Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _1639

Introduced by Representative Paolo Henry M. Marcoleta

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines is blessed with vast and bountiful agricultural resources.
Being a tropical archipelago, it is among the most agriculturally diverse and rich
countries in Asia, if not the world. Thus, the agricultural sector has long been a
fundamental economic development of the country.

Unfortunately, despite these blessings and considering the importance of
this sector, our agriculture is currently in need of substantial improvement.

The first quarter of 2025, the Gross Domestic Product from agriculture
decreased to Php 456, 664.44 Million from Php 523, 784.28 Million in the fourth
quarter of 2024.' Also, a large number of the nation’s agricultural sector workers,
which comprises around twenty-five percent (25%) our labour force, actually live
below the poverty line.”

In 2018, the agriculture sector employed 10 million workers which
correspond to 24.3% of the national employment data. Poverty prevailed among
agricultural workers with poverty incidence at its highest among farm workers at
41% compared to the national poverty incidence of 27%. Incidentally, according
to a report from the World Bank in the Philippines, the output per worker has
importantly increased over the last decade, but real wages have stagnated.’

* https://tradingeconomics.com/philippines/gdp-from-agriculture; accessed 5 July 2025.
ILO STUDIES IN PHILIPPINES’ AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
2 Ibid.


A significant challenge faced by the agricultural sector is the waning
interest among Filipino students in pursuing agricultural education. This is due to
continuous lack of opportunities and financial growth as well as rampant poverty
prevalent among Filipinos working in the agriculture sector. During the recent
years, there has been a notable decline in enrolment in agriculture-related courses
across the Philippines, with the latest amounting to 1.5% decrease in enrolment
each year.*

This downward trend raises a very serious concern for the future of the
Philippine agriculture sector, reflecting a diminishing enthusiasm among the
younger generation to continue and build careers in agriculture.

In response to this serious concern, it is imperative to encourage student
enrolment in agricultural programs to ensure the sustained development of the
agricultural sector.

This bill seeks to address the issue by providing free tertiary education in
agriculture and other related courses to qualified Filipino students, especially
those children of our farmers, farm workers, and fisherfolks. It aims to serve as
an incentive for the younger generation to pursue careers in agriculture by
granting them access to quality education and training them in accordance with
the latest trends and development in the agriculture industry.

In addition to fostering a robust agricultural system within the country, this
proposed measure aims to enhance and stimulate agricultural research — a vital
component in advancing the sector. Through the free tertiary agricultural
education to the qualified students, the state can help mitigate the declining
interest in agricultural studies among students and contribute to maintaining the
sector’s competitiveness and long-term sustainability.

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

PAOLO HENRY M. MARCOLETA
Representative, SAGIP Partylist

“ https://www.searca.org/press/declining-agriculture-enrollment-poses-threat-to-food-security; accessed 5
July 2025.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1639

Introduced by Representative Paolo Henry M. Marcoleta

AN ACT
GRANTING FREE TERTIARY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION,
AND OTHER RELATED COURSES TO ALL DEPENDENT CHILDREN
OF QUALIFIED FARMERS, FARM WORKERS OR FISHERFOLKS,
AND DESERVING FILIPINO STUDENTS,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as “The Free Tertiary
Agricultural Education Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to
promote sound agricultural development in the country and to achieve global
competitiveness in the agricultural sector. Towards this end, education and
trainings on Agriculture shall be encouraged among the youth to inculcate the
latest agricultural principles and techniques.

The State, therefore, shall extend the avenue for this learning process by
providing accessible education on agriculture and other related courses.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms
shall be defined as:


eUAKHhReEN =

. Financially-Incapacitated Household refers to a family who is not

classified as indigent but demonstrates clear inability to pay or spend for
necessary basic expenditures for daily living, as determined and assessed
by a social worker;

. Qualified Dependent Children refers to the children of farmers, farm

workers, or fisherfolks who have completed Grade 12 from any Philippine
high school, are enrolled or about to enroll in any state college or university
where agriculture and its related courses are offered;

. Qualified Filipino Student refers to any Filipino student who comes from

an indigent or financially-incapacitated household that has completed
Grade 12 from any Philippine high school, or who is enrolled or about to
enroll in any state college or university where agriculture and its related
courses are offered;

. Registered Farmers are those individuals whose sole source of income is

agriculture, who actually cultivate or till the land, whether as owner or
lessee of the land, or who actually engage in crop production, livestock and
poultry farming, and who are included in the registry of farmers of the
Department of Agriculture (DA); and,

. Farm Workers are individuals who do not own any farm land but, instead,

are seasonably employed to perform agricultural work and services.

