Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._7744

Introduced by: “

YA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Enrolment in agriculture related courses are not so popular among the young generation
despite the huge demand for food and farm products. Most farmers in our country today belong
to the poor sector in our community and yet they are the one responsible for supplying food
products that is generally sold to the market and consume by a huge number of consumers. There
is a need for the young generation to participate in the development of our agricultural sector.

This bill seeks to establish a Lingkod Kabataan sa Agrikultura scholarship program in
agriculture business and other related industires. This scholarship program will entice young
individuals to pursue agriculture industries by giving the qualified students financial assistance
for tuition fees, cost of living allowances, and school materials.

The direct participation of the youth in the development of our agricultural industry is
important in the development of our nation’s economy.

Hence, this proposal is submitted for consideration.

“KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO 4, -
Representative
First District of Bulacan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. ‘7744
introduced by: “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT
ENCOURAGING YOUTH SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN THE
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, ESTABLISHING; FOR THE PURPOSE A
LINGKOD KABATAAN SA AGRIKULTURA PROGRAM AND A LINGKOD
KABATAAN SA AGRIKULTURA TRUST FUND, APPROPRIATING; FUNDS
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress Assembled:
ARTICLE I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 1. Title - This Act shall be known as the "Lingkod Kabataan sa
Agrikultura Act of 2018".

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy - The State shall give priority to education, science
and technology to accelerate social progress and promote development. Towards this end,
the government shall provide opportunities for all to obtain quality education and for this
purpose, scholarships in Agriculture, Agri-Entrepreneurship, Forestry and Fisheries are
hereby strengthened. It is also the policy of the State to develop graduates who will
become competent agribusiness managers and entrepreneurs.

SEC. 3. Objectives. - The objectives of this Act are to
a) Increase youth participation in the agricultural Sector,

b) Provide opportunities to poor but deserving students to realize their potentials in
agribusiness and entrepreneurships,

c) Develop competency skills and knowledge of students in agricultural
technologies and agribusiness,

d) Increase food production;

e) Commercialize proven viable technologies to increase food production and
income of rural communities through the development of livelihoods and markets,

f) Provide income to students while doing experiential learning and on-the-job
training which form part of their degree programs,

g) Link young farmer-students with Credit, financing, and marketing institutions,
and


h) Contribute to the alleviation of poverty.
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act:

a) "Lingkod Kabataan sa Agrikultura Program" or "The Program" refers to the
Scholarship program established by this Act which targets poor but deserving graduates
of agricultural and fisheries tracks in senior high Schools and similarly situated students
taking up agriculture and related courses in tertiary education,

b) "Lingkod Kabataan as Agrikultura Trust Fund" or "The Fund" refers to the trust
fund Created under this Act to ensure the achievement of this Act's incentives,

c) "Agribusiness Venture Laboratory" refers to agricultural subjects and classes
designed as business ventures in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and agri-
entrepreneurship including but not limited to raising of poultry, goats, Corn Or rice or
Crop production and Counted as satisfying the laboratory requirement of a course.

ARTICLE II
THE LINGKOD KABATAAN SA AGRIKULTURA PROGRAM

SEC. 5. Establishment of a Lingkod Kabataan sa Agrikultura Program. - A
Lingkod Kabataan sa Agrikultura scholarship program in agriculture, fisheries, forestry
and related areas to be administered by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is
hereby established. The program shall be a ladderized program in Diploma in
Agricultural Technology (DAT), Bachelor in Agricultural lechnology (BAT) and
Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness (BSAgrib). The program shall initially be offered by
the University of the Philippines - Los Bafios College of Agriculture in the first two (2)
years of this Act's effectivity. The program shall be offered in SUCs which provide
Courses in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and other allied fields.

SEC. 6. Target Beneficiaries. - The Program shall target senior high School
graduates of agricultural and fisheries tracks, and similarly situated students of
agriculture and fisheries in tertiary education, who have a general Weighted average of at
least eighty percent (80%) or its equivalent Provided, that beneficiaries who complete the
agriculture and fisheries tracks of senior high and who enroll in an agriculture, forestry,
fisheries, or other similar course in tertiary education shall Continue to be covered by the
Program.

SEC. 7. Assistance to Grantees. - Beneficiaries of the Program shall be entitled to
financial assistance, which shall include the following:

a) Tuition and other school fees,

b) Outright grant for prescribed textbooks and essential school supplies,

c) Transportation expenses, and

d) Monthly living allowance.

SEC. 8. Curriculum Formulation. - There is hereby established a technical

Committee which shall design the curriculum of the Program. The Committee shall be
composed of the following:


a) The Chairperson of the CHED, or his permanent representative, as Chairperson
of the Committee,

b) The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), or his permanent
representative, as the Vice Chairperson,

c) The Dean of the University of the Philippines-Los Bafos College of
Agriculture, and

d) One (1) representative each from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao from other
Colleges of agriculture, who shall be appointed by the President, and who shall each
serve a term of one (1) year.

At least twenty-five percent (25%) of the entire curriculum of the Program shall be
in the form of on-the-job training or related learning experience, Laboratory Components
of various agricultural subjects shall be in the form of agribusiness Ventures.

SEC. 9. Strengthening Agri-Fisheries Tracks in Senior High. - To achieve the
objectives of this Act, the Department of Education (Deped) is hereby directed to ensure
that agri-fisheries tracks are offered in as many senior high school programs in
appropriate areas nationwide.

SEC. 10. Agribusiness Venture Laboratories. - Each agribusiness venture shall be
under the supervision of a faculty who is also a technology expert in the chosen
commodity. The agribusiness venture laboratory to be developed must have short
gestation, around three to twelve (3 to 12) months, should be science and technology
based agribusiness, the end products should be highly marketable and the facilities
needed should be present within the SUC.

SEC. 11. Use of Idle Lands for the Agribusiness Venture Laboratory. - The
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall make available
untenured public lands under its jurisdiction for the use of students in their agribusiness
ventures under appropriate arrangements with CHED and the participating SUCs.

ARTICLE I
THE LINGKOD KABATAAN SA AGRIKULTURA TRUST FUND

SEC. 12. Lingkod Kabataan sa Agrikultura Trust Fund - To ensure the financial
sustainability of this Act, a Lingkod Kabataan sa Agrikultura Trust Fund is hereby
Created. The Fund shall be used exclusively to fund the Program, and shall be funded
from the following sources:

a) The amount of Fifty Million Pesos (Php 50,000,000.00) as seed capital;

b) The equivalent of ten percent (10%) annual share on the total gross Collections
of the travel tax;

c) The equivalent of ten percent (10%) annual share on the total gross collections
from the Professional Registration Fee of the Professional Regulatory Commission;


d) Grants, donations and endowments from domestic and foreign sources, pursuant
to existing laws and regulations,

e) Such amounts as may be indicated under the General Appropriations Act
(GAA) for the purpose of sustaining the Fund, and

f) All interest income of the trust fund.

SEC. 13, Administration of the Fund. - The CHED shall administer the fund and
shall make available all records of how the funds are utilized, disbursed, and invested, in
accordance with existing laws

ARTICLE IV
FINAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations, - The CHED in coordination with
the DA, and DENR and relevant private sector stakeholders shall prepare the
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of this Act and promulgate it within ninety
(90) days after approval of this Act.

SEC. 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the provisions hereof which are not affected shall continue to
have force and effect.

SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules or regulations
thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby modified or repealed accordingly.

SEC. 17. Effectivity. - This Act_shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official tte or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation, whichever comes ear];

Approved,