EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
S E N A T E  
S. No. G52
3l ihr »'rn rtarp
-19 
JUL 22 PI
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
RATIONALIZING 
AGRICULTURE 
EDUCATION 
IN 
THE 
PHILIPPINES 
BY 
ESTABLISHING 
A 
NATIONAL 
SYSTEM 
OF 
AGRICULTURE 
EDUCATION 
INSTITUTIONS, PROVIDING FOR MECHANISMS OF IMPLEMENTATION AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Agricultural institutions play a major role in the efforts of the government to develop 
countryside agro-industrialization. Data gathered from different developed countries have 
shown that colleges and universities directly involved in agriculture are instrumental in 
improving the productivity of rural farming communities and contribute to the overall 
agricultural health of a nation.
We can ensure the growth and survival of our agricultural sector through the 
enhancement of agricultural education in the country. By improving agricultural education, 
we provide the sector with a high-level workforce that can assure better farm yields and 
proper use of natural resources which ultimately lead to better income for agricultural 
workers and the betterment of the sector as a whole.
This Act aims to establish the National Agriculture Education System (NAES), which 
is a step towards the stratification of institutional goals, upgrading standards and the 
improvement of school effectiveness in instruction, research and extension within the nation, 
region or province. Through NAES, the State commits the exposure of agriculture in all 
aspects to educators, students and the community to create and maintain an understanding 
and appreciation of agriculture and other industries related to it. The NAES is a great


opportunity for the State to promote agricultural awareness, and to enlighten the nation on 
the significance of agriculture to all members of society.
Our country is rich in many natural resources. 
And undeniably, one of our most 
precious resources is soil. With the climate change phenomenon at hand, we have to make 
sure that our policies and our ways of utilization of our soil resource keep up with the times. 
We have to push for the betterment of farm policy and agricultural education to make sure 
we use our resources properly for a sustainable future. We must get our farmers into 
classrooms, and we must let our students venture out onto farms. It is the duty of the State 
to not only protect but also preserve the land, to ensure its welfare for the next generation 
of our nation. We must work together in order to achieve a truly sustainable agricultural 
system.
This bill aims to improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of agricultural 
education programs across the nation while preserving the concern for equity or 
democratized access to higher education in the rural areas. It is a response to call for greater 
productivity, higher rural incomes and overall a better quality of life for the Filipino people 
across the nation.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is immediately sought.
4^
RAMO^BONG REVILLA, JR.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S E N A T E
S. No. 652
r-c-
a !  ! l ’ f
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVIlISv, jM; 22 P2 °
RECbl
AN ACT
RATIONALIZING 
AGRICULTURE 
EDUCATION 
IN 
THE 
PHILIPPINES 
BY 
ESTABLISHING 
A 
NATIONAL 
SYSTEM 
OF 
AGRICULTURE 
EDUCATION 
INSTITUTIONS, PROVIDING FOR MECHANISMS OF IMPLEMENTATION AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress Assembled:
1 
Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Agriculture Education Act of 2019".
2 
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policies. -
3 
a) The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens, regardless
4 
of sex, and creed to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate
5 
steps to make such education accessible to all.
6 
b) The State shall establish, maintain, and support a complete and
7 
integrated system of agriculture education relevant to the needs of the
8 
economy, community and society.
9 
c) The State shall provide non-formal education and training to farmers,
10 
farm workers and out-of-school youths in the rural areas.
11 
d) Agriculture education shall be coordinated with agricultural policies of
12 
the State and shall be oriented particularly towards improvement of the
13 
productivity and income of small farmers and increased self-sufficiency of rural
14 
communities.
15 
Sec. 3. Scope. - This Act shall apply to and govern both formal and non-formal
16 
continuing agriculture education programs being offered in all public and private educational
17 
institutions in the country.
1


