J e n n ie
of ilif &«■ tfttetf
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
RECLIV
•17 
MAY-9
:DBY;__ _j_
P 6 ‘30,
SENATE Bill No. 1443
Introduced by SENATOR CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
E X P L A N A T O R Y  
N O T E
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FARM SCHOOL IN EVERY TOWN IN THE COUNTRY 
AND PROVIDE AGRICULTURAL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS AS PART OF THE 
TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL TRAINING FUNDS OF THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION 
AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
The Philippines is basically an agricultural country with 32.4% percent of its land 
devoted to agricultural production. The country has five major crops - coconut, rice, 
corn, sugarcane and banana.The agricultural labor force is 11.8 Million or about 30 
percent of the whole work force in the country. A typical Filipino farmer is usually 
working on the land of about one hectare or less and has an average age of 57 years 
old. (PSA)
Fishermen and farmers consistently posted the highest poverty incidences among the 
country’s basic sectors. In 2012, 39.2% of the fishermen are poor while 38.3% of the 
farmers are poor vis-^-vis a national poverty incidence of 25.2% (PSA). This compares 
to 41.3% and 38% seen three years earlier (2009) when the Philippines posted a 26.3% 
poverty incidence. Agriculture has become the seat of poverty in the country. Seventy 
percent (70%) of the poor can be found in the rural areas compared to thirteen (13) 
percent in urban areas and only 3.9 percent in Metro Manila. Agriculture has remained 
backwards and still grossly underdeveloped.
Compared to our Asean neighbors, our rural poverty incidence is three times higher. 
Vietnam’s rural poverty is only 17%, while Thailand and Indonesia -  14% and Malaysia 
has 8%. (Habito, 2016)
The industry and the services sectors performed better than the agriculture sector which 
has yielded the lowest productivity and lowest incomes over the years. The labor


productivity in agriculture barely improved. In the 90s, it grew at an average rate of only 
0.7 percent, less than half of the corresponding productivity growth in our neighboring 
countries. The total factor productivity, which embodies technology and efficiency, grew 
annually in the sector by an average of only 0.4 percent since the 1980’s as well -  way 
behind the corresponding gro\A4h in most of the countries in the region. From 1961- 
2012, data showed that the annual growth rate in agricultural productivity in the 
Philippines was only at 2.87 percent, the lowest among Asean countries.
Comparatively, neighboring countries showed better performance with 3.73 percent of 
Indonesia, 4.10 percent of Malaysia, 3.21 percent of Thailand, 3.67 percent of 
Myanmar, 4.16 percent of Vietnam, and 4.32 percent of China. (Dar, 2016)
Average annual growth of the agriculture sector over the past six years has only been 
1.3 percent, less than 3.2 percent posted in the previous six years. The industry sectors 
grew to 7.4 percent, nearly twice the 4% posted in the previous six-year period or from 
2004-2009. The Philippine services sector’s growth has also improved to 6.6 percent 
from previous period of 6.2 percent. Based on the Philippine Statistical Authority’s 2014 
report, the contribution to Gross Domestic Product of the three sectors are as follows -  
Agriculture -  P1.423Trillion or 10%; Industry -  P3.9 Trillion or 33.9 percent and the 
Services Sector, the biggest, or 46.9 percent or P7.248 Trillion. (PSA)
To improve rural income, achieve food security and inclusive growth, the role of the 
agriculture sector cannot be overly emphasized. Agriculture could do more to match the 
improvements and achievements in the industry and services sector. (Habito, 2016, 
PDI). Agriculture can create jobs, and has the greatest potential for high productivity, 
and should be the main driver of growth. It will provide food and vital raw materials for 
the rest of the economy. It is necessary in the pursuit of a broad-based economic 
growth and development.
Based on studies, the barriers to agricultural growth and higher productivity are: lack of 
technology, lack of mechanization, lack of financial literacy and the inability to access 
socialized credit — which are all indications of very low levels of education and human 
capital in the sector. More so, the failure of the public higher education system and the 
Local Government Units to do their extension mandate also contributed to the 
stagnation of our agriculture sector.
This representation believes, thus, that higher productivity in agriculture can come about 
through intensified technology generation, the promotion of high yielding and quality 
farm inputs, more infrastructure such as farm to market roads and post harvest facilities, 
and -  most importantly -  a better quality and accessible agriculture education to farm 
workers and owners as well.


