kundi nililinang din natin ang bagong henerasyon ng mga lider, innovator, at bayani
ng bayan.

Ang panukalang ito ay isinumite at inaprubahan noong ika-19 na Kongreso at
muling sinusulong ngayong ika-20 na Kongreso,

Dahil dito, mariing hinihiling ang agarang pagsasabatas ng panukalang ito.

paFa)sa sambayayarg Pilipino,


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL nol O1 1

Introduced by MAGBUBUKID PARTY-LIST Representative FERDINAND “B1” L. BELTRAN

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".

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to recognize and
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, new sources of
financial services and capital, green jobs, access to new and niche markets, and participation
in policy dialogue.

SEC. 3. Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge Program. — There is hereby established
a Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge Program, hereinafter referred to as the "YFFC
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 1 provide institutional support for agri-
business and agri-entrepreneurship initiatives of the youth to fully realize their role as agents
and partners for development.

SEC. 4. Beneficiaries of the YFFC Program. — The Program is intended to support young
farmers and fisherfolk between eighteen (18) to thirty (30) years of age, who are engaged in
farming and fisheries activities, and are included in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in

2


Agriculture (RSBSA). The Department of Agriculture (DA), in coordination with the Local
Government Units (LGUs) shall update its existing database to reflect these indicators.

SEC. 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 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 Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR);

(e) Representative of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA);

(f) Representative of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG);
24 (g) Representative of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR);

(h) Representative of the National Youth Commission (NYC);

(i) Representative of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP);

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

Sec. 6. Powers and Functions of the Council. — The Council shall have the following powers

and functions:
a. Formulate the YFFC 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 Banos
(UPLB) and other relevant State Universities and Colleges;
b. Develop, in coordination with various departments and agencies, specific action
plans for unambiguous tasking and quick implementation;
c. Create special programs for marginalized sectors such as young farmers and
fisherfolk from urban poor, women, indigenous people, and the Bangsamoro
Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM);
d. Develop initiatives in new farm sectors such as "smart farming" farm tourism, agro-
, aqua-, and hydroponics, organic and boutique vegetables;
e. Identify relevant training and livelihood budgets in the different departments and
agencies, including start-up capital;
f. Implement the departments’ and agencies’ action plans, engaging the assistance of
the LGUs and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK);
g. Identify the best practices in the implementation of the program as well as
emerging best practices in agriculture such as smart farming and farm tourism 13 in
compliance with Republic Act No. 10816, or the "Farm Tourism Development Act of
2016",


h. 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";

i Initiate new packaging, promotion, and marketing events;

j. Package incentive and recognition programs/awards system;

k. Ensure participation of young farmers and fisherfolk in agri- and food tourism
marketing events, nationally and internationally;

iProvide 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, TESDA, and other livelihood and training programs;

m. Establish linkages with agricultural representatives of the Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other international farming and fisherfolk youth
associations;

n. Engage national and international leaders in formulating policies directly
addressing young farmers and fisherfolk concerns; and

o. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of this Act as well as
its impact on the participants and beneficiaries.

SEC. 7. Access to Knowledge, Information, and Education.- A whole government
approach shall be utilized to inform and enlist young farmers and fisherfolk in agriculture:

a. Role of the DepEd- The DepEd shall include at all levels, but particularly in its K2 12
program, elective subjects focused on agriculture, such as garden farming, urban
greening, reforestation and coastal management;

b. Role of the TESDA - The TESDA, in coordination with the DICT and the DOST, shall
add subjects in their training centers for agricultural entrepreneurship, "smart
farming", and other advanced farming technologies, prioritizing programs focused on
agriculture;

c. Role of the DOLE - The DOLE shall provide on-the-job training (OJT) programs or
young farmers and fisherfolk, including the Special Program for Employment of
Students (SPES);

d. Role of the CHED, SUCs, and Agricultural Schools — The CHED, SUCs, and
agricultural schools shall provide scholarship grants, stipends, and subsidies to
qualified young farmers and fisherfolk. Likewise, the CHED, SUCs, and agricultural
schools shall provide schemes for distance, remote, and digital learning. The CHED
shall likewise encourage the private colleges and universities to provide similar
opportunities and schemes to qualified recipients.