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Sec. 4. Definition o f Terms. -The following terms shall mean as defined herein:
2 
a) Agriculture -  means cultivation of the soil, planting of crops, growing
3 
of fruit trees, management of forests, raising or catching of livestock or both,
4 
poultry or fish; including the harvesting and post-harvest handling of such
5 
products 
and 
other 
activities 
and 
practices 
performed 
by 
a
6 
farmer/fisherman/forester in conjunction with such operations done by persons
7 
whether natural or juridical.
8 
b) Agriculture and Environment Education -  pertains to organized and
9 
institutionalized instructions relating to professional, technical and vocational
10 
skills development, research for technology development, and extension of
11 
technologies in the various fields/disciplines in agriculture and allied sciences
12 
such as crop science, animal science, agricultural engineering, fisheries,
13 
forestry and veterinary medicine. Environmental concerns are integrated in
14 
each discipline.
15 
Sec. 5. Purpose. - Qualified existing public and private institutes, colleges and
16 
universities shall be developed into a network of an integrated system of Agriculture
17 
Education to respond effectively to agriculture and rural development needs of the country.
18 
Sec. 6. The National Agriculture Education System (NAES). -The network of qualified
19 
public and private education institutions shall be formed and established into a National
20 
Agriculture Education System (NAES), in order for agriculture education to have a unified,
21 
coordinated and improved system of implementation of academic program thrusts geared
22 
toward achieving agriculture and rural development of the community and country. However,
23 
in case there is no institution offering agriculture education in the service area which
24 
corresponds to the provision of Section 7 of this Act, the same shall be created or established
25 
according to implementing rules and regulations of this Act.
26 
Sec. 7. Components o f the System. - From among the qualified agriculture education
27 
institutions, regardless of the institution's system of governance as authorized by law, the
28 
network shall be composed of five (5) subsystems, namely: agriculture, agricultural
29 
engineering, 
fisheries, 
forestry and 
veterinary 
medicine. 
However, 
administrative
30 
organization and structures of the designated institutions shall be governed by their
31 
respective charters unless otherwise provided in this Act.
32 
a) The Agriculture Education Subsystem shall be composed of one (1)
33 
designated National College of Agriculture, one (1) designated Regional College


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of 
Agriculture 
in 
each 
region, 
and 
at 
least 
one 
(1) 
designated/converted/created Technical Institute of Agriculture per province as 
the case may be.
b) The Agricultural Engineering Education Subsystem shall be composed of one 
(1) designated National College of Agricultural Engineering and a designated 
Regional College of Agricultural Engineering per region to be located within the 
network of the agriculture education subsystem.
c) The Fisheries Education Subsystem shall be composed of one (1) designated 
Regional College of Fisheries to be located strategically in three (3) selected 
regions and a designated/converted/created Regional Institute of Fisheries 
Technology per region.
d) The Forestry Education Subsystem shall be composed of one (1) designated 
National College of Forestry and designated Regional College of Forestry per 
region to be located within the agriculture education subsystem, if possible.
e) The Veterinary Education Subsystem shall be composed of one (1) 
designated National College of Veterinary Medicine and four (4) designated 
regional College of Veterinary Medicine to be located strategically in four (4) 
selected regions within the agriculture education system.
Sec. 8. The National Colleges (NCs) shall:
a) Concentrate on the post-graduate programs and curricular models in the 
tertiary level;
b) Be responsible for the conduct of basic and applied researches and other 
scientific innovations;
c) Assist the RCs and institutes in their development efforts towards excellence, 
effectiveness and relevance, in instruction, research and extension or 
technology transfer;
d) Link up with national and international agencies to keep abreast of local 
needs and scientific advances; and
e) Share its expertise and facilities with the Government and private sector as 
far as policy recommendations, program planning and evaluation, and staff 
training are concerned.
Sec. 9. The Regional Colleges (RCs) shall:


