SENATE 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Being an agricultural country, it is sad to note that the Philippines’ agriculture and fisheries 
sector are among those which have been most neglected. We still import most of our food 
requirements because we are unable to raise enough food for our people. Ironically, while about 
seventy percent (70%) of our people are engaged in agriculture, only twenty percent (20%) of the 
sector contributes to our gross domestic product (GDP). 
As a result, there is very little investment in the agricultural and fisheries sectors. For every peso 
loan extended in the country, on1y.a centavo goes to agriculture. To make matters worse, the 
Filipino farmers have grown old. At 67 years, they are older than all of their Asian counterparts 
and produce less than the Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese farmers. Moreover, the Filipino 
farmers resist the application of modern technology relying instead on outmoded and outdated 
traditional farming methods. 
The current situation in the agriculture and fisheries sector has likewise affected our young 
graduates. More agriculture and fisheries graduates choose to concentrate on other fields. They 
would rather go to the cities or go abroad to work as domestic helpers or caregivers after four (4) 
years of college. But they cannot be blamed for this because aside from an educational system 
that promotes employment rather than entrepreneurship, they find little or no prospects in 
agriculture or fisheries. 
Therefore, this bill aims to further strengthen the active participation of the Filipino youth in 
agricultural productivity by institutionalizing the Young Farmers Program (YFP). The YFP 
intends to equip the youth with the necessary technical and entrepreneurial skills, to provide 
them production and marketing support, and to aid them in capital formation with the hope that 
they may contribute to food security, generate employment in the counhyside and energize the 
agri-fisheries sector to meet the challenges of globalization. 
This proposed legislative measure further intends to effectively instill to the Filipino youth the 
needed dedication and commitment to be effective partners in nation-building in order to attain 
sustainable development in the agriculture and fisheries sectors, which will help the country’s 
economic recovery program. 
In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
I_ 
TRILLANES IV 
I 
Senator 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTIONALIZING 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 
assem bled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Young Farmers Program Act of 
2008.” 
SEC. 2. Declurutlon ofPolicy. - It is hereby declared the policy oft he State to instil1 in 
the Filipino youth the necessary dedication and commitment to be effective and self-sustaining 
partners for the further productivity and development of the country’s agricultural and fisheries 
sector through entrepreneurship and agribusiness. 
SEC. 3. Statement of Objectives. - This Act shall have the following objectives: 
a) To encourage young agriculture and fisheries graduates to go into agribusiness and 
nurture them to become entrepreneurs and strong partners in nation building; 
b) To prevent the departure of young farmers for urban centers by generating more 
employment opportunities in the countryside; 
c) To enlist young and competent entrepreneurs in enhancing the competitiveness of 
local agriculture and fisheries; 
d) To demonstrate to young graduates the high income potential in agribusiness thru 
value-adding activities; 
e) To underscore to the youth their important role in economic development. 
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SEC. 4. Defnition of Terms. - The following terms shall be defined under this Act: 
a) “Program” refers to the Young Farmers Program or YFP as established under this 
Act; 
b) “Department” refers to the Department of Agriculture; 
c) “Youth” refers to individuals 18-35 years old at the start of the Program or who are 
born after the approval of this Act - Provided, That they are college graduates or 
individuals with at least two (2) years of college education or have completed a 
vocational course and are currently engaged in an agribusiness or agriculture-related 
enterprise or have, at least, three (3) years experience in agribusiness. 
d) “Young Farmer Entrepreneur” or “WE refers to an individual 18-35 years old, a 
graduate of any Agriculture, Fisheries, or Agribusiness course and presently 
unemployed or a college graduate of any course but presently engaged in an 
agriculture or fisheries enterprise who shall submit a project proposal or feasibility 
study for possible funding. Upon approval of hisher project, the YFE shall undergo 
training to be conducted by the Department, in coordination with state colleges and 
universities (SCUs), after which hehhe shall be expected to implement his project. 
e) “Young Farmer Volunteer” or “YFV” refers to an individual 18-35 years old, a 
graduate of any Agriculture, Fisheries, or Agribusiness course who shall be chosen 
from the SCUs to represent their respective regions. The YFV shall undergo training 
to be conducted by the Department, in coordination with state colleges and 
universities (SCUs), after which he/she shall be deployed to hisher region to 
undertake advocacy activities and monitor the YFEs in hisher region 
SEC. 5. Implementation of the Program. -An Executive Committee is hereby created to 
implement the Young Farmers Program (YFP) to be composed of representatives from the 
National Agriculture and Fishery Council (NAFC), the Agricultural Fishery Council Foundation 
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of the Philippines, Inc. (AFCFPI), the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Quedancor and the 
Congressional Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization (COCAFM). 
The YFP Executive Committee shall oversee and monitor the implementation of the 
Program. It shall likewise promulgate rules and regulations to implement the Program and adopt 
procedures and guidelines to effectively carry out the Program. 
SEC. 6. Role of LGUs. - The LGUs shall endeavor to support the Program through 
additional counterpart funding assistance, production, processing, and technical and marketing 
support. 
SEC. 7. Role ofthe SCUs. - The SCUs shall assist the YFEs in preparation of project 
proposals and feasibility studies. They may endorse projects to the YFP Executive Committee. 
They shall likewise provide technical support to the YFEs and YFVs. 
SEC. 8. Funding. - The sum of Fifty million pesos (P50, 000, 000) is hereby 
appropriated out of any savings or unexpended balance in the National Treasury not otherwise 
appropriated, to cover the amounts needed for the initial year of implementation. Thereafter, 
such amount as shall be needed for the Program shall be included in the budget of the 
Department of Agriculture. 
SEC. 9. Eflectiv&y. -This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days after its publication in the 
Oficial Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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