Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

20th CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _3738_

Introduced by REP. JUAN CARLOS “ARJO” C. ATAYDE

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

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the Philippines, the average age of our farmers as of 2018 is 57 years old and
the majority of the youth are no longer interested in agriculture. The predominant
notion of an ordinary youth is that agriculture will not get them out of poverty.

The number of farm workers has been declining over the past years of around
1.5% per year since 2007. Those employed in agriculture declined from 11.84 million
in 2015 to 9.8 million in 2020.

To address the declining interest of the youth in the farming industry, the
Department of Agriculture through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance
Service (AMAS) implemented the Young Farmers Challenge Program for FY 2021. The
program provided start-up capital in the form of financial grant to a total of 1,276
youth beneficiaries for their proposed agri-fishery enterprise. The program likewise
assisted the youth beneficiaries through the provision of business development
services.

This measure aims to institutionalize the Young Farmers and Fisherfolk
Challenge program to ensure continuity in the availability of assistance to our youth
from the farming and fisheries sector.


In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

REP. JUAN CARROS “ARJO” ATAYDE


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

20th CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 37 38

Introduced by REP. JUAN CARLOS “ARJO” C. ATAYDE

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:

1 SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the " Young Farmers and
2 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

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markets, and participation in policy dialogue.

8 SEC. 3. Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge Program. - There is hereby
9 established a Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge Program, hereinafter referred
10 tos the "YFFC Program", that shall support and empower the young farmers and
11 fisherfolk to be active partners in food security and agricultural development and

12 modernization. The Program shall encourage the youth to pursue a career or engage


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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 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 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
(D1LG);


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; Representative of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

(DENR);

. Representative of the National Youth Commission (NYC);

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:

. 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 Baftos (UPLB) and other relevant State Universities and

Colleges;

. Develop, in coordination with various departments and agencies, specific

action plans for unambiguous tasking and quick implementation;

. 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);

|. Develop initiatives in new farm sectors such as "smart farming" farm tourism,

agro-, aqua-, and hydroponics, organic and boutique vegetables;

._ Identify relevant training and livelihood budgets in the different departments

and agencies, including start-up capital;

Implement the departments’ and agencies’ action plans, engaging the

assistance of the LGUs and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK);


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, 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
in compliance with Republic Act No. 10816, or the "Farm Tourism
Development Act of 2016";

. 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 new packaging, promotion, and marketing events;

Package incentive and recognition programs/awards system;

. Ensure participation of young farmers and fisherfolk in agri and food tourism

marketing events, nationally and internationally;

Provide on-the-job training programs for young farmers and fisherfolk in areas
such as "green jobs ', reforestation, coastal management, fisheries, and other
tural-based jobs, through the DOLE, TESDA, and other livelihood and training

programs;

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

youth associations;

. Engage national and international leaders in formulating policies directly

addressing young farmers and fisherfolk concerns; and

. 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-of-

government approach shall be utilized to inform and enlist young farmers and

fisherfolk in agriculture:


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. Role of the DepEd- The DepEd shall include at all levels, but particularly in its K-

12 program, elective subjects focused on agriculture, such as garden farming,

urban greening, reforestation and coastal management;

._ 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;

Role of the DOLE - The DOLE shall provide on-the-job training (OJT) programs

for young farmers and fisherfolk, including the Special Program for
Employment of Students (SPES);

|. 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 and colleges are also enjoined to provide the same.

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;


£. 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

. Role of the SUCs - Whenever SUCs own or occupy excess landholdings, young
farmers shall be given the 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;


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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;

f. 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

i. Role of the NYC - The NYC, in tandem with potential youth agri-entrepreneurs,
shall initiate donation and fundraising drives for the Program, exploiting for
this purpose online advertising, “crowd-sourcing", and other digital means to

generate funds for the Program.

SEC. 10. Access to "Green Jobs." - Young farmers and fisherfolk shall be given

priority in access to green jobs, as follows:

a. Role of the DOLE - The DOLE, through the SPES, shall include "green jobs',

reforestation, coastal management, fisheries, and other rural-based jobs, in

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cooperation with LGUs. The DOLE shall prioritize young farmers and
fisherfolk for employment in job fairs, public projects or private agro-industries

and corporations;

b. Role of the TESDA - The TESDA shall develop on-the-job trainings, employment
bridging initiatives, and private partnerships in producing processing,
packaging, and marketing young farmers and fisherfolk products;

c. Role of the DOT - The DOT shall prioritize the employment of young farmers
and fisherfolk in eco- and agro-tours, and encourage entrepreneurship in farm

and fishery tourism;

d. Role of the PEZA - The PEZA shall prioritize young farmers and fisherfolk for
jobs in agro-industrial ecozones, provide access to modern farm technology,
promote linkages in agriculture-related enterprise, and accelerate the creation
of "green jobs! for young farmers and fisherfolk; and

e. The DA and the ATI- The DA, particularly the 4-H Club of the ATI, shall embark
upon farming start-ups and provide training/s in new and niche agricultural
sectors such as organic farming, agroponics, aquaponics, hydroponics, dairy,
livestock, coffee, cacao, and other areas of farming and fishing. The DA and
ATI shall also create opportunities for young farmers and fisherfolk to harness

their leadership skills.

SEC. 11. Access to Markets. - Young farmers and fisherfolk shall have access to

markets through the following:

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

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


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c. Role of the DOST - The DOST shall assist the young farmers and fisherfolk in
providing assistance and research in the food analysis of the product's

nutritional component and content, among others.

d. Role of the LGU - The LGU shall provide subsidized rental rates for public retail
areas and public markets, encourage agricultural tourism, and develop other

opportunities for young farmers and fisherfolk;

e. Role of the Department of Tourism (DOT) - The DOT shall promote the products
of young farmers and fisherfolk through tourism conventions, events, and

other tourist souvenir sales opportunities;

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

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 shall

be 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


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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 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. Separability Clause. - Any portion or provision of this Act that is
declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or

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provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions can still subsist and be given

effect in their entirety.

SEC. 18. Repealing Clause. - All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, other
issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed
or modified accordingly.

SEC. 19. Effectivity. - This Act shalll take effect after fifteen (15) days following
its publication in the official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,