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a) Concentrate on Bachelor of Science degrees with reasonable involvement in 
the postgraduate and model technology courses;
b) Focus an adaptive research needed in the region with reasonable 
involvement in basic and applied researches and verification projects;
c) Assist technical institutes in strengthening their institutional capabilities 
towards relevance, effectiveness and excellence in instruction, action research 
and technology transfer; and
d) Link up with and assist government regional offices in planning and 
evaluating their programs and in training their staff for agriculture activities. 
Sec. 10. The Regional Institute o f Fisheries Technology shall:
a) Concentrate on the Diploma in Fisheries Technology designed for the training 
of fisheries technicians on technical skills required of the fisheries industry;
b) Conduct verification tests of new techniques developed by research 
institutions and transfer positive results to field technicians, fishermen and fish 
farmers.
c) Assist the Fisherman's Training Center of BFAR in planning, implementing 
and evaluating their programs and training;
d) Assist high schools with fishery practical arts subjects to development of 
their instructional materials.
Sec. 11. The Provincial Technical Institutes (PTTs) shall:
a) Concentrate their curricular programs on technical and technology courses 
designed for farming and extension work with reasonable involvement in 
selected degree and non-degree post-secondary advanced technology related 
courses in agriculture;
b) Conduct pilot/action researches and verification trials to demonstrate 
advances in agricultural technology and transfer the same to technicians and 
farmers through field days, short courses and training programs.
c) Serve as a learning and technology resource for development agencies in 
the province in planning and evaluating programs in training technicians, small 
farmers, agricultural producers and entrepreneurs; and
d) Extend improved appropriate agricultural technologies to secondary and 
vocational high schools.


1 
Sec. 12. Other Roles and Functions o f the Institutions. - In addition to their regular
2 
roles and functions, all the member institutions mentioned above shall also serve as the
3 
agricultural training centers in their respective areas and offer continuing and adult
4 
education course for related line agency staff/farmers/fisherfolk and community leaders to
5 
hasten technology transfer, improve attitudes towards farming, and inculcate the importance
6 
of agriculture in nation building in support to the Magna Carta for Small Farmers. It shall
7 
also be the function of the institutions to provide assistance to students in conducting their
8 
income-generating projects as well as placement of their graduates.
9 
Sec. 13. Agricultural Education Development Council (AEDC). -The existing Technical
10 
Panel for Agricultural Education (TPAE) is hereby transformed into the Agricultural Education
11 
Development Council (AEDC) as the governing advisory policy body which autonomous and
12 
attached to the Department of Education (DepEd) with the following composition and
13 
functions:
14 
a) Composition. - The AEDC shall be composed of the following members to be
15 
appointed by the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports as its Ex-Officio
16 
Chairman:
17 
1) One (1) outstanding scientist, educationist or practitioner from each of the
18 
fields of Crop Science, Animal Science, Agricultural Engineering, Fisheries,
19 
Forestry, Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture Teacher Education who shall be
20 
nominated by heads of faculties, scientific or professional groups for a term of
21 
three (3) years, and from among themselves a Vice-Chairman shall be chosen;
22 
2) One (1) representative each from the Department of Agriculture,
23 
Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, Department of Agrarian
24 
Reform, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Budget and
25 
Management and the National Economic and Development Authority;
26 
3) One (1) representative from the Bureau of Higher Education, Department of
27 
Education, Culture and Sports;
28 
4) One (1) representative from the Professional Regulation Commission;
29 
5) One (1) representative from the Federation or Association of Colleges of
30 
Associations; Agriculture in the Philippines; and
31 
6) One (1) representative from the Federation or Association of Colleges of
32 
Associations; Agriculture in the Philippines; and
33 
7) One (1) representative from the Fund for Assistance to Private Education.
5


