EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. No. 853
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T 9  
A U G -1  ? 2 ‘M
In tro d u ced  by SENATOR LEILA M. DE L
A N  A C T
GRAN'I ING FREE TERTIARY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION, AND 
OTHER RELATED COURSES TO ALL DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF 
REGISTERED INDIGENT FARMERS IN THE COUNTRY, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines is primarily an agricultural country. It still remains the major 
source of food security for our people, with the vast fertile land of the country 
producing various agricultural products. It likewise serv'es as a key source of income 
for a number of Filipinos.
According to official data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), 
the Philippine economy posted a 6.1% growth in the fourth quarter of 2018. This 
growth was mainly driven by the Services sector’s 56.2% share to our Gross Domestic 
Product (GDP), followed by Industry (34.8%) and Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry and 
Fishing (8.9%)^
Even in terms of employment, labor in the agriculture sector comprises a large 
part of the scene:
W o rk e rs  in th e  a g ric u ltu re  s e c to r c o m p ris e d  th e  s e co n d  
la rg e s t 
g ro u p  
m a k in g  
up 
22.1 
p e rc e n t o f th e  to ta l 
e m p lo y e d  in J a n u a ry  2 0 1 9 , w h ile  w o rk e rs  in th e  in d u s try  * 1
1 Philippine Statistics Authority. Employment Rate in January 2019 is Estimated at 94.8.1 March 2019. 
Retrieved from  httDs://psa.eov.Dh/content/emplovment-rate-ianuarv-2019-estimated-948-percent
1


s e c to r m a d e  up th e  s m a lle s t g ro u p  re g iste rin g  
19.7 
p e rc e n t o f th e  to ta l e m p lo y e d 2 3 4.
Despite this encouraging scenario, however, the agricultural sector has greatly 
suffered a major setback in the recent years caused by environmental damage, the 
rampant conversion of agricultural land into golf courses, residential subdivisions, 
and industrial parks or resorts, and lack of efficient irrigation system, to name a few 
factors.
According to the PSA Performance of Philippine Agriculture for January to 
March 2019, agriculture grew by 0.67 percent. It encompassed increases in 
production for livestock, poultry and fisheries. Crops, however, recorded a decrease 
in output. Palay and corn production declined by 4.46% and 2.07%, respectively. 
Other decreases were also noted among major crops such as banana, tobacco, mango 
and cassava. The gross value of agricultural production amounted to P429.7 billion, 
which represented a 3.12% reduction from the previous year’s leveD.
This downfall has certainly affected the country’s numerous farmers and other 
agricultural workers. Farmers hold a distinct and important role in the country as the 
main driver of economy. However, it is often ironic that farmers, as food production 
workers, are the ones suffering from extreme hunger and food insufficiency. In fact, 
according to the PSA 2015 Poverty Statistics for Basic Sectors report, farmers, 
fishermen and children are the sectors with the highest poverty incidence, among the 
nine basic sectors identified in the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act or the 
Republic Act No. 8425. Specifically, the poverty incidence for the sector of farmers 
was recorded at 34.3%. The sector of farmers is consistently registered as one of the 
three top sectors with the highest poverty incident in 2006, 2009 and 20124.
Naturally, families of farmers are adversely affected by this economic fallback. 
As a grim consequence, children of farmers face the risk of not being able to attend 
school for lack of sufficient funds for their education.
2 Ibid
3 Philippine Statistics Office. Performance o f Philippine Agriculture, January-March 2019. 8 May 2019. 
Retrieved from  https://psa.gov.ph/content/performance-DhiliDPine-aericulture-ianuarv-march-2019
4 BusinessWorld Online. Farmers, fisherm ent are PHL's poorest. 4 July 2017. Retrieved from  
http://www.bworldonline.com /content.php?section=Econom v&title=farm ers-fisherm en-are-phl&id=147655


