Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH (20th) CONGRESS 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
House Bill No. ______ 
___________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by 
Rep. ROBERT NAZAL 
___________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT  
TO CREATE PATHWAYS FOR ALL FARMERS IN ACHIEVING THEIR DREAMS FOR 
A BETTER LIFE AND A BETTER COUNTRY THROUGH A PROACTIVE AND 
INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT FOR AND AVAILMENT OF EXISTING GOVERNMENT 
AGRICULTURE-RELATED PROGRAMS FOR THEIR EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, 
ENHANCED PRODUCTIVITY AND AGRICULTURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP, 
AMONG OTHERS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The rising costs of fuel and other farm inputs, combined with the influx of cheaper 
imported agricultural products, have placed an even greater burden on the shoulders of 
our aging farmers. Many of them feel helpless and disadvantaged, despite the existence 
of several agriculture-related programs of the government intended to assist them. 
While there is the “Go Negosyo Center” for those who want to engage in 
entrepreneurship, and the “Malasakit Center” for those seeking medical assistance, no 
equivalent one-stop assistance center exists for our farmers. Ironically, it is our farmers 
who are most in need of government assistance and yet are the least informed of what 
government programs are available to meet their specific needs (such as training 
opportunities, free seeds, irrigation support, or financial assistance). 
Indeed, the government has numerous programs and projects aimed at uplifting the 
lives of farmers. These include agricultural trainings offered by the Department of 
Agriculture’s Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), irrigation projects through the National 
Irrigation Administration (NIA), loan and insurance facilities from government financial 
institutions like the Land Bank of the Philippines, scholarship programs under the 
Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) and the 
Department of Science and Technology (DOST), livelihood and training initiatives such 
as JobStart and Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers 
(TUPAD) under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), entrepreneurship 
July 1, 2025
6:05 pm
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assistance under the Department of Trade and Industry’s Go Negosyo centers, and 
even digital livelihood programs like the Rural Impact Sourcing (RIS) and Tech4ED of 
the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), among others. 
 Unfortunately, these programs are scattered across various agencies and are often not 
disseminated to as many farmers as possible. As a result, farmers have fragmented 
knowledge of the assistance available to them. One has to hop from one government 
agency or financial institution to another to gather the appropriate information — even 
within a single agency, different offices or bureaus handle different programs. The 
bottom line is that many farmers are effectively deprived of an opportunity to improve 
their lot simply because they are unable to avail themselves of the appropriate 
government support or assistance. 
Neither is there a single user-friendly website or mobile application that consolidates 
these programs in an accessible manner, particularly for those who do not have the 
educational background or training to sift through a myriad of information online 
(assuming they even have Internet connection). Perhaps in the near future, high-quality 
agricultural education from our state universities and trainings by the ATI can be rolled 
out via online courses to make quality education truly inclusive and open. 
This situation underscores the persistent digital divide in rural communities, where many 
of our farmers remain without reliable internet connectivity and lack the requisite digital 
literacy to access essential online resources. There exists an urgent need to establish 
inclusive technologies and community-based digital access points to bridge this gap and 
ensure that farmers are equipped with the tools and information necessary to thrive in 
an increasingly digital economy. 
Consistent with its longstanding advocacy to bring government services closer to the 
grassroots, the Bagong Henerasyon (BH) Party-list continues to champion the digital 
empowerment of marginalized sectors. Bridging the digital divide and empowering our 
farmers through accessible and farmer-friendly digital platforms are critical steps toward 
ensuring that public services are truly inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the needs 
of the agricultural sector. 
Under this bill, a center is created — the Magsasaka Center — which is tasked to 
collate information on all government agricultural programs, training opportunities, and 
forms of assistance, and to serve as a one-stop hub for farmers. Through its trained 
agricultural counselors, the Magsasaka Center will assess farmer-applicants, provide a 
customized plan of action, and recommend government programs suited to each 
applicant, with the objective of giving every farmer an opportunity to better his or her life 
through education, employment, training and/or agricultural entrepreneurship. In 
essence, the Magsasaka Center will serve as a farmer-first service delivery platform 
that brings together the various government services for farmers under one roof. To 
ensure the widest reach, the services of the Magsasaka Center will also be made 
available online and through mobile applications. By democratizing the government’s 
agriculture-related programs and customizing their availment based on the unique 