The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is an agency of 
government primarily responsible for the formulation of continuing, coordinated and fully 
integrated technical education and skills development policies, plans and programs. It is 
the leading partner in the development of the Filipino workforce with world-class 
competence and positive work values. It has listed among its Key Result Areas rapid, 
inclusive and sustained economic growth and poverty reduction and empowerment of 
the poor and the vulnerable by Improving their human capabilities. Considering the 
catch up plan for our agriculture sector to reach the 11.8 million farm workers to make 
them better skilled and competent in the face of the ASEAN economic integration, a 
TESDA farm school in every town is necessary.
One of the major TESDA programs is the Training for Work Scholarship (TWSP) that 
aims to support rapid, inclusive and sustained economic growth through course 
offerings to key employment generators in the areas of agriculture and fisheries, 
agribusiness, 
agro-industrial, 
tourism, 
information 
technology-business 
process 
management, 
semi-conductors 
and 
electronics, 
automotive 
and 
visual 
arts, 
manufacturing, logistics and general infrastructure and other new and emerging sectors. 
(TESDA, website)
In 2015, the TWSP has been given a budget of P2 Billion, in 2016, some P2.2 Billion 
and in 2017 P2.4 Billion for an estimated 322,000 enrollees. The amount given to 
agriculture in the past three years has always been P500 million or twenty five percent 
of the TWSP allocation.
No less than our 1987 Constitution states that, the goals of the national economy are a 
more equitable distribution of opportunities, income and wealth; a sustained increase in 
the amount of goods and services produced by the nation for the benefit of the people; 
and an expanding productivity as the key to raising the quality of life for all, especially 
the underprivileged.
This bill seeks to assist the country’s small farmer sector by providing greater 
assistance and new opportunities for learning updated agricultural knowledge and skills, 
as well as capacity building in order to hasten the absorption and adoption of farm 
technologies that contribute to raising farm yields and overall rural productivity. It 
mandates the government to take the necessary appropriate steps to make education 
and training accessible to all.
The bill also recognizes the vital and strategic importance of the private sector, civil 
society groups and local government units as key partners in the provision of human 
resource development programs, including formal and non-formal education and 
training, with the end in view of establishing a more productive rural sectors and an 
agricultural system geared towards higher productivity.


A farm school in every rural town in the country can empower the rural sectors and 
small-hold farmers of a sustainable family enterprise. Farmers can by themselves be 
the owners of these farm schools or teachers too and access a new income stream 
aside from production, marketing, probably, farm tourism as well.
TESDA with its budget and mandate directed towards building an agriculture focus can 
improve the productivity of farmers and fisher folks. Courses that teach them to use and 
maintain farm machineries and introducing them to scientific production methods, 
processing and marketing, promoting organic and natural farming to lower cost of 
production inputs and livestock feeds, and operating their farms as a business, among 
others, may as well be the way to bring our rural folks out of poverty.
The farms once transformed into a successful income generating endeavor will bring 
back the interest of the youth to the farm and make them proud of tilling the soil, raising 
poultry and livestock, and may be teach other farmers too. After all, lifting them from 
subsistence farming to make them businessmen and women will assure the country of 
an improved economy, food security and is a trickle down strategy for the benefits of 
progress to be shared by the greater number which has always been an elusive dream 
to Filipinos.
CYNTHIA A. VILLAR 
Senator
Sources:
Dar, William. PH agri productivity lowest in Asean. httD://www.foodevolution.com.Dh/2016/08/Dh-aQri-Droductivitv- 
lowest-in-asean/
Habito, Cielito.Agriculture: the top priority, @ inquirer.net, February 16, 2016. 
http://opinion.inauirer.net/92923/aQriculture-the-tOD-Drioritv
Major Crops. Major Statistics of the Philippines- Regional and Provincial 2012-0672. 
http://psa.qov.ph/sites/default/files/maiorcrops10-14.Ddf
Liao, Karen, Voices from  the Field: Farmers need more government assistance and support for more sustainable livelihood. 
Rappler. November 30, 2013 http://www.rappler.com /m ove-ph/issues/huneer/42700-farm ers-government-assistance
Philippine Agricultural Figures, PSA. httD://countrvstat.Dsa.Qov.ph/?cont=3
Poverty incidence among Filipinos registered at 21.6% in 2015 - PSA. httDs://psa.aov.ph/povertv-nrR«;<;.rftiPagoQ 
Training for W ork Scholarship Program (TWSP) Guidelines. http://www.tesda.aov.Dh/About/TESD/V1277