In order to provide the much needed succor to the country’s farmers, this bill 
proposes free tertiary agricultural education to their qualified dependent children. 
This is in recognition of the indispensable role of farmers in the Philippine economy, 
and the country’s way of showing gratitude to them for their sacrifices in providing 
food security for our people.
This legislative proposal will likewise encourage young people to consider 
agriculture as their alternative career and prepare them for advanced agricultural 
jobs.
With a more informed citizenry on agriculture, this initiative will accelerate 
agricultural growth and higher productivity, not just in the countryside, but the 
whole nation as well.
Approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
LEILA M. DE LIMA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. No. 853
Senate
A 
o{ t!;e d>. tretarp
*19 
A U G -1  
P2'-46
In tro d u ced  by SENATOR LEILA M. DE I
j B':
AN ACT
GRANT ING FREE TERTIARY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION, AND 
OTHER REIJVTED COURSES TO ALL DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF 
REGISTERED INDIGENT FARMERS IN THE COUNTRY, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled.
1 
Section i. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as “The Free Tertiary
2 
Agricultural Education Act.”
3 
Sec. 2. Statement of Policy. -  It is the declared policy of the State to promote
4 
sound agricultural development in the country and to achieve global competitiveness
5 
in the agricultural sector. Towards this end, agriculture education and trainings shall
6 
be encouraged among the youth in order to inculcate the latest agricultural principles
7 
and techniques. The State, therefore, shall extend the avenue for this learning process
8 
by providing accessible education on agriculture and other related courses.
9 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. -  As used in this Act, the following terms shall be
10 
defined as:
11 
1. Agriculture -  refers to the practice of agricultural land utilization and
12 
management, crop production, livestock and poultry.
13 
2. Agricultural Education -  involves academic program focused on the
14 
principles and techniques on agricultural land management, crop production,
15 
livestock and poultry offered in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).


1 
3- Qualified Dependent Children -  refers to the legitimate or illegitimate
2 
children of indigent farmers who are enrolled or about to enroll in SUCs
3 
where Agriculture and its related courses are offered.
4 
4. Registered Indigent Farmers -  are those indigent individuals whose sole
5 
source of income is agriculture, who actually cultivate or till of the land,
6 
whether as owner or lessee of the land, or who actually engage in crop
7 
production, livestock and poultry farming, and who are included in the
8 
registry of farmers of the Department of Agriculture.
9 
5. Other related agricultural courses -  include agro-forestry, agricultural
10 
engineering, 
agribusiness/management, 
agricultural 
entrepreneurship,
11 
animal health management and agri-technology.
12 
Sec. 4. Implementation of Free Tertiary Agricultural Education. -  The
13 
system of Free Tertiary Agricultural Education as provided in this Act shall
14 
commence in the School Year following approval of this Act. Qualified dependent
15 
children of registered indigent farmers intending to enroll or already enrolled in an
16 
Agricultural courses or any related field offerings in state colleges and universities
17 
shall be exempt from payment of tuition and other school fees and shall be entitled to
18 
such other incentives or subsidies, including living and transportation allowance, as
19 
may be granted in accordance with such rules and regulations to be promulgated to
20 
carry out the provisions of this Act; Provided, That they meet the admission
21 
requirements of the SUCs where they intend to enroll in.
22 
Sec. 5. Qualified Student. -  For this purpose, students whose parents have no
23 
visible means of income other than agriculture, as identified by the Department of
24 
Agriculture (DA), based on specific criteria, shall be considered qualified to avail of
25 
the free tertiary agricultural education provided for under this Act.
26 
Sec. 6. 
Appropriations. -  For the initial implementation of this Act, an
27 
amount of Five Hundred Million Pesos (P500,000,000) is hereby allotted for this
28 
purpose. Thereafter, the sum necessary for its implementation shall be in the Annual
29 
Appropriations Act.
30 
Sec. 7. 
Implementing Agencies. -  The Department of Agriculture (DA),
31 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), together with the


1 
Commission on Higher Education (CHED), shall jointly implement the pro\nsions of
2 
this Act.
3 
Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within ninety (90) days after
4 
the effectivity of this Act, the DA, DSWD and the CHED shall issue the necessary
5 
guidelines, rules and regulations for the proper implementation of the provisions of
6 
this Act.
7 
Sec. 9. 
Repealing Clause. -  Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
8 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation
9 
contrary to or is inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed,
10 
modified, or amended accordingly.
11 
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid
12 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected
13 
shall remain valid and subsisting.
14 
Sec. 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
15 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers
16 
of general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,