NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 531
Senate
of tl]P 
f iRip
*22 JUL 13 P4 29
RECEIVED BV:
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
AN ACT
ENCOURAGING YOUTH SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN THE AGRICULTURAL 
SECTOR, ESTABLISHING FOR THE PURPOSE A 'TULONG KABATAAN SA 
AGRIKULTURA PROGRAM' AND A 'TULONG KABATAAN SA AGRIKULTURA 
TRUST FUND', APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Magkapatid ang kahirapan at kagutuman. According to the 2018 Family Income and 
Expenditure Survey, the latest from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), 42.6% of all 
expenditures by Filipino families were on food, which marked a 0.8% increase from 2015. 
Furthermore, families in the bottom 30% income group spent much higher on food, with a 
share of 58.2% of their total expenditure compared to families in the upper 70% income 
group. It is estimated that a 10% increase in food prices would lead to an additional 2.3 
million poor Filipmos.
A robust agricultural sector (in addition to prudent Fiscal policy) is necessary to 
ensure food security. Key indicators would show, however, that our agricultural sector is far 
from robust. For one, the share of agriculture to the country's Gross Domestic Product 
(GDP) has dropped significantly from 11.6% in 1998 to 7.3% in 2016, and continued to 
plummet as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Labor productivity has increased but still 
remains low compared to the industry and services sectors.
Flowever, the most alarming indicator is the average age of the Filipino farmer. In a 
2018 article entitled, "Agriculture is Dying in the Philippines", Sara Soliven De Guzman 
revealed that according to East-West Seeds Philippines General Manager Henk Hermans, 
farmers represent the second poorest sector in the Philippines, and such fact had led to the 
"disenchantment" of the youth in pursuing a career in the agriculture.1 It was also revealed 
that the average age of Filipino farmers ranges from 57-59 years old.2
1 https://www.pressreader.com
2 Ibid.


Assuming that the usual age of retirement in the country is 60 to 65, there is a 
possibility that an overw/helminq majority of our farmers will retire in less than a 
decade. This fact, combined with the 1.5% decrease in enrolment in agriculture courses 
in State Universities and Colleges from 2005 to 2010, implies that our struggling 
agricultural sector may soon run out of farmers. It also bears to stress that as of 
December 2021, the agricultural sector in the Philippines only employs 25.6% of the 
total Filipino work force.3 Thus, it begs the question: Who will feed the next generation?
Immediate and effective intervention is needed to rejuvenate our agricultural 
sector. As a matter of fact, the Philippine Development Plan for 2017 to 2022 seeks to 
expand economic opportunities for those who are engaged in agriculture, and increase 
access to economic opportunities for small farmers, among others.4
Given the above, as a first step, this legislative measure proposes the 
establishment of a Tubng Kabataan sa Agrikultura scholarship program. The program 
shall be a ladderized program in Diploma in Agricultural Technology (DAT), Bachelor in 
Agricultural Technology (BAT) and Bachelor of Science in Agri-business (BSAgrib). At 
least 25% of the entire curriculum of the Program shall be in the form of an on-the-job 
training or related learning experience. The laboratory components of various 
agricultural subjects shall be in the form of agribusiness ventures, which are defined as 
business ventures in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and agri-entrepreneurship including 
but not limited to raising of poultry, goats, corn or rice or crop production.
The program targets 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 80% or its equivalent. Beneficiaries 
shall be entitled to financial assistance, which shall Include tuition and other school 
fees; an outright grant for prescribed textbooks and essential school supplies; 
transportation expenses; and a monthly living allowance, among others.
Finally, to ensure the financial sustainability of this fund, this measure proposes 
the creation of a Tubng Kabataan sa Agrikultura Trust Fund, which shall come from the 
following sources: Fifty Million Pesos (Php50,000,000.00) seed capital; a 10% annual 
share on the total gross collections of the travel tax and professional registration fee of 
the Professional Regulatory Commission; grants, donations and endowments from 
domestic and foreign sources, pursuant to existing laws and regulations; such amounts 
as may be indicated under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the purpose of 
sustaining the Fund; and all Interest income of the trust fund.
3 Ibid.
4 Ibid.