SEC. 4. Free Tertiary Agricultural Education Program (FTAEP) - The

Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in coordination with DA, shall
establish a scholarship program for deserving Filipino students who want to
pursue a degree in tertiary agricultural education. Qualified students shall receive
the following:

a. Free tuition fee, miscellaneous fee, and other school fees;
b. Allowance for learning materials, supplies and equipment;

c. Clothing or uniform allowance;


&

d. Allowance for dormitory or housing accommodation;
e. Transportation allowance;

f. Internship fees, including financial assistance during on-the-job
practicum training;

g. Agriculturists board review fee;
h. Annual medical insurance; and
i. Other education-related miscellaneous subsistence or living allowance.

Provided, that within one (1) year from the completion of the program, the
scholar shall render a return to service work in the local agriculture sector for a
period of not less than one (1) year, with corresponding salary and benefits.
Graduates of this program shall have priority application to any work under the
DA and its attached agencies.

SEC. 5. Qualifications for the Scholarship Grant - An applicant for the
FTAEP shall possess the following qualifications:

a. Must be a Filipino citizen residing in the Philippines;

b. Must be a graduating Grade 12 student or a graduate of Grade 12 from any
Philippine high school, duly recognized by the Department of Education,
who belongs to an indigent or financially incapacitated household duly
assessed by a social worker; or a dependent child of a registered indigent
farmer, farm worker or fisherfolk; and

c. Must have passed the entrance examination and complied with other
related requirements for admission in an agriculture program or any related
course thereto.

SEC. 6. Conditions for the Grant of Scholarship. — Deserving students
accepted to the FTAEP shall be subject to the following conditionalities:


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a. Must sign an agreement stating the terms and conditions of the scholarship
program on a form duly prescribed by the CHED and the DA;

b. Must carry the minimum load of subjects as prescribed by the State
university or college (SUC) or higher education institution (HEI);

c. The scholar may be allowed, for valid reasons, to file fora leave of absence
for a period not exceeding one (1) school year;

d. The scholar shall receive and continue to enjoy the benefits of the
scholarship until the completion of the course, provided that he or she will
not exceed the maximum residency rule of the program; and

. Must render return of service in the local agriculture sector, within one (1)
year from the completion of the course, for a period not less than one (1)

year.

SEC. 7. Information Dissemination. - The CHED and DA shall conduct

regular information dissemination and recruitment with regard to the FTAEP to
encourage qualified students to become agricultural scholars.

SEC. 8. Training While Serving Mandatory Return Service and Plantilla

Positions. - The CHE and DA shall develop programs and seminars for the
continuous training of scholars while serving the mandatory return service under
this Act.

In addition, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), DA, and

local government units (LGUs) where applicable, shall ensure that all scholars
required to render return service under this Act shall be appointed to appropriate
plantilla positions commensurate to their merit and fitness.

SEC. 9. Role of CHED. - The CHED shall have the following functions:

a. Ensure the timely and adequate release to partner-SUCs and HEls of the
funds necessary for the implementation of the MSRS Program, and
monitor the timely and adequate release of the same by the partner-SUCs
and HEIs to the scholar- beneficiaries under the MSRS Program;


b. Require SUCs and HEIs to implement and submit a tracking, monitoring,
evaluation and assistance system in order to determine the whereabouts of
the medical scholars after graduation from SUCs or HEIs; and,

c. Recommend, in coordination with partner-SUCs and HEIs, to the DBM the
amount necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 10. Role of SUCs, Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) and HEIs.

~The SUCs, LUCs and HEIs shall have the following functions:

a. Monitor the progress of all scholars in their respective educational
institutions, identify those who have low or failing grades, and counsel
them to improve their academic performance;

b. Coordinate with the CHED to ensure the timely release and accurate
distribution of allowances and other fees to the scholars;

c. Make an annual report to the CHED on the performance of scholars and
other necessary or vital information regarding the FTAEP;

d. Assist the CHED in the conduct of regular information dissemination on,
and recruitment to, the FTAEP;

e, Recommend strategies to CHED and DOH to improve the implementation
of the MSRS Program; and,

f. Conduct a tracer study on the whereabouts of their respective scholars after
graduation from their institution and submit the results thereof to the

CHED.

SEC. 11. Role of DA and LGUs. — The DA and LGUs shall have the

following functions:

a. Assist the CHED in the conduct of the regular information dissemination
on the FTAEP and in the recruitment of scholar-applicants;


33

b. Develop a career pathway for graduates and agriculturists who are
beneficiaries of the FTAEP in the national agriculture service system to
incentivize scholars to continue serving therein;

c. Create a mechanism or system to provide the necessary support, including,
support to ensure their safety and protection, for the integration of scholars
who will be assigned to the LGU; and,

d. Recommend to the CHED any strategies to improve the implementation of
the FTAEP.

SEC. 12. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to carry out the
implementation of this Act shall be included in the Universal Access to Quality
Tertiary Education under CHED in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the CHED and DA shall, in coordination with
public and private HEIs, promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively
implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 14. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts not affected shall remain
in full force and effect.

SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive
orders, letters of instructions, administrative orders, proclamations or
administrative regulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 16. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,