v tW  
S e n a te
V4‘. ,r4i' >^Uhcf uf ;|if i, .'iTfiarr
f  ’
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE Bill No. 1443
■'7 
HflY-9, P 6 :3 o
RECtJVriO If;';
Introduced by SENATOR CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
10
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AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FARM SCHOOL IN EVERY TOWN IN THE COUNTRY 
AND PROVIDE AGRICULTURAL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS AS PART OF THE 
TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL TRAINING FUNDS OF THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION 
AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
8e it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION I. 
Title. -  This Act shall be known as the “Farm School and Agriculture 
Training Scholarship Act of 2017”.
SECTION 2. 
Declaration of Policy. -  Section 1, Article XII of the 1987 Constitution 
states:
“The goals of the national economy are a more equitable distribution of opportunities, 
income and wealth; a sustainable increase in the amount of goods and services 
produced by the nation for the benefit of the people; and an expanding productivity as 
the key to raising the quality of life for all, especially the underprivileged.
Towards this end, the State shall endeavor to assist the country’s small farmer sector by 
providing greater assistance and new opportunities for learning updated agricultural 
skills, as well as capacity building in order to hasten the absorption and adoption of farm 
technologies that contribute to raising farm yields and overall rural productivity. The 
state shall take the necessary appropriate steps to make education and training 
accessible to all.
The State recognizes the vital and strategic importance of the private sector, civil 
society groups and local government units as key partners in the provision of human 
resource development programs, including formal and non-formal education and 
trainings, with the end in view of establishing a more productive rural sectors and an 
agricultural system geared towards higher productivity.
SECTION 3. Objectives. -  The objectives of this Act are as follows:
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a) To promote rural and agricultural productivity by way of empowering human 
development in the countryside;
b) To give support and assistance to providers of agricultural learning systems of 
technical-vocational or non-formal education for farmers;
c) To formulate the long and short range skills and technical training programs 
calculated to achieve major self-sufficiency, efficiency, and stability in the food 
production system;
d) To formulate and establish comprehensive support programs and policy 
guidelines for the development of the technical training institutions and human 
resource development support for farmers, including the rural non-farm sectors, 
especially for crops, animal and fisheries production, farm mechanization, farm 
management using new and scientific technologies, post-harvest processing and 
marketing activities, financial literacy and how to access socialized credit;
e) To coordinate, integrate, and establish the effectiveness of the human resource 
policies 
and 
programs 
of 
all 
government 
agencies 
charged 
with 
the 
implementation thereof
SECTION 4. Farm School Promotion and Accreditation. -  TESDA shall facilitate the 
promotion and development and accreditation of Farm Schools nationwide and 
encourage farmers’ participation through:
> A system of accreditation to ensure the quality of agricultural education 
instruction and learning;
> Special modules on agricultural technology, farm mechanization, financial literacy 
and how to access socialized credit;
^  A scholarship program that will fund the farmers’ involvement in human capacity 
building programs for enhanced farm productivity and income.
SECTION 5. 
Minimum Requirements on Farm Schools. In order to ensure and 
enhance the effectiveness of the Farm Schools, the following features shall be 
considered as minimum requirements for accreditation, to wit:
a) . One farm lot with at least a hectare as a technical site
b) . A classroom that can accommodate 25 trainees at a time
c) . A library that can provide reference materials on the particular focus of the school
d) . At least one (1) resident trainer who has an agricultural degree or one with a trainer 
certificate from
the TESDA or the DA-ATI;
e) . Minimum security and safety facilities and equipment
f) . 
Standard registration and clearances, such as local business licenses, barangay 
and police clearances, registration from DA-ATI or any government agency giving 
recognition to train such as the DOLE, DAR, DTI.


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SECTION 6. 
Scholarship Funds. The TESDA shall henceforth set aside at least thirty 
percent (30%) of its training funds for scholarship in the accredited farm schools.
SECTION 7. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within three (3) months from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Director General of the TESDA, and the National Director of 
the DA-Agricultural Training Institute and the Undersecretary of the Department of 
Agrarian Reform in-charge of the development and capacity building of Agrarian Reform 
Beneficiaries (ARBs) shall form an ad hoc committee composed of two representatives 
from each of their agencies to formulate the implementing Rules and Regulations of this 
Act. Two representatives from the Agriculture Committee of both Houses of Congress 
shall join the meetings as observers.
SECTION 8. 
Appropriations. - An initial fund of P500 million shall be appropriated for 
the immediate implementation of this Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary 
for the continued operations and maintenance of the program shall be included in the 
annual General Appropriations Act; Provided that thirty (30) percent of the training and 
scholarship funds in the TESDA shall henceforth be set aside for the training and 
scholarship programs under the Farm School Act.
SECTION 9. 
Repealing Clause. 
- All laws, degrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly.
SECTION 10. 
Separability Clause. 
- 
If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions thereof which are not affected thereby shall 
continue in full force and effect.
SECTION 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,


