REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No, ‘7100

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
___HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Being an agricultural country, it is sad to note that the Philippines’ agriculture and fisheries
sector are among those which have been most neglected. We still import most of our food
requirements because we are unable to raise enough food for our people. As a result there is very
little investment in the agricultural and fisheries sectors. For every peso loan extended in the
country, only a centavo goes to agriculture. To make matters worse, the Filipino farmers have
grown old. Filipino farmers are older than all of their Asian counterparts and produce less than
their Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese counterparts.

The current situation in the agriculture and fisheries sector has likewise affected our young
graduates. More agriculture and fisheries graduates choose to concentrate on other fields. They
would rather go to the cities or go abroad to work as domestic helpers or caregivers after four (4)
years of college. But they cannot be blamed for this because aside from an educational system
that promotes employment rather than entrepreneurship, they find little or no prospects in
agriculture or fisheries.

Therefore, this bill aims to further strengthen the active participation of the Filipino youth in
agricultural productivity by institutionalizing the Young Farmers Program (YFP). The YFP
intends to equip the youth with the necessary technical and entrepreneurial skills, to provide
them production and marketing support, and to aid them in capital formation with the hope that
they may contribute to food security, generate employment in the countryside and energize the
agri-fisheries sector to meet the challenges of globalization.

This proposed legislative measure further intends to effectively instill to the Filipino youth the
needed dedication and commitment to be effective partners in nation-building in order to attain
sustainable development in the agriculture and fisheries sectors, which will help the country's
economic recovery program.

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

tepresentative
Magdalo Para sa Pilipino Party-List


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. “1 00

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE YOUNG FARMERS’ PROGRAM, PROVID!
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

3 FUNDS

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Young Farmers Program Act of
2018."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to instil in
the Filipino youth the necessary dedication and commitment to be effective and self-sustaining
partners for the further productivity and development of the country's agricultural and fisheries
sector through entrepreneurship and agribusiness.

SEC. 3. Statement of Objectives. - This Act shall have the following objectives:

a. To encourage young agriculture and fisheries graduates to go into agribusiness and
nurture them to become entrepreneurs and strong partners in nation-building;

b. To prevent the departure of young farmers for urban centers by generating more
employment opportunities in the countryside;

¢. To enlist young and competent entrepreneurs in enhancing the competitiveness of local
agriculture and fisheries;

d. To demonstrate to young graduates the high income potential in agribusiness thru value-
adding activities; and

€. To underscore to the youth their important role in economic development.
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - The following terms shall be defined under this Act:

a. "Program" refers to the Young Farmers Program or YFP as established under this Act;

b. "Department" refers to the Department of Agriculture;

c. "Youth" refers to individuals 18 to 35 years old at the start of the Program or who are
born after the approval of this Act: Provided, That they are college graduates or
individuals with at least two (2) years of college education or have completed a

vocational course and are currently engaged in an agribusiness or agriculture-related
enterprise or have, at least, three (3) years of experience in agribusiness;


d. "Young Farmer Entrepreneur" or "YFE" refers to an individual 18 to 35 years old, a
graduate of any Agriculture, Fisheries, or Agribusiness course and presently
unemployed, or a college graduate of any course but presently engaged in an
agriculture or fisheries enterprise, who shall submit a project proposal or feasibility study
for possible funding. Upon approval of his/her project, the YFE shall undergo training to
be conducted by the Department, in coordination with state colleges and universities
(SCUs), after which he/she shall be expected to implement his project; and

e. "Young Farmer Volunteer" or "YFV" refers to an individual 18 to 35 years old, a
graduate of any Agriculture, Fisheries, or Agribusiness course who shall be chosen from
the $CUs to represent their respective regions. The YFV shall undergo training to. be
conducted by the Department, in coordination with state colleges and universities
(SCUs), after which he/she shall be deployed to his/her region to undertake
advocacy activities and monitor the YFEs in his/her region;

SEC. 5. Implementation of the Program. - An Executive Committee is hereby created
to implement the Young Farmers Program (YEP) to be composed of representatives from the
National Agriculture and Fishery Council (NAFC), the Agricultural Fishery Council Foundation
of the Philippines, Inc. (AFCFPD)., the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Quedancor and the
Congressional Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization (COCAFM).

The YFP Executive Committee shall oversee and monitor the implementation of the
Program. It shall likewise promulgate rules and regulations to implement the Program and adopt
procedures and guidelines to effectively carry out the Program.

SEC. 6. Role of LGUs. - The LGUs shall endeavor to support the Program through
additional counterpart funding assistance, production, processing, and technical and marketing
support.

SEC. 7. Role of the SCUs. - The SCUs shall assist the YFEs in preparation of project
proposals and feasibility studies. They may endorse projects to the YFP Executive Committee.
They shall likewise provide technical support to the YFEs and YFVs.

SEC. 8. Funding. - The sum of Fifty million pesos (Php 50,000,000.00) is hereby
appropriated out of any savings or unexpended balance in the National Treasury not otherwise,
appropriated, to cover the amounts needed for the initial year of implementation. Thereafter,
such amount as shall be needed for the Program shall be included in the budget of the
Department of Agriculture.

SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,