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b) Functions. - The AEDC shall have the following duties and functions:
2 
1) To study and review the overall philosophy and goals of agriculture and
3 
environment education in relation to the regional, national and international
4 
developments in agriculture and industry and formulate alternative directions
5 
and plans;
6 
2) To assess and identify the agriculture and environmental education, training
7 
and employment needs of the country in consultation with NEDA and other
8 
concerned agencies;
9 
3) To undertake policy, educational and evaluation research and recommend
10 
measures to improve agriculture and environmental education;
11 
4) To formulate and recommend guidelines and minimum educational
12 
standards with respect to curricula, faculty, equipment and facilities, library
13 
resources, student services, quality of output and other related criteria which
14 
shall be applicable to all NAES member-institutions;
15 
5) To develop and implement coordinative and collaborative mechanism of
16 
monitoring and evaluation of activities of NAES;
17 
6) To establish and operate a Management Information System (MIS) for the
18 
NAES;
19 
7) To provide technical assistance to educational institutions in the planning,
20 
development and implementation of agriculture and environmental education
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programs in cooperation with appropriate agencies;
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8) To receive or recommend grants or both for the funding of educational
23 
research and development following the existing accounting and auditing
24 
manual for research operations;
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9) To appoint AEDC staff and employees upon the recommendation and
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endorsement of the Executive Director; and
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10) To formulate implementing rules and regulations of this Act and
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recommend the same to the Secretary of Education within six (6) months after
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the effectivity of this Act; and
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11) To perform such other functions as may be deemed necessary.
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Sec. 14. Secretariat. -The AEDC shall be assisted by technical and administrative
32 
staff with appointment on permanent status to be headed by an Executive Director. The
33 
Secretariat's office shall be at the University where the National College of Agriculture is
6


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located. The services of a pool of experts/consultants/resource persons on full-time or part-
2 
time status shall be provided on special detail or secondment subject to the guidelines
3 
approved by AEDC.
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Sec. 15. Budgetary Scheme shall be as follows:
5 
a) The current appropriations or budgets of the public educational institutions
6 
in the NAES designated as the national colleges and regional colleges shall
7 
continue and shall be modified or adjusted in succeeding years in order to
8 
meet the standards of the rationalized programs of the institutions as approved
9 
by the Department of Budget and Management and shall be included in the
10 
Annual General Appropriations Act.
11 
b) The PTls/RIFTs in the NAES which are designated or newly created under
12 
this Act shall likewise be provided budgetary support based on their programs
13 
and new staffing pattern as approved by the Department of Budget and
14 
Management and shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.
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Additional institutions that may be established in the province shall solely be
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supported by provincial government funds.
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c) This Act shall hereby allocate an endowment lump sum amount of Ten
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Million Pesos (Php 10,000,000.00) per annum for the next ten (10) years and
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shall be included in the General Appropriations Act starting calendar year 2020.
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This fund shall be called as the Agriculture Education Program Development
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Fund to support the development, improvement and implementation of priority
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agriculture education and farmers' entrepreneurial training programs of NAES
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member institutions: Provided, further, that such fund shall be invested in
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government bonds and securities and managed by AEDC using only the
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interest earnings of the said fund.
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d) The operations of the AEDC shall be funded initially from the DepEd budget
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allocation for the Technical Panel for Agricultural Education (TPAE). Upon the
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effectivity of this Act, TPAE shall be replaced by the AEDC and all equipment,
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qualified personnel and projects of the TPAE shall be transferred to AEDC.
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Subsequently, the initial amount of at least Five Million Pesos (Php
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5,000,000.00) shall be allocated for the AEDC in the General Appropriations
32 
Act.


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Sec. 16. Fiduciary, Endowment and Revolving Funds. -The Fiduciary and Revolving 
Funds centralized under P.D. 711 are hereby authorized and reallocated to the institutions 
in NAES to encourage them to demonstrate technologies that they develop in their 
laboratories, experimental farms and income-generating projects, furthermore endowment 
funds shall be authorized to be accumulated in the institutions, out of any funds generated 
from unallocated savings, earnings or from any other external sources to be used as 
incentives for professorial chairs, teachers/employees incentives award systems, faculty 
fellowship programs and the like. Such funds shall be disbursed in accordance with law and 
guidelines set by AEDEC and the Commission on Audit.
Approved,