needs of each farmer, it is hoped that the growth of the country’s agricultural sector will 
truly trickle down to disadvantaged Filipino farmers at the grassroots. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Rep. ROBERT NAZAL 
     Bagong Henerasyon Party-List 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH (20th) CONGRESS 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
House Bill No. ______ 
___________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by 
Rep. ROBERT NAZAL 
___________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT  
TO CREATE PATHWAYS FOR ALL FARMERS IN ACHIEVING THEIR DREAMS FOR 
A BETTER LIFE AND A BETTER COUNTRY THROUGH A PROACTIVE AND 
INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT FOR AND AVAILMENT OF EXISTING GOVERNMENT 
AGRICULTURE-RELATED PROGRAMS FOR THEIR EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, 
ENHANCED PRODUCTIVITY AND AGRICULTURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP, 
AMONG OTHERS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 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 “Magsasaka Center Act.” 
SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY. 
The State shall provide every Filipino farmer who has the dream and desire to improve 
his or her life circumstances with access to all available government agricultural 
programs that will enable the farmer to obtain necessary training, education, 
employment, livelihood, or agricultural entrepreneurial opportunities suited to his or her 
needs. Access to appropriate government programs, education, training, and other 
assistance shall be ensured and promoted through the integration or collation of 
information on existing government programs for farmers, made available through the 
centers established herein or via online or mobile applications. 
SECTION 3. STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES. 
This Act shall have the following objectives:  
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A.
To collate and integrate information on all government agricultural programs,
projects, and services in order to make them easily accessible to farmers;
B.
To provide free assessment and counseling services to farmers through trained
agricultural counselors, thereby matching farmer-applicants with appropriate
government programs based on their unique circumstances, abilities and interests;
C.
To facilitate the availment by farmers of existing government programs for
education, training, employment, livelihood, and agricultural entrepreneurship
opportunities;
D.
To utilize digital technology (such as websites and mobile applications) as well as
on-site services to ensure inclusive and widespread access to Magsasaka Center
information and services; and
E.
To empower farmers at the grassroots level to improve their productivity and
quality of life by delivering government services and support through a
farmer-centric, “one-stop shop” platform.
SECTION 4. DEFINITION OF TERMS.  
As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
A.
Magsasaka Center - refers to a centralized one-stop hub established under this
Act, attached to the Department of Agriculture (DA), which consolidates
government agricultural programs, provides farmer assessments, and assists in
program availment through on-site and digital means.
B.
Farmer - refers to any natural person who is directly and personally engaged in
crop production, livestock or poultry raising, aquaculture, or any other agricultural
activity, and whose primary source of income is derived therefrom, whether as
owner, tenant, lessee, or laborer.
C.
Magsasaka Counselor - refers to a trained individual stationed at the Magsasaka
Center 
who 
is 
responsible 
for 
assessing 
farmer-applicants, 
preparing
individualized plans of action, and recommending appropriate government
programs based on each applicant’s needs, abilities, and goals.
D.
Magsasaka Peer Counselor - refers to a volunteer youth assistant, with
appropriate training, who helps farmer-applicants navigate and avail of the
services and programs recommended in their individualized plans of action.
E.
Government-Assisted Programs - refers to any form of government support,
including scholarships, training, livelihood assistance, credit facilities, or


 
entrepreneurship support, administered by national government agencies, local 
government units (LGUs), or government-owned and controlled corporations 
(GOCCs), intended to support the agricultural sector. 
 
F.​
Digital Platform - refers to any online or mobile-based application or portal that 
delivers Magsasaka Center services, including access to consolidated government 
programs, submission of applications, and access to online learning resources. 
 
