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

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

nouse sito. 6277

Introduced by Representative Sharon S. Garin

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), suggest that the Philippine agriculture
sector is aging as senior and middle-aged farmers find it harder and harder to pass on their
work to young people who find farming tedious, unsustainable and unglamorous compared to
other jobs.

According to recent studies by the STI Education Services Group Incorporated, the
average age of farmers in the Philippines is 57 years old. This is alarming as it foreshadows a
future agricultural labor shortage, which can lead to serious food security and sustainability
issues, this on top of other issues like climate change, urbanization and the growing
consumption of the country.

Data from the Philippine Statistic Authority show a dwindling share of agricultural
employment out of the country’s total number of laborers. As of April 2017, agrciuttural
workers comprise just 26.1% of the labor force, from a high of 32.4% in 2006, and 41.7% in
the 1997.

Majority of the youth are simply not inclined to pursue a career or business
opportunities in the agricultural field. This is clearly evident in the decline in enrollment of
agriculture-related courses in colleges and universities.

This bill seeks to rectify the issues above by providing an institutionalized scholarship
program for agriculture and fisheries courses in State Colleges and Universities (SCUs) as
well as Private Education Institure. The bill also provides for support of agri-business and
agri-entrepreneurship endeavours of the youth. Through this we hope to impart to the youth
‘enough incentives and inspiration to plant more seeds, both literally and figuratively, for a
more vibrant and youthful future of our agricultural sector.

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

‘SH. . GARIN
AAMBJ8-Owa Partylist


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

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. __ 6277

Introduced by Representative Sharon S. Gari

AN ACT
INSSTITUTIONALIZING THE YOUNG FARMERS PROGRAM, PROVIDING
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Young Farmers Program Act
of 2016.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to imbue
among the Filipino youth a new perspective on farming and fishing, to provide them career
guidance, to equip them with entrepreneurial skills and to maximize their learning from
school-to-work opportunities in the university's academic, research and extension activities,
to the country's agriculture and fishery sector.

SEC. 3. Statement of Objectives. ~ This Act shall have the following objectives:

a. To attract incoming college students to choose and complete a field in agriculture

and fishery as a college course;

b. To prepare career options for students and graduates of agriculture and fishery

courses;

©. To involve agriculture and fishery students in the extension work of the

university; and


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4d. To support students, graduates and out-of-school youth with academic background
in agriculture and fisheries in their entrepreneurial pursuits in agribusiness.
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - The following terms shall be defined under this Act as
follows:

a. "Program" refers to the Young Farmers Program or YFP as established under this
Act,

b. "Young Farmers" refers to:

1. State Colleges and universities (SCUs) enrollees with a commitment to finish
college, diploma or certificate program in agriculture and fisheries under a
socialized tuition fee scheme of the Young Farmers Program;

2. Bachelor degree, diploma or certificate course graduates of any fishery
Courses of SCUs and private colleges and universities enlisted by the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) ~ National Agriculture and
Fisheries System (NAFES) as members of the Young Farmers Program; and

3. Out-of-school youth who finished at least two finished at least two years of
college education in agriculture and fisheries and are enlisted by the NAFES-
SCUs as members of the YFP.

c. National Agriculture and Fisheries Education System (NAFES) refers to the
integrated system of agriculture and fishery education covering both public and
private institutions in all three levels of education chaired by the commission on
Higher Education and created by the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of
1997.

SEC. 5. Young Farmers Program Committee — The Young Farmers Program
Committee, hereinafter referred to as the Committee, shall be constituted imder the Office of

the President and composed of the following:


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a. Commissioner of Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as Chairman;

b. Representative of National Agriculture and Fisheries Education System
(NAFES) as Vice-Chairman;

¢. Secretary of Department of Agriculture (DA);

d. Secretary of Department of Trade and Industry (DTD);

e. Secretary of Deparment of Science and Technology (DOST);

f. Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

SEC. 6. Implementation of the Program. — The Committee is hereby mandated to

promulgate the rules and regulations, implement and adopt procedures and guidelines to
effectively carry out the program. It shall also oversee and monitor the proper compliance of

the NAFES-SCUs, and other implementing offices.

SEC. 7. Role of SCU and Private Education Institutions.- The NAFES-SCUS shall:

a. Establish a Young Farmers Organization (YFO) out of their respective agriculture
and fishery enrollees;

b. Create a socialized tuition fee scheme for agriculture and fishery enrollees;

c. Trace graduates and those who finished at least two years of their respective
agriculture and fishery program and invite them to become members of the
university/college YFO;

4. Conceptualize and implement an extension partnership with the Provincial
Agriculture Offices (PAOs) and Municipal Agriculture Offices;

e. Conceptualize a career path for the young farmers as agriculture and fishery
entrepreneurs, support their start-up agribusiness and forge a contract of service
with them stipulating their assistance to small farmers and fisherfolks in exchange

of government support.


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SEC. 8. Role of the DA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall prioritize the
beneficiaries in the provision of grants or assistance such as, but not limited to, seedlings,

fertilizers, and other farm inputs, farm/fishery tools and equipment, starting stocks, small

irrigation projects, post-harvest facilities, and crop insurance.

SEC. 9. Role of the DTI ~ The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall lend
support to the members of Young Farmers Organizations (YFOs), particularly when it comes
to launching start-up agri-businesses, such as assisting them in the preparation of a
comprehensive business plan and training them in setting up and managing the proposed agri-
business endeavor. The DTI shall also assist beneficiaries in promoting their products to the
domestic and foreign markets.

SEC. 10. Role of the DOST — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
shall provide assistance in product development, quality control, and packaging.

SEC. 11. Role of LGUs. - The LGUs shall endeavor to support the program through
additional counterpart funding assistance. The Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) shall
identify farms or fishfarms in need of assistance to have not yet chosen laboratories of their
own.

SEC. 12. Funding. The sum of FIFTY MILLION PESOS (P50,000.000.00) is
hereby appropriated out of any savings or unexpended balance in the National Treasury not
otherwise appropriated, to cover amount as shall be needed for the program shall be included
in the budget of the SCUs. All funds currently being appropriated for the Young Farmers
Program in the Department of Agriculture shall be transferred to the Committee. Moreover,
the Committee and the Agriculture Competitive Enhancement Fund (ACEF) National
Committee shall develop a rationalization scheme to allot a portion of ACEF from both the
seed fund as well from repayments of loans to the Young Farmers Program. Scholarships of

students in private college and universities shall be given in the form of voucher.


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SEC. 13. Separability Clause. — \f any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain
valid and subsisting.

SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. ~ Any law, presidential decree or issuance executive
Order, letter of instruction, administrative Order, rule or regulation contrary to or is
inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended
accordingly.

SEC. 15. Effectivity. — This Act shall effect thirty (30) days its publication in the
Official Gazette or in at least (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,