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Republic of the Philippines [Ss RECEIVED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES fo}
Quezon City, Metro Manila DATE _June 1, 2023 _
* TIME 8:01am
NINETEENTH CONGRESS eS BY i
First Regular Session °4

House Bill No, 8507

Introduced by Representatives JOCELYN P. TULFO and
RALPH WENDEL P. TULFO

‘This bill seeks to provide accessible tertiary education to the children of indigent
Filipino farmers to encourage the youth to take part in agricultural development in the
country and to achieve global competitiveness in the agricultural sector.

‘According to the March 2023 Labor Force Survey of the Philippine Statistics
‘Authority (PSA) the agricultural sector is one of the top five sectors with the largest drop
in the number of employed persons from March 2022 to March 2023'.

‘The agricultural sector ~ agriculture, forestry, fishing and aquaculture industries
had its share of total employment fall from 24.5% (9.7 million) in October 2020, 24.6%
(10.77 million) in October 2021, to 22.5% (10.60 million) during the same month in 2022.
According to Roehlano Briones, a senior fellow at the Philippine Institute for
Development Studies, population growth, as well as diminishing farm size and declining
incomes in agriculture, have incentivized the “shift out of agriculture”.?

Pursuant to Section Section 1, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution, the State has
the obligation to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all
levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. The State
shall also provide support to agriculture through appropriate technology and research,
and adequate financial, production, marketing, and other support services*.

‘Thus, to encourage employment in the agricultural sector and aid in achieving
agricultural global competitiveness, this proposed measure will provide opportunities to

+ https://psa.gov-ph/content/employment-rate-march-2023-estimated-953-percent

2 inttps://wrww.pids gov. ph/details/news/in-the-news/ph-farms-getting-empty agriculture-job-loss-a-worn
trend, December 8, 2022.

* Section 5, Article Xill of the Constitution states:

“SECTION 5. The State shall recognize the right of farmers, farmworkers, and landowners, as well as
cooperatives, and other independent farmers’ organizations to participate in the planning, organization, and
management of the program, and shall provide support to agriculture through appropriate technology and
research, and adequate financial, production, marketing, and other support services.”

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the children of indigent farmers who will continue to work on farms and encourage the
next generation to continue the cultivation of soil, planting of crops, growing of fruit
trees, and raising of livestock in their hometowns.

Moreover, this bill will uplift and motivate agricultural research which is vital to
the development of the agricultural sector.

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

REP. JOCI uy REP. RALPH WENDEL P. TULFO
Representative, ACT-Ci6 Partylist_ Representative, 2" District of Quezon City


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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. __ 8507

Introduced by Representatives JOCELYN P. TULFO and
RALPH WENDEL P. TULFO

AN ACT
GRANTING FREE TERTIARY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION, AND OTHER
RELATED COURSES TO ALL DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF QUALIFIED INDIGENT
FARMERS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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 “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 training in 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:


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a. Qualified Dependent Children - refers to the children of indigent farmers who are
enrolled or about to enroll in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) where

Agriculture and its related courses are offered.

b. Registered Indigent Farmers - are indigent 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).

Sec. 4. Implementation of Free Tertiary Agricultural Education. - The DA, in
coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall establish a
scholarship program for Tertiary Agricultural Education. Qualified dependent
children of registered indigent farmers intending to enroll or already enrolled in
agricultural courses or any related field offerings in state colleges and universities
shall be exempt from payment of tuition and other school fees and shall be entitled
to such other incentives or subsidies, including living and transportation allowance,
as may be granted in accordance with such rules and regulations to be promulgated
to carry out the provisions of this Act. Provided, that they meet the admission

requirements of the SUCs where they intend to enroll in.

Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within six (6) months after the
effectivity of this Act, the DA and the CHED shall issue the necessary guidelines, rules,

and regulations for the proper implementation of the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act, or parts thereof, is
declared unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of other

portions.


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Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
implementing rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

Sec. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication

in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,