Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No,__ 5267

Introduced by Honorable ERLPE JOHN “PING” M. AMANTE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines has a total land area of approximately 30 million
hectares of which 9.67 million hectares (32%) are classified as agricultural
land. It is also embraced by 220,020,000 hectares of water that is
considered to be one of the richest in terms of marine biodiversity. Inland
waters too abound with approximately 260,000 hectares being used for
aquaculture.

According to the April 2016 Labor Force Survey of the Philippines
Statistics Authority, 10 million Filipinos are dependent on the utilization and
exploitation of our lands and seas. However, the percentage of agriculture-
based employment has steadily gone down to 25% from a high of 52% in
1980.! The shift of employment to the industry and services sectors may be
an indicator of a modernizing economy but what should alarm the
government is the gradual ageing of our farm workers that is foreseen to
threaten the country’s food security. In 2013, the average age of Filipino
farmers was 57. This means that, if no new bloods enter the sector, the
Philippines could possibly run out of food producers in less than two
decades!

This alarming situation is primarily due to the lack of interest of the
youth to engage into farming or fishing. Most of them do not treat these as
serious professions and see these too difficult to do yet financially
unrewarding. True enough, in 2011, the average daily wage and salary of
farmers and fishermen was only Php 156.8 and Php 178.43 respectively -
which are comparable to the daily salary of domestic helpers?.

| World Bank. Databank. http: / /data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS?locations=PH
2 Jose Ramon G. Albert, Ph.D. How Important is Agriculture in the Economy?
http:/ /www.nscb gov.ph /beyondthenumbers/2013 /04122013_jrga_agri.asp


Poverty incidence is also high among fishermen (41.4%) and farmers
(36.7%) and this lamentable condition forces their families to send their
children to urban centers to pursue more lucrative careers. Those who are
usually left to toil the soil and fish the seas are those who have low level of
education and are thus less receptive to modern farming/fishing techniques
that could boost productivity and adapt to climate change.?

Young farmers also face a number of challenges including lack of
access to land, capital, and credit and lack of activities in rural areas that
support development endeavors. * It is worth noting, however, that the youth
has expressed the desire to stay connected to agriculture if only it is able to
provide decent livelihoods that support their family.

In order to address the aforementioned looming crisis, the government
must implement measures that will encourage the youth to venture into
agriculture and agri-business. One of which is through the implementation
of a “National Youth Agripreneurship Program.” Agriprencurship, a play of
the words “agriculture” and “entrepreneurship,” can contribute greatly to the
development of rural economies as it is seen to help improve the productivity
of farmers and fisher folks, reduce food costs, and increase and diversify
income opportunities.’ This Program was first introduced by the Committee
on Employment of the 11" National Youth Parliament last June 2016.

More than a food security initiative, the proposed Program is seen to
transform the youth into active contributors to rural development by being
promoters of agricultural value chain development and job generators in the
countryside. With the Program geared towards providing a comprehensive
and focused government support, it is expected that the young agripreneurs
will be able to improve their earning capabilities and consequently encourage
more youth to enter into the agriculture and fisheries sector.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

a

» Marilyn M. Elauria, Ph.D. (2015). Farm Land Policy and Financing Program for Young Generation in the
Philippines. nttp:/ /ap.fitc.agnet.org/ap_db.php?id=448

* PAKISAMA (2014). A Magna Carta of Young Farmers: Promoting the Contributions of Young Women and
Men Farmers to Family Farming. RetrievedSeptember 21, 2016 from http://asianfarmers.org/wp-
content/uploads/2015/02/5-Young-Farmers pat

5 Bairwa, S., Lakra, K., Kushwaha, S., Meena, L., & Kumar, P. (2014, March). Agripreneurship
Development as a Tool to Uplifiment of Agriculture. International Journal of Scientific and Research
Publications, 43). Retrieved August 18, 2016, from http://www-ijsrp.org/research-paper-0314/ijsrp-
p2770.pdt


Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5267

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable ERLPE JOHN “PING” M. AMANTE

AN ACT
CREATING THE NATIONAL YOUTH AGRIPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM
AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREOF

&& it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
session assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the
‘National Youth Agripreneurship Program Act of 2017."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy.
State to enjoin the youth to be

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the
following terms are hereby defined:

a. Agripreneurship - refers to agriculture- and fisheries-based
entrepreneurial endeavors that are fuelled by innovativeness,
dynamism, empowerment, and sustainability.

b. Youth = refers to Filipinos 15-30 years old in accordance to
Republic Act 8044 also known as “Youth in Nation Building
Act.”