In view of the foregoing, speedy approval of this measure is eagerly sought.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 531
. senate
of iiip
•22 JUL 13 P4 29
received BY*.
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
AN ACT
ENCOURAGING YOUTH SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN THE AGRICULTURAL 
SECTOR, ESTABLISHING FOR THE PURPOSE A 'TULONG KABATAAN SA 
AGRIKULTURA PROGRAM' AND A 'TULONG 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 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS
1 
Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Tuiong Kabataan sa
2 
Agrikuitura Act of2022"
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall give priorit/ to education, science
4 
and technology to accelerate social progress and promote development Towards this
5 
end, the government shall provide opportunities for all to obtain quality education and
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for this purpose, scholarships in Agriculture, Agri-Entrepreneurship, Forestry and
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Fisheries are hereby strengthened. It is also the policy of the State to develop
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graduates who will become competent agribusiness managers and entrepreneurs.
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Sec 3. Objectives. - The objectives of this Act are to:
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a) Increase youth participation in the agricultural sector;
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b) Provide opportunities to poor but deserving students to realize their
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potentials in agribusiness and entrepreneurships;
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c) 
Develop competency skills and knowledge of students in agricultural 
technologies and agribusiness;
d) 
Increase food production;
e) 
Commercialize proven viable technologies to increase food production and 
income of rural communities through the development of livelihoods and markets;
f) 
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.
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Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. - for the purposes of this Act:
a. 
Tuiong Kabataan sa Agrikuitura 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. 
Tuiong Kabataan sa Agrikuitura Trust Fund or The Fund - refers to the 
trust fund created under this Act to ensure the achievement of this Act's incentives;
c. 
Agribusiness Venture Laboratory - refers to agricultural subjects and 
classes designed as business ventures in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and agri- 
entrepreneurship including but not limited to raising of poultry, goats, corn or rice or 
crop production and counted as satisfying the laboratory requirement of a course.
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ARTICLE II
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THE TULONG KABATAAN SA AGRIKULTURA PROGRAM
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Sec. 5. Estabiishment of a Tuiong Kabataan sa Agrikuitura Program. - A Tuiong
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Kabataan sa Agrikuitura scholarship program in agriculture, fisheries, forestry and
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related areas to be administered by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is
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hereby established. The program shall be a ladderized program in Diploma in


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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 Banos 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.
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Sec. 7. Assistance to Grantees. - Beneficiaries of the Program shall be entitled to
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financial assistance, which shall Include the following:
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a) Tuition and other school fees;
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b) Outright grant for prescribed textbooks and essential school supplies;
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c) Transportation expenses; and
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d) Monthly living allowance.
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Sec. 8. Curriculum Formulation. - There is hereby established a technical
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committee which shall design the curriculum of the Program. The Committee shall be
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composed of the following:
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a. The Chairperson of the CfiED, or his permanent representative, as Chairperson
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of the Committee;
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b. The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), or his permanent
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representative, as the Vice Chairperson;


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c. The Dean of the University of the Philippines-Los Banos 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.
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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 facilities 
needed should be present within the SUC.
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Sec. 11. Use of Idie Lands for the Agribusiness Venture Laboratory. - The
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Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall make available
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untenured public lands under its jurisdiction for the use of students in their agribusiness
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ventures under appropriate arrangements with CHED and the participating SUCs.
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ARTICLE III
THE TULONG KABATAAN SA AGRIKULTURA TRUST FUND


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Sec. 12. Tulong Kabataan sa Agrikultura Trust Fund. - To ensure the financial 
sustainability of this Act, a Tulong Kabataan sa Agrikultura Trust Fund is hereby 
created. The Fund shall be used exclusively to fund the Program, and shall be funded 
from the following sources:
a) 
The amount of Fifty Million Pesos (Php 50,000,000.00) as seed capital;
b) 
The equivalent of ten percent (10%) annual share on the total gross 
collections of the travel tax;
c) 
The equivalent of ten percent (10%) annual share on the total gross 
collections from the Professional Registration Fee of the Professional 
Regulatory Commission;
d) 
Grants, donations and endowments from 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
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All interest income of the trust fund.
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Sec. 13. Administration of the Fund. - The CHED shall administer the fund and
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shall make available all records of how the funds are utilized, disbursed, and invested,
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in accordance with existing laws.
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ARTICLE IV FINAL PROVISIONS
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Sec. 14. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - The CHED in coordination with
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the DA, and DENR and relevant private sector stakeholders shall prepare the
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Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of this Act and promulgate it within ninety
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(90) days after approval of this Ac':.
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Sec. 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
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unconstitutional or invalid, the provisions hereof which are not affected shall continue
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to have force and effect.


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Sec. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules or regulations
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thereof, inconsistent with this Act arc hereby modified or repealed accordingly.
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Sec. 17. Effectivlty. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
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circulation, whichever comes earlier.
Approved,