‘The CHED shall include agriculture in its National Service Training Program (NSTP)
curriculum, such as garden farming, urban greening, and coastal management. CHED
shall likewise promulgate the policies, standards and guidelines for agriculture
courses which shall focus on sustainability and the achievement of the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). Scholarships for post-graduate and doctoral degrees shall
be provided by CHED: Provided, That private universities 26 and colleges are also
enjoined to provide the same.

e. Role of the DA, ATI and PCAF - The DA, through the 4-H Club of the ATI and the
Agricultural and Fishery Youthrepreneur Council (AFYC) of the PCAF, shall provide for
scholarship grants and stipends to qualified young farmers and fisherfolk;


f. Role of the DOST and DICT - The DOST and DICT shall develop portals, utilize social
media, and exploit other electronic technologies, to publicize the Program; and

g. Role of the LGU and the SK - The LGU shall inform and enlist the SK who shall act as
trainer-leaders to qualified and interested young farmers and fisherfolk.

SEC. 8. Access to Land. — Short-leases, free land, and agrarian reform schemes shall be
developed to provide access to land for young farmers:

a. Role of the DENR - The DENR shall explore the possibilities of extending short-term
leases of public land to young farmers and fisherfolk, provide free or subsidized land
for cultivation, and develop such other packages as would allow young farmers to use
available or unutilized agricultural land;

b. Role of the DAR - The DAR shall facilitate and expedite the lease, distribution, and
award of agrarian reform land;

c. Role of the LGU and the SK - The LGU shall help assist the DENR in identifying the
young farmers and fisherfolk who shall benefit the lease agreements; and

d. Role of the SUCs - Whenever SUCs own or occupy excess landholdings, young
farmers shall be given first option to use and cultivate such landholdings for
agricultural purposes.

SEC, 9. Access to Financial Services. — Young farmers and fisherfolk shall be provided
financial assistance and given access to financial services such as loan/s or grant/s:

a. Role of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) - The LBP shall develop favorable
financial packages for young farmers and fisherfolk, waiving collateral, salary

and other typical bank requisites;

b. Role of the DA - The DA shall develop financial packages specifically targeting
young farmers and fisherfolk;

c. Role of the DTI - The DTI, through the Small Business Corporation (SB Corp),

shall extend loans to the young farmers and fisherfolk for the trade and

marketing of their agricultural products;

d. Role of the DOST, DICT, and DTI - The DOST, DICT, and the DTI, pursuant to Republic
Act No. 11337, otherwise known as the "Innovative Start-up Act of

2018" and other programs shall include agricultural enterprises for qualified

young farmers and fisherfolk-entrepreneurs in their incubation efforts;

e. Role of CHED and TESDA - CHED and TESDA shall provide financial literacy
trainings particularly in handling and managing loans and grants;

£. Role of the Private Sector - The private sector is encouraged to subcontract,
partner, and extend financial grants, initiate social partnerships and rural
development initiatives, as well as mentor young farmers and fisherfolk on livelihood
strategies, as part of their corporate social responsibility and other community
participation;

g. Role of the LGU - The LGU, in coordination with the SK, shall provide funding and
livelihood opportunities to young farmers and fisherfolk;

h. Role of the SK - The SK, using its ten percent (10%) Development Fund, and other
funds, shall provide entrepreneurial and finance packages for young farmers and
fisherfolk; and


1 Role of the NYC - The NYC, in tandem with potential youth agri-enterpreneurs, shall

2 initiate donation and fundraising drives for the Program, exploiting for this purpose

3 online advertising, "crowd-sourcing”, and other digital means to generate funds for

4 the Program.