 
SECTION 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF MAGSASAKA CENTER.  
 
A Magsasaka Center is an office where any Filipino farmer can avail of free assessment 
and agricultural assistance counseling. It shall provide customized recommendations of 
government programs appropriate to the applicant’s unique circumstances, abilities, or 
interests, and offer assistance in the availment of such programs. The Magsasaka 
Center shall be attached to the Department of Agriculture (DA) for purposes of policy 
and program coordination. 
 
Magsasaka Centers shall be established in the following locations: 
 
1.​
Within regional and/or provincial offices of the DA; and 
2.​
In other local government units (LGUs), as may be necessary or beneficial to local 
constituents. 
 
 
SECTION 6. MAGSASAKA COUNSELOR AND MAGSASAKA PEER COUNSELORS.  
 
Every Magsasaka Center shall have a Magsasaka Counselor and appropriate staff who 
possess the necessary training for the assessment of farmer-applicants and the 
recommendation of appropriate government program(s) suited to each applicant’s 
circumstances. The Magsasaka Counselor is a trained agricultural counselor who shall 
assess the applicant and create a customized plan which may include one, some, or all 
of the available government programs included in the consolidated information on 
assistance programs under Section 6 of this Act. A Magsasaka Peer Counselor is a 
volunteer youth counselor with appropriate training to assist applicants in the availment 
of the services and programs indicated in the respective Magsasaka plan of action for 
each farmer. 
 
 
SECTION 7. CONSOLIDATED INFORMATION ON GOVERNMENT-ASSISTED 
PROGRAMS. 
 
All appropriate government agencies and government financial institutions shall submit 
to the Magsasaka Center relevant information, forms, and, whenever practicable, 
application procedures for all current and available government assistance programs, 
including but not limited to: 


 
A.​
Scholarships through the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary 
Education (UniFAST), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and 
other appropriate government agencies; 
 
B.​
Training through programs implemented by the Technical Education and Skills 
Development Authority (TESDA), the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) of the 
Department 
of 
Agriculture, 
and 
the 
Department 
of 
Information 
and 
Communications Technology (DICT); 
 
C.​
Livelihood programs through the Department of Social Welfare and Development 
(DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and DA, among others; 
 
D.​
Entrepreneurship opportunities and training for micro, small, and medium 
enterprises (MSMEs) through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)’s 
Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC); 
 
E.​
Loan facilities or credit access; and 
 
F.​
Social services through the DSWD. 
 
Additional programs may be added to the above list as deemed necessary by the 
Magsasaka Center’s Executive Director, in accordance with relevant policies and 
issuances. It is the role of the Magsasaka Center to assess each farmer-applicant and 
recommend the appropriate government programs that will help the applicant achieve 
his or her goals. The Magsasaka Center shall likewise assist the applicant in availing of 
the recommended programs. 
 
 
SECTION 
8. 
COOPERATION 
AND 
COORDINATION 
WITH 
GOVERNMENT 
AGENCIES. 
 
Government agencies that provide academic programs, scholarships, trainings, 
livelihood or entrepreneurship programs, loan facilities and other financial assistance – 
such as, but not limited to, the DA, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the 
Department of Education (DepEd), the DOST, TESDA, ATI, DICT, DOLE, DTI (including 
the PTTC), and the DSWD – shall allocate at least five percent (5%) of their respective 
program allotments for use by the Magsasaka Centers to support farmer-beneficiaries 
identified under this Act. 
 
 
SECTION 9. PRIORITY IN GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS. 
 
Insofar as the government programs and projects covered under this Act are 
concerned, farmer-applicants served by the Magsasaka Centers shall be given priority 
in the granting of assistance and in the rollout of the programs enumerated under 


 
Section 6. When qualified, such farmer-applicants shall likewise be given priority in 
relevant government hiring or employment opportunities. 
 