SECTION 4. National Youth Agripreneurship Program. - There is
hereby a National Youth Agripreneurship Program — hereinafter
referred to as the Program - that shall promote youth Participation in


agricultural and fisheries development through agripreneurship. The
Program is open to all youth organizations registered with the National
Youth Commission (NYC).

The Program shall be guided by the following
principles:

a. For a youth organization to qualify as beneficiary of the Program
it must meet the following requirements:

1. Completed social preparation activities such as, but not
limited to, orientation about the Program, assessment of the
community’s socio-economic profile and needs, and study on
the available agricultural or fishery resources or crop
compatibility of lands.

2. Completed capacity-building programs that shall have
assisted them in preparing a comprehensive business plan
and trained them in setting up and managing the proposed
agri-business endeavor.

3. Completed a financial literacy program.

b. Non-collateral credit support, through the Land Bank of the
Philippines (LBP), will be provided to the beneficiaries based on
the schedule indicated in the submitted business plan.
Provided, That the release of tranches to the beneficiaries shall
be based on the business plans and subject to evaluation of the
monitoring reports.

c. The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall prioritize the
beneficiaries in the provision of grants or assistance such as,
but not limited to, seedlings, fertilizers, and other farm inputs,
farm/fishery tools and equipment, starting stocks, small
irrigation projects, post-harvest facilities, and crop insurance.

d. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) shall provide
assistance in product development, quality control, and
packaging.

¢. The Negosyo Centers shall assist the beneficiaries in promoting
their products to the domestic and foreign markets.

f. The beneficiaries shall be subject to the regular monitoring and
review of the Youth Agripreneurship Office. Only those who
comply with their respective business plans will be able to
continue in the Program.

SECTION 5. Creation of the Youth Agripreneurship Office. - There
shall be a Youth Agripreneurship Office (YAO) to be established in
every region. The YAO shall be attached to the Department of Trade
and Industry (DTI).

‘The YAO shall perform the following functions:

a. Accept and evaluate applications of youth organizations;


b. Facilitate the conduct of all necessary programs and monitor
their completion by all beneficiaries;

c. Coordinate with the DA, DOST, DTI, and other relevant agencies
in the provision of assistance to the beneficiaries based on the
approved business plans; and,

d. Monitor the execution of the business plans and implement
remedial measures should the need arise. Provided, That the
YAO shall set a limit on the number of projects to be monitored
by each monitoring officer. Provided further, That the YAO shall
implement measures to prevent  over-familiarization of
monitoring officers.

SECTION 6. Youth Agripreneurship Fund. - One Billion Pesos
(P1,000,000,000.00) shall be allocated to create the Youth
Agripreneurship Fund — hereinafter referred to as the Fund — that
shall be managed by the LBP. The Fund shall be used solely to provide
loans to the beneficiaries of the Program. All re-payments shall be
reverted back to the Fund.

SECTION 7. Spin-off from Beneficiary Youth Organizations. -
Individual youths or small groups may spin off from their mother
youth organization and avail of the benefits of the Program, subject to
the same monitoring procedures, upon validation of their capability to
engage in agri-business independently.

SECTION 8. Information Dissemination. - The Philippine
Information Agency, in coordination with the YAO, the DA, and the
DOST, shall ensure the proper and adequate information
dissemination of the contents and benefits of this Act to pertinent
media entities and all cities, municipalities and barangays.

SECTION 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out
the initial implementation of this Act shall be sourced from the
current budget of the DTI, DA, and DOST. Thereafter, such sums as
may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall
be included in the succeeding General Appropriations. Act.

SECTION 8. Congressional Oversight Committee. — There is
hereby created a Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor and
oversee the implementation of the provisions of this Act. The
Committee shall be composed of six (6) members from the Senate and
six (6) members from the House of Representatives with the House
Chairperson of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development
and Senate Chairperson of Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship
as Joint Chairpersons. The five (5) members from each chamber shall
be designated by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House
of Representatives respectively. The minority shall have at least two (2)
representatives from both chambers.


SECTION 9. Sunset Review. — As the need arises, or within
three (3) years after its effectivity, the Congressional Oversight
Committee shall conduct a sunset review of this Act. The term “sunset
review” shall mean a systematic evaluation of the accomplishments
and impact of this Act, as well as the performance and organizational
structure of its implementing agencies, for purposes of determining
remedial legislations.

SECTION 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -— The
Secretary of Trade and Industry, in consultation with the appropriate
agencies as may be deemed necessary, shall formulate the necessary
rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act within
ninety (90) days after its approval.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive
orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts thereof
inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is
held invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected
hereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)

days after its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,