FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
Second Regular Session 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SENATE 
/ 
S. NO. 
3302 
Introduced bv Senator Antonio “Sonnv” F. Trillanes IV 
Explanatory Note 
Agroforestry system, which is widely adopted worldwide, can be advantageous over 
conventional agricultural and forest production methods through increased productivity, 
economic benefits, social outcomes and the ecological goods and services provided. Following 
this trend, the University of the Philippines in Los Bafios, with the participation of various 
sectors, developed the institution of a one-year Diploma in Agroforestry. Moreover, through the 
concerted effort of various government agencies, academic institutions and non-government 
organizations, promising agroforestry systems and technologies for the uplands were developed 
in the country. 
Thus, this bill seeks to expand the coverage of prior programs and activities as regards 
agroforestry through the establishment and execution of agroforestry programs in Higher 
Educational Institutions (HEIs) and State Colleges and Universities (SUCs) in the provincial 
level. The presence of such shall provide for educational programs, supports research, and 
promotes collaboration among organizations concerned with sustaining forested areas and 
enhancing the degraded ecological areas in the provinces. 
Further, this bill seeks to tap the direct involvement of students, communities and other agencies 
in reforesting the uplands through agroforestry in selected provinces. Through this Act,’ the 
partnership of the SUCslHEIs with community-based organization and local government units 
shall harmoniously promote agroforestry as means of forest restoration and increase the 
availability of timber in the market, With agroforestry, farmers gain a means of livelihood and 
environmental services are provided. 
In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly requested 
\ 
Senator 
1 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
/ I  . . 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
30 
a::--, 
,,,_ 
? , * : . : ~ ~ ~ , ' #  
?\' 
./ 
", 
S. NO. 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT AND EXECUTION OF AGROFORESTATION 
PROGRAMS IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGaER EDUCATION IN THE PROVINCES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House ofRepresentatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
TITLE AND POLICIES 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Ten-Year Higher Education 
Agroforestation Development Head Act of 2009" 
SEC. 2. Declaration of State Policies- 
1. The State in pursuance to the constitutional mandate of conserving the patrimony of the nation 
shall enhance the agroforestation of the degraded ecological setting (the uplands, lowlands, and 
coastal resources) by authorizing relevant State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and other 
Higher Education Institutions (HEls) in selected provinces in the Philippines to undertake a ten 
(10) - year Agroforestation Development Program starting first at their unutilized or idle land 
resources and expanding to adjacent communities. 
2. The State shall likewise ensure through this Act, the Operationalization of Section (8) (5) of 
R.A. No. 7722 (The Higher Education Act of 1994) which gives power to the Commission on 
Higher Education (CHED) to direct or redirect purposive research and development by 
institutions of higher learning to meet the needs of agro-industrialization and development. 
1 


6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
ARTICLE II 
PROGRAM 
THE TEN- YEAR HIGHER EDUCATION AGROFORESTATION DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 3. Purpose, Scope and Coverage of Development.- 
1. For purposes of this Act, a ten (10)-year Higher Education Agroforestation Development 
(HEAD) program in selected provinces in the Philippines shall be established with the assistance 
of other government and non-government agencies or organizations that may be identified by the 
HE1 in the province subjected to the program, who shall act as the lead unit in planning, 
implementing and evaluating the program in accordance with the following objectives: 
a. To enhance the agroforestation of degraded ecosystem in selected provinces of the 
country particularly the idle/ unutilized land resources of HE1 and their adjacent communities in 
collaboration with other government and non-government institutions: 
b. To translate the HEls Agroforestry Research and Development into agroforestry 
entrepreneurial technologies and promote ago-industrialization development, conservation of 
the environment, poverty reduction and socioeconomic upliftment of the affected people and 
communities; 
c. To upgrade the HEls and improve the delivery of quality of higher education in their 
respective service areas through a sustained agroforestry income generating projects. 
2. All HEls particularly the SUCs who are members of the Philippine Agroforestry Education 
and Research Network (PAFERN) having an existing agroforestry education and related 
activities or have the potential to engage in agroforestry extension and development services 
shall be the priority under this program. Other qualified HEIs which may apply and submit a 
project proposal to undertake agroforestation in collaboration with organizations such as the non- 
government organizations and local government units, to adopt a community maybe covered and 
supported under this Act. 
2 


7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
ARTICLE HI 
MECHANISM OF IMPLEMENTATION 
SEC. 4. Organization and Management.- 
1. The CHED, through the HEAD Taskforce, shall administer this program and be responsible in 
the effective over-all implementation of this Act. It shall organize the necessary 
instrumentalities, set policies of the program and submit progress and completion reports to the 
Congress. The budgetary support for the operational expenses of the Task Force shall be drawn 
from the Higher Education Development Fund administered by the CHED under Section 10 of 
R.A. No, 7722 and its personnel services shall be from the regular appropriation of CHED. 
2. Upon approval of this Act, the CHED and other identified HEls shall mobilize itself to 
organize the implementation of this Act and all other preparations, planning and otlier activities 
concomitant to the implementation of the program shall be charge to their respective institu&onal 
current operational expenditures. 
3. All the HEIs approved for inclusion and funding in this program shall develop a ten (10)- year 
detailed implementation rolling plan in agoforestation and submit reports to the CHED and their 
accomplishments indicating the impact of the program on conservation, environment and socio- 
economic upliftment of the affected people and the communities. 
SEC. 5. Funding Mechanisms. - In support of this Act the following funding mechanism 
shall be allocated: 
1. Effective on the calendar year 2010, all qualified and identified SUCs under the PAFERN 
shall be allocated an amount of one million pesos (Php1,000,000) additional budgetary grants 
annually for the next ten (10) years to implement the program which shall be treated as a 
revolving trust fund for the organization, implementation and business operation of the 
agroforestation program. 
3 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
a 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
2. Other provincial HEls having agroforestry related activities approved to be part of this 
program shall also receive a grant of not more than one million pesos (Php 1,000,000) and yearly 
therealter based on their proposed project to be treated as a revolving trust fund. 
3. All income generated and interest earnings shall be used as follows: fifty (SO) percent shall 
accrue to the funds for the sustenance of the project and/or expansion activities and the 
remaining fifty (50) percent of the support of the HEIs in improving its facilities/ 
equipmenVoperation in the delivery of quality education. The focus of which shall be determined 
by its governing boards. 
4. The appropriations of this fund shall be included in the General Appropriations Act for ten 
(10) consecutive years effective fiscal year 2010 until 2020 to be taken from any development 
funds allocated for agriculture, natural resources and environment. 
5. Other sources of fund may be tapped by HEls from the National Anti-Poverty Commission 
(NAPC), Quedan Rural Credit and Guarantee Cop. (Quendancor), local and foreign donors, the 
internal revenue allotments of LGUs involved in this program and from the partnership with the 
private industry. 
SEC. 6. HEIs Covertzing Boards’ Approval. - The detailed strategic and operational 
plans and its effective implementation as well as the hiring of staff, experts and consultants shall 
upon the recommendation of the President of HEI, be approved or decided upon by the 
respective governing boards of the HEIs in accordance to their corporate powers as defined in 
Section 4 of R.A. No. 8292. 
SEC.7. Repealing Clause. Any laws, decrees, ordinances or rules and regulations which 
are inconsistent with or contrary to the provision of this Act is hereby amended or repealed. 
4 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause, - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected hereby shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 9. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
5