 
SECTION 10. PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION.  
 
Subject to the policies and guidelines issued by the Executive Director, private 
individuals or institutions may establish duly accredited Magsasaka Centers in approved 
locations, as may be determined in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and 
concerned local government units. 
 
 
SECTION 11. ONLINE OR COMPUTER-BASED EDUCATION AND TRAINING.  
 
Each Magsasaka Center shall endeavor to provide access to existing online or 
computer-based learning resources for farmers, including but not limited to the DA’s 
Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) online programs, the Department of Information and 
Communications Technology’s Tech4ED program, and online training courses offered 
by TESDA. Other government agencies shall likewise coordinate with the Magsasaka 
Centers to effectively roll out existing free online training and courses for the benefit of 
Magsasaka Center applicants. Within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, the 
ATI, the University of the Philippines (UP), and other state universities and colleges 
(SUCs) shall develop and offer free, open online or video-based agricultural courses 
that shall be made available to Magsasaka Center applicants. 
 
 
SECTION 12. USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY TO 
DELIVER SERVICES. 
 
To ensure the widest and most inclusive access, the services and programs under this 
Act shall, as far as practicable, also be delivered through online means such as official 
websites and mobile applications. The Magsasaka Center’s mobile application shall 
integrate the free online or app-based courses offered by TESDA, the PTTC of the DTI, 
the ATI of the DA, and other similar government agencies or offices, for easy access by 
farmer-applicants. 
 
 
SECTION 
13. 
ROLE 
OF 
THE 
DEPARTMENT 
OF 
INFORMATION 
AND 
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (DICT). 
 
The DICT shall develop, set up, and maintain the necessary website, mobile 
application, and other ICT systems to implement the provisions of Sections 10 and 11 of 
this Act. It shall also provide technical assistance to the Magsasaka Centers and 
concerned agencies to ensure the full and effective implementation of this Act. 
 
 


SECTION 14. PILOT MAGSASAKA CENTERS. 
During the initial implementation of this Act, pilot Magsasaka Centers shall be 
established first in areas identified to have the highest numbers of farmers or 
agricultural students, in order to prioritize communities that can immediately benefit from 
the program. 
SECTION 15. PRIORITY FOR ASSISTANCE. 
Should there be a disproportionately high number of applicants in a particular 
Magsasaka Center at any given time, the following shall be the order of priority in 
processing applications and providing assistance: 
1.
Farmers classified as indigent who are not yet covered by the Pantawid Pamilyang
Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the DSWD;
2.
Those farmers who are covered under the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer
(MCCT) program;
3.
Those farmers who are covered under the regular Conditional Cash Transfer
(CCT) program; and
4.
All other applicants.
SECTION 16. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. 
The overall operations of the Magsasaka Centers shall be headed by an Executive 
Director who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the 
recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture. 
The Executive Director shall serve a term of six (6) years from the date of appointment, 
unless sooner removed for cause, or separated by reason of death or resignation. 
No person shall be appointed as Executive Director unless such person possesses at 
least a master’s degree in agriculture, economics, business, public administration, 
management, law, or any related or equivalent field, and has at least ten (10) years of 
relevant experience in said field or fields. The Executive Director must likewise have 
been a resident of the Philippines for a period of at least five (5) consecutive years 
immediately preceding the date of appointment. 
SECTION 17. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. 
The Executive Director shall have the following powers and duties: 


 
 
