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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
2nd Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representative PAOLO Z. DUTERTE 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The country’s agricultural industry has suffered the largest employment drop in 2022. 
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reports that the agricultural sector—
agriculture, forestry, fishing, and aquaculture industries—had its share of total 
employment fall from 24.5 percent (9.7 million) in October 2020 and 24.6 percent (10.77 
million) in October 2021 to 22.5 percent (10.60 million) in October 2022. In addition, 
according to PSA, the country’s farmers and fisherfolks remain to be the poorest in 
the country with a poverty incidence rate of 30.6% in 2021.   
The growing population, shrinking farm size and declining productivity have 
incentivized the shift out of agriculture, as the Philippine Development Studies (PIDS) 
reiterates. The PIDS also highlights the strong correlation between average daily basic 
pay and level of education in other sectors than agriculture which could attribute to 
the long-term movement of workers out of agriculture. Hence, acts towards 
agricultural development shall not only be limited in increasing agricultural 
production and farming subsidies but also in incentivizing members of the 
agricultural sector, particularly through increasing the access of the sector’s members 
and their families to education—a fundamental right affirmed under the 1987 
Constitution.  
Following this pursuit, this proposed bill seeks to grant free basic and tertiary 
education to children of farmers and fisherfolks. Alongside the implementation of 
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Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act which 
provides free tuition and other school fees in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) 
and other Local Universities and Colleges, the grant in this proposed measure will 
include all expenses for education, whether in public or private school, such as but 
not limited to tuition fees, miscellaneous and other fees, board and lodging, 
transportation expenses, allowances for books, clothing and food and other similar 
expenses. 
The agricultural sector must not be left in disarray alone, or else, the shift out of the 
sector will continue and food security will be endangered. In addition to showing 
appreciation to the invaluable contribution of the agricultural sector, increasing access 
to education of the sector’s members will also uplift and motivate agricultural 
research that is vital in the sector’s quest for development. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. PAOLO Z. DUTERTE 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
2nd Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representative PAOLO Z. DUTERTE 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR SCHOLARSHIP TO CHILDREN AND DEPENDENTS OF 
FARMERS AND FISHERFOLKS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 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 "Educational 
Scholarship for Children and Dependents of Farmers and Fisherfolks Act of 2023." 
           SEC. 2. Full scholarship for Children and Dependents of Farmers. - Children 
and dependents of farmers listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in 
Agriculture (RSBSA) shall be entitled to full scholarship from basic education until 
their completion of tertiary education subject to rules and regulations as mandated by 
this Act. The benefits shall include all expenses for education, whether in public or 
private school, such as but not limited to tuition fees, miscellaneous and other fees, 
board and lodging, transportation expenses, allowances for books, clothing and food 
and other similar expenses. 
           SEC. 3. Special Fund for Educational Benefits. - In order to carry out the 
provisions of this Act, there is hereby established a Special Fund, to be known as the 
"Educational Benefits for Farmers and Fisherfolks Fund," in the amount of Fifty 
Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00). Such fund shall be perpetually maintained and used 
exclusively for the benefit of children and dependents of farmers; Provided, that not 
more than 5% of this Fund shall be used for the administration of the Special Fund. 
           SEC. 4. Administration of the Fund. - The Unified Student Financial Assistance 
for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Governing Board, in consultation with the 
Department of Agriculture and three (3) representatives from the farmers and 
fisherfolks selected from a verified procedure of selection as agreed upon by the 
farmers and fisherfolks, shall have the primary responsibility of managing and 
supervising the Fund. It shall also be responsible in formulating the mechanics, scope 
and limitations, and requirements for the scholarship program. The UniFAST 
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Secretariat shall serve as the Secretariat providing administrative support to the Board 
and shall perform functions as authorized by the UniFAST Board. 
 
           SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the UniFAST Board in consultation with the Department of 
Agriculture shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act. 
 
           SEC. 6. Separability Clause. - If 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. 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
 
           SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
 
 
Approved,