Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV:
Quezon City

&

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G.
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS ENCISO VIII

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILL No. 280

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The average Filipino farmer is 57 years old with an educational attainment of
Grade 4. He makes roughly P23,000 ($529) a year, less than 1/3 of what his Thai
counterparts earn. The poverty incidence of workers in the agriculture sector is the
highest in the country at 38.3% in 2012, and has never gone below 20% since
19703. These figures clearly show that the people who supply the food that we eat
everyday are poor, hungry and aging. Given our ever-ballooning population, serious
food inadequacy in the future is a looming threat that must be urgently addressed.

This bill envisions a Philippines with 100% food sufficiency and reduced overall
poverty incidence. The first step to which entails a massive upgrade of the
agriculture sector which accounts to 32% of the total employment in the country, but
contributes a dismal 11% to our gross domestic product (GDP) as per the Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA) . This representation believes that our land and waters are
rich and bountiful, capable of producing enough harvest, catch and other goods not
only for Filipinos but for global consumption. We have only to involve this country's

best resource — its youth

Half a million fresh graduates endeavor to join the workforce every year.
Unfortunately, work in agriculture is one that is primarily inherited, not pursued in
school. In fact, enrollment in agriculture and related courses continues to go down
despite the increasing demand for food and other farm products in the country. This


bill recognizes the need to supply the agriculture sector with educated and techsavvy
young blood that could meet the needs of the agriculture sector in terms of

innovation, policy formulation, and even agri-business integration.

The bill seeks to establish a Tulong Kabataan sa Agriku/tura scholarship
program in agriculture, fisheries, forestry and related areas which is a ladderized
program in Diploma in Agricultural Technology (DAT), Bachelor in Agricultural
Technology (BAT) and Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness (BSAgrib). The program
will be offered to senior high school students in the agricultural and fisheries tracks,
and similarly situated students of agriculture and fisheries in tertiary education who
intend to enroll or continue with their education. Beneficiaries shall be granted
financial assistance covering tuition and other school fees, monthly living and
transportation costs, as well as expenses on books and other school supplies.
Through this bill, this representation believes that more of our Filipino youth will be

encouraged to pursue studies in agriculture.

A Tulong Kabataan sa Agrikultura Trust Fund shall be created for the
implementation and continuance of this bill. The Fund shall be sourced from the
General Appropriations Act (GAA), a percentage of the total gross collections from
the Professional Registration Fee of the Professional Regulatory Commission
(PRC), and other sources.

The agriculture industry has steadily declined over the past decades and many
feasons have been cited, namely: the lack of government support and investments,
absence of true land reform, and even the string of natural disasters that annually
devastate some parts of the country. Meanwhile, our population has only increased,
and our food inadequacy worsened. From 2010-2012, the Philippines had the 5th
highest food inadequacy at 54%, behind Cambodia (27.1%), Myanmar (29.5%),
Laos (38.3%), and Timor Leste (46.1%), according to the FAO’. The lamentable fact
is that we are not producing enough food to feed our current population. Experts
wam of a looming national food crisis should current trends continue.

* https://www.rappler.com/move-pMssues/hunger/52372-agriculture-hunger-food-security
“Ibid


We cannot overemphasize the need to finally prioritize the agriculture sector
and to legislate a Tulong Kabataan sa Agrikultura scholarship program to involve our
youth in our pursuit of food adequacy and sustainable and inclusive economic
growth. In consideration of the foregoing premises, the passage of this bill is urgently

ought.

MIGUBL,LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE

col bs fl



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 280

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G.
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS ENCISO VIII

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE YOUNG FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK CHALLENGE
PROGRAM, CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE YOUNG FARMERS AND
FISHERFOLK CHALLENGE COUNCIL, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short title. This Act shall be known as the “Young Farmers and
Fisherfolk Challenge Act’.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
ensure that the rights of young farmers and fisherfolk are recognized, protected and
promoted. Pursuant to this, the State shall engage the youth in nation building and
tural development, providing for this purpose access to knowledge, information and
education, access to land, new sources of financial services and capital, green jobs,
access to new and niche markets, and participation in policy dialogue.

SEC. 3. Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge Program. There is
hereby established a Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge Program, hereinafter
referred to as the Program, that shall support and empower the young farmers and
fisherfolk to be active partners in food security and agricultural development and
modemization. The Program shall encourage the youth to pursue a career or engage
in activities related to agriculture, ensure young farmers and fisherfolk participation in

policy formulation and program implementation relative to the agriculture sector, and


provide institutional support for agri-business and agri-entrepreneurship initiatives of

the youth to fully realize their role as agents and partners for development.

SEC. 4. Beneficiaries of the Program. The Program is intended to support
young farmers and fisherfolk between fifteen (15) to forty (40) years of age, who are
engaged in farming and fisheries activities, and are included in the Registry System
for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA). The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall

update its existing database to reflect these indicators.

SEC. 5. Creation of a Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge Council.
There is hereby created the Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge Council,
hereinafter referred to as the Council, to properly oversee the implementation of the
Program.

The Council shall be composed of the following:

a. Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) or a duly authorized
representative who is at least an Undersecretary, who shall be the Chair;

b. Representative of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) who shall
likewise be an Undersecretary;

c. Representative of the Department of Education (DepEd) who shall likewise
be an Undersecretary;

d. Representative of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST);

e. Representative of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED);

f, Representative of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR);

g. Representative of the Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA);

h. Representative of the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG):

i, Representative of a national organization of young farmers’ cooperative or
association, provided that the representative shall be between fifteen (15) to forty
(40) years of age:


j. Representative of a national organization of fisherfolk’s cooperative or
association, provided that the representative shall be between fifteen (15) to forty
(40) years of age;

k. Representative of a farmers’ women organization or cooperative, provided
that the representative shall be between fifteen (15) to forty (40) years of age;

|. Representative of a national organization for agritourism; and

m. Representative of a national organization for food, restaurant, and

business sectors.

The Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries shall serve as its

Secretariat.

SEC. 6. Powers and Functions of the Council. The Council shall have the
following 15 powers and functions:

a. Formulate the Program, in consultation with research institutions such as
the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in
Agriculture (SEARCA), Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural
Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), University of the Philippines -
Los Bafios (UPLB) and other relevant state universities and colleges (SUCs);

b. Identify and streamline access to relevant capacity-building and livelihood
programs across the different departments and agencies of government, including
on-the-job trainings, job fairs, employment in farm tourism and agro-industrial zones,
and other employment bridging initiatives;

c. Identify and streamline access to possible sources of credit across the
different departments, agencies, and instrumentalities, including access to start-up
capital;

d. Monitor initiatives in emerging best practices in agriculture such as smart
farming, farm tourism in compliance with RA 10816, or the “Farm Tourism
Development Act of 2016,” agroponics, aquaponics, hydroponics, and organic and
boutique vegetables;

e. Improve and facilitate access to marketing services such as through
product packaging, promotions including branding and advertising, networking
events, provision of subsidies to enable participation in trade fairs and exhibits, and
linkage with media;


f. Coordinate with local government units (LGUs) in providing subsidized
rental rates for public retail areas and public markets to farmers and fisherfolk;

g. Serve as a conduit between stakeholders and national and international
leaders including Congress and the private sector in formulating policies directly
addressing the concerns of young farmers and fisherfolk;

h. Propose subjects related to agriculture and agribusiness such as
gardening, backyard farming, urban farming, reforestation, agricultural appreciation,
agricultural entrepreneurship, smart farming, farm tourism, and coastal management
in all pertinent levels of the DepEd’s K-12 system with the end goal of increasing
enrollment in the technical-vocational track in Senior High School in courses related
to agriculture, CHED, including the National Service Training Program (NSTP) and
TESDA;

i. Ensure scholarships and subsidized tuition fees for young farmers and
fisherfolk in SUCs;

j. Provide on-the-job training programs for young farmers and fisherfolk in
areas such as
“green jobs”, reforestation, coastal management, fisheries, and other rural-based
jobs, through the DOLE’s Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) and
other livelihood and training programs;

k. Explore and facilitate the extension of short-term leases for public land to
young farmers and fisherfolk, providing free or subsidized land for cultivation and for
aquaculture, and developing other packages such as, lease-to-buy schemes that
would allow young farmers and fisherfolk to use available or unutilized agricultural
land or fishing ground for the purposes of said Program;

|. Expedite the leasing, distribution, and award of agrarian reform land to
qualified beneficiaries;

m. Facilitate the use of excess land holdings of SUCs and PEls for agricultural
training and developmental processes;

n. Foster the formation of new ideas and technologies by assisting agricultural
enterprises of qualified young farmers and fisherfolk entrepreneurs, pursuant to
Republic Act No. 11337, otherwise known as the “Innovative Start-up Act of 2018”,

©. Initiate social partnerships and rural development initiatives in partnership

with the private sector;


p. Optimize existing loan guarantee funds administered by various
government entities to increase the credit worthiness of young farmers and fisherfolk
experiencing difficulty in obtaining loans from banks due to lack of acceptable
collaterals, credit knowledge and credit track record; and

q. Accept donations, contributions, grants, bequests or gifts, in cash or in kind,
from various sources, domestic or foreign, for purposes relevant to the functions of
the Council. Said donations shall be deemed automatically appropriated for
purposes specified by the donor or in the absence thereof, for the programs and
projects as may be approved by the Council subject to the usual accounting and
auditing rules and regulations: Provided, That, cash donations shall not be used to

fund the personal services requirements of the Council.

SEC. 6-A. Tax Exemption on Donations. All grants, bequests, endowments,
donations and contributions made to and used actually, directly and exclusively by
the Council shall be exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as
allowable deduction from gross income for purposes of computing the taxable
income of the donor, in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal

Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

SEC. 7. Waiver of Government Fees and Charges. Subject to the
exceptions provided in Section 8 of Republic Act No. 11261, otherwise known as the
“First-Time Jobseekers Assistance Act’, all government agencies and
instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations, LGUs,
and government hospitals shall not collect fees or charges from young farmers and
fisherfolks who are first-time jobseekers: Provided, That such fee or charge is in
connection with the application for and the granting of licenses, proofs of
identification, clearances, certificates or other documents usually required in the
course of employment locally or abroad: Provided further, That the benefit provided

shall only be availed of once.

SEC. 8. Annual Report. The Council shall submit to the President and to
both Houses of Congress, not later than the 30th of March of every year following
the effectivity of this Act, a report giving a detailed account on the effective


implementation of this Act, and recommended legislation where applicable and

necessary.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the DA and DAR shall, in coordination with the DOST,
DOLE, DENR, DepEd, CHED, Land Bank of the Philippines, and National Youth
Commission, issue the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this
Act.

SEC. 10. Appropriations. The funds necessary to carry out the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's budget of the
Department of Agriculture. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General

Appropriations Act.

SEC. 11. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared invalid
or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain

in full force and effect.

SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, administrative orders,
and rules and regulations inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed or amended

accordingly.

SEC. 13. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,