A.​
To direct and manage the affairs of the Magsasaka Center; 
B.​
To call and preside over meetings of the Magsasaka Center, and to ensure that its 
policies, programs, and rules and regulations are implemented properly; 
C.​
To identify solutions to key issues and concerns related to the Magsasaka Center’s 
mandate, taking into account relevant risks, affected parties, and impacts, in 
coordination with concerned government agencies and key stakeholders; 
D.​
To advocate the Magsasaka Center’s programs and services among various 
concerned sectors and stakeholders; 
E.​
To request any agency, organization, local government unit, or community group to 
assist in addressing issues and concerns relating to the implementation of the 
Magsasaka Center’s programs, projects, and activities; 
F.​
To supervise the monitoring of, and ensure the timely implementation of, 
Magsasaka Center–related programs, projects, and activities; 
G.​
To establish security and regulatory measures to prevent the abuse of the 
availment of government services covered by the Magsasaka Center; 
H.​
To accept, on behalf of the Magsasaka Center, donations, contributions, grants, 
bequests, or gifts – in cash or in kind – from foreign governments, international 
agencies, private entities, or individuals, for purposes that will help achieve the 
functions of the Magsasaka Center; 
I.​
To supervise the administrative operations of the Magsasaka Center, including the 
disbursement of its funds (subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules and 
procedures), and to submit periodic reports thereon; 
J.​
To appoint all employees of the Magsasaka Center, and to remove or discipline 
such employees for cause, in accordance with the Civil Service laws, rules, and 
regulations; 
K.​
To coordinate with the DICT for the roll-out of the Magsasaka Center’s services via 
online and mobile application platforms; 
L.​
To represent the Magsasaka Center in all dealings with other offices, agencies, 
and instrumentalities of the government, as well as with private persons or entities; 
M.​
To sign agreements and contracts on behalf of the Magsasaka Center, including 
those for expert or consultant services and other arrangements necessary to carry 
out the Center’s mandates; and 
N.​
To perform such other functions as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of 
this Act, or which are incidental to the proper performance of the duties of the 
Executive Director. 
 
 
SECTION 18. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.  
 
The Executive Director shall have the authority to determine the organizational 
structure, staffing pattern, and compensation scheme of the Magsasaka Center, subject 
to existing civil service laws, rules and regulations, and pertinent compensation laws. 
 
The Executive Director shall likewise have the authority to reorganize the Magsasaka 
Center and to create, merge, or abolish such divisions, units, or branches as may be 


 
necessary in the interest of efficiency, effectiveness, and economy, and as the 
exigencies of the service may require. 
 
 
SECTION 19. MERIT SYSTEM.  
 
All officials and employees of the Magsasaka Center shall be selected and appointed on 
the basis of merit and fitness in accordance with Civil Service laws, rules and 
regulations. The recruitment, transfer, promotion, and dismissal of personnel, including 
any temporary workers, shall be governed by a merit system to be established by the 
Magsasaka Center in compliance with existing laws, rules and regulations. 
 
 
SECTION 20. TAX INCENTIVES. 
 
All donations made to the Magsasaka Center shall be exempt from the donor’s tax and 
other applicable national or local taxes. Such donations shall likewise be considered 
allowable deductions from the gross income of the donor for purposes of computing 
taxable income under the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended: 
Provided, That the allowable deduction shall be equivalent to one hundred fifty percent 
(150%) of the value of such donation. 
 
In the case of donations not made in the form of money, the valuation thereof shall be 
based on the acquisition cost of the donated property, subject to depreciation in cases 
where the property has been previously used. 
 
 
SECTION 21. APPROPRIATIONS. 
 
The funds necessary to carry out the initial implementation of this Act shall be sourced 
from the unprogrammed funds in the current General Appropriations Act (GAA). 
Thereafter, such amounts as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this 
Act shall be included in the annual GAA. 
 
 
SECTION 22. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS.  
 
Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Magsasaka Center, through its 
Executive Director and in consultation with concerned stakeholders, shall promulgate 
the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. Such 
rules and regulations shall be published in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation and shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication. 
 
Provided, That the failure to promulgate the said rules and regulations shall not prevent 
the implementation of this Act upon its effectivity. 
 


 
SECTION 23. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. 
 
If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the provisions not 
affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
 
SECTION 24. REPEALING CLAUSE.  
 
All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules, and regulations, or parts thereof, which are 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
 
SECTION 25. EFFECTIVITY.  
 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or 
at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
 
 
 
Approved,