S e n a te
o( titf g'. trfter?
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
*17 
MAY -9  
P 6 -30
RLC l I^/iI J  u v.
SENATE Bill No. 1443
Introduced by SENATOR CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
E X P L A N A T O R Y  
N O T E
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FARM SCHOOL IN EVERY TOWN IN THE COUNTRY 
AND PROVIDE AGRICULTURAL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS AS PART OF THE 
TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL TRAINING FUNDS OF THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION 
AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
The Philippines is basically an agricultural country with 32.4% percent of its land 
devoted to agricultural production. The country has five major crops - coconut, rice, 
corn, sugarcane and banana.The agricultural labor force is 11.8 Million or about 30 
percent of the whole work force in the country. A typical Filipino farmer is usually 
working on the land of about one hectare or less and has an average age of 57 years 
old. (PSA)
Fishermen and farmers consistently posted the highest poverty incidences among the 
country’s basic sectors. In 2012, 39.2% of the fishermen are poor while 38.3% of the 
farmers are poor vis-a-vis a national poverty incidence of 25.2% (PSA). This compares 
to 41.3% and 38% seen three years earlier (2009) when the Philippines posted a 26.3% 
poverty incidence. Agriculture has become the seat of poverty in the country. Seventy 
percent (70%) of the poor can be found in the rural areas compared to thirteen (13) 
percent in urban areas and only 3.9 percent in Metro Manila. Agriculture has remained 
backwards and still grossly underdeveloped.
Compared to our Asean neighbors, our rural poverty incidence is three times higher. 
Vietnam’s rural poverty is only 17%, while Thailand and Indonesia -  14% and Malaysia 
has 8%. (Habito, 2016)
The industry and the services sectors performed better than the agriculture sector which 
has yielded the lowest productivity and lowest incomes over the years. The labor


productivity in agriculture barely improved. In the 90s, it grew at an average rate of only 
0.7 percent, less than half of the corresponding productivity grov\rth in our neighboring 
countries. The total factor productivity, which embodies technology and efficiency, grew 
annually in the sector by an average of only 0.4 percent since the 1980’s as well -  way 
behind the corresponding growth in most of the countries in the region. From 1961- 
2012, data showed that the annual growth rate in agricultural productivity in the 
Philippines was only at 2.87 percent, the lowest among Asean countries.
Comparatively, neighboring countries showed better performance with 3.73 percent of 
Indonesia, 4.10 percent of Malaysia, 3.21 percent of Thailand, 3.67 percent of 
Myanmar, 4.16 percent of Vietnam, and 4.32 percent of China. (Dar, 2016)
Average annual growth of the agriculture sector over the past six years has only been 
1.3 percent, less than 3.2 percent posted in the previous six years. The industry sectors 
grew to 7.4 percent, nearly twice the 4% posted in the previous six-year period or from 
2004-2009. The Philippine services sector’s growth has also improved to 6.6 percent 
from previous period of 6.2 percent. Based on the Philippine Statistical Authority’s 2014 
report, the contribution to Gross Domestic Product of the three sectors are as follows -  
Agriculture — P1.423Trillion or 10%; Industry — P3.9 Trillion or 33.9 percent and the 
Services Sector, the biggest, or 46.9 percent or P7.248 Trillion. (PSA)
To improve rural income, achieve food security and inclusive growth, the role of the 
agriculture sector cannot be overly emphasized. Agriculture could do more to match the 
improvements and achievements in the industry and services sector. (Habito, 2016, 
PDl). Agriculture can create jobs, and has the greatest potential for high productivity, 
and should be the main driver of growth. It will provide food and vital raw materials for 
the rest of the economy. It is necessary in the pursuit of a broad-based economic 
growth and development.
Based on studies, the barriers to agricultural growth and higher productivity are: lack of 
technology, lack of mechanization, lack of financial literacy and the inability to access 
socialized credit -  which are all indications of very low levels of education and human 
capital in the sector. More so, the failure of the public higher education system and the 
Local Government Units to do their extension mandate also contributed to the 
stagnation of our agriculture sector.
This representation believes, thus, that higher productivity in agriculture can come about 
through intensified technology generation, the promotion of high yielding and quality 
farm inputs, more infrastructure such as farm to market roads and post harvest facilities, 
and -  most importantly -  a better quality and accessible agriculture education to farm 
workers and owners as well.