5

6 SEC. 10. Access to "Green Jobs. "— Young farmers and fisherfolk shall be given priority in

7 access to green jobs, as follows;

8

9 a. Role of the DOLE - The DOLE, through the SPES, shall include "green job",
10 reforestation, coastal management, fisheries, and other rural-based jobs, in
ch cooperation with LGUs. The DOLE shall prioritize young farmers and fisherfolk for
12 employment in job fairs, public projects or private agro-industries and corporations;
13 b. Role of the TESDA — The TESDA shall develop on-the-job trainings, employment
14 bridging initiatives, and private partnerships in producing, processing, packaging, and
15 marketing young farmers and fisherfolk products;
16 c. Role of the DOT - The DOT shall prioritize the employment of young farmers and
17 fisherfolk in eco- and agro-tours, and encourage entrepreneurship in farm and fishery
18 tourism;
19 d. Role of the PEZA - The PEZA shall prioritize young farmers and fisherfolk for jobs
20 in agro-industrial ecozones, provide access to modern farm technology, promote
21 linkages in agriculture-related enterprise, and accelerate the creation of "green jobs’
22 for young farmers and fisherfolk; and
23 e. The DA and the ATI - The DA, particularly the 4-H Club of the ATI, shall embark upon
24 farming start-ups and provide training/s in new and niche agricultural sectors such
25 as organic farming, agroponics, aguaponics, hydroponics, dairy, livestock, coffee,
26 cacao, and other areas of farming and fishing. The DA and ATI shall also create
27 opportunities for young farmers and fisherfolk to harness their leadership skills.
28

29 SEC. 11. Access to Markets. — Young farmers and fisherfolk shall have access to markets

30 through the following:

31 a. Role of the DA — The DA shall assist the young farmers and fisherfolk in selling the
32 products through the Kadiwa stores in strategic locations.

33 b. Role of the DTI — The DTI shall assist young farmers and fisherfolk in the
34 packaging, marketing and promotion of their products, including branding,
35 advertising, and subsidizing their participation in trade fairs and exhibits;

36 c. Role of the DOST — The DOST shall assist the young farmers and fisherfolk in
37 providing assistance and research in the food analysis of the product's nutritional
38 component and content, among others.

39 d. Role of the LGU — The LGU shall provide subsidized rental rates for public retail
40 8areas and public markets, encourage agricultural tourism, and develop other
41 opportunities for young farmers and fisherfolk;

42 e. Role of the Department of Tourism (DOT) — The DOT shall promote the products
43 of young farmers and fisherfolk through tourism conventions, events, and other
44 tourist souvenir sales opportunities;

45 f. Role of the Private Sector — The private sector is encouraged to market and promote
46 the products of young farmers and fisherfolk, as part of their Corporate 15 Social
a7 Responsibility (CSR) and other development efforts; and

6


Soewrvausauwne

g. Role of the Government Media — The government media shall promote and
advertise the products of the YFFC Program.

SEC. 12, Engagement in Policy Dialogue. — The young farmers and fisherfolk are 20
encouraged to participate in policy dialogues, as follows:

a. Role of the NYC - The NYC shall ensure that young farmers and fisherfolk are
represented in all decision-making bodies relating to the establishment of
mechanisms for the promotion and protection of the rights of young farmers and
fisherfolk;

b. Role of the SK - The SK, through local and Congressional youth representatives,

shall liaise with the Local Government Leagues and the Congress of the Philippines to
consult and engage young farmers and fisherfolk in policymaking; and

c.Role of the DA - The DA shall ensure that young farmers and fisherfolk are equitably
represented and consulted in its decision-making process to fully realize the young
farmers’ and fisherfolk’ role as agents and partners for national development.

SEC. 13. Waiver of Government Fees and Charges. — Subject to the exceptions provided in
Sec. 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 any young farmers and fisherfolk. Provided, That such fee or charge is paid in
connection with the application for and the granting of licenses, proofs of identification,
clearances, certificates or other documents 4 usually required in the course of employment
locally or abroad. Provided, Further, That the benefit provided shall only be availed of once.

SEC. 14. 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.

SEC. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the DA, in coordination with the DTI, DAR, DOST, DICT, DOLE, and DENR
shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 16. Appropriations. — The amount needed to initially implement the provisions of this
Act shall be charged against the appropriations of the current year of the concerned
departments and agencies. Thereafter, such sums, as may be necessary, for its continued
implementation shall be included in the appropriation of the concerned departments and
agencies in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

SEC. 17. Repealing Clause. — All provisions of existing laws, orders and regulations contrary
to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 18. Separability Clause. — If for any reason any part or provision of this Act shall be
deemed unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be
affected and shall remain in force and effect.

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wrune

Sec. 19, Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,