The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is an agency of 
government primarily responsible for the formulation of continuing, coordinated and fully 
integrated technical education and skills development policies, plans and programs. It is 
the leading partner in the development of the Filipino workforce with world-class 
competence and positive work values. It has listed among its Key Result Areas rapid, 
inclusive and sustained economic growth and poverty reduction and empowerment of 
the poor and the vulnerable by improving their human capabilities. Considering the 
catch up plan for our agriculture sector to reach the 11.8 million farm workers to make 
them better skilled and competent in the face of the ASEAN economic integration, a 
TESDA farm school in every town is necessary.
One of the major TESDA programs is the Training for Work Scholarship (TWSP) that 
aims to support rapid, inclusive and sustained economic growth through course 
offerings to key employment generators in the areas of agriculture and fisheries, 
agribusiness, 
agro-industrial, 
tourism, 
information 
technology-business 
process 
management, 
semi-conductors 
and 
electronics, 
automotive 
and 
visual 
arts, 
manufacturing, logistics and general infrastructure and other new and emerging sectors. 
(TESDA, website)
In 2015, the TWSP has been given a budget of P2 Billion, in 2016, some P2.2 Billion 
and in 2017 P2.4 Billion for an estimated 322,000 enrollees. The amount given to 
agriculture in the past three years has always been P500 million or twenty five percent 
of the TWSP allocation.
No less than our 1987 Constitution states that, the goals of the national economy are a 
more equitable distribution of opportunities, income and wealth; a sustained increase in 
the amount of goods and services produced by the nation for the benefit of the people; 
and an expanding productivity as the key to raising the quality of life for all, especially 
the underprivileged.
This bill seeks to assist the country’s small farmer sector by providing greater 
assistance and new opportunities for learning updated agricultural knowledge and skills, 
as well as capacity building in order to hasten the absorption and adoption of farm 
technologies that contribute to raising farm yields and overall rural productivity. It 
mandates the government to take the necessary appropriate steps to make education 
and training accessible to all.
The bill also recognizes the vital and strategic importance of the private sector, civil 
society groups and local government units as key partners in the provision of human 
resource development programs, including formal and non-formal education and 
training, with the end in view of establishing a more productive rural sectors and an 
agricultural system geared towards higher productivity.


A farm school in every rural town in the country can empower the rural sectors and 
small-hold farmers of a sustainable family enterprise. Farmers can by themselves be 
the owners of these farm schools or teachers too and access a new income stream 
aside from production, marketing, probably, farm tourism as well.
TESDA with its budget and mandate directed towards building an agriculture focus can 
improve the productivity of farmers and fisher folks. Courses that teach them to use and 
maintain farm machineries and introducing them to scientific production methods, 
processing and marketing, promoting organic and natural farming to lower cost of 
production inputs and livestock feeds, and operating their farms as a business, among 
others, may as well be the way to bring our rural folks out of poverty.
The farms once transformed into a successful income generating endeavor will bring 
back the interest of the youth to the farm and make them proud of tilling the soil, raising 
poultry and livestock, and may be teach other farmers too. After all, lifting them from 
subsistence farming to make them businessmen and women will assure the country of 
an improved economy, food security and is a trickle down strategy for the benefits of 
progress to be shared by the greater number which has always been an elusive dream 
to Filipinos.
CYNTHIA A. VILLAR 
Senator
Sources:
Dar, William. PH agri productivity lowest in Asean. http://www.foodevolution.com.Dh/2016/08/Dh-aQri-Droductivitv- 
lowest-in-asean/
Habito, Cielito.Agriculture: the top priority, (ginquirer.net. February 16. 2016. 
http://opinion.inQuirer.net/92923/aariculture-the-tOD-Drioritv
Major Crops. Major Statistics of the Philippines- Regional and Provincial 2012-0672. 
http://psa.qov.ph/sites/default/files/maiorcroDs10-14.pdf
Liao, Karen, Voices from  the Field: Farmers need more governm ent assistance and support for more sustainable livelihood. 
Rappler. November 30, 2013 http://www.rappler.com /m ove-ph/issues/hunger/42700-farm ers-government-assistance
Philippine Agricultural Figures, PSA. httD://countrvstat.Dsa.aov.ph/?cont=3
Poverty incidence among Filipinos registered at 21.6% in 2015 - PSA. https://psa.oov.Dh/Dovertv-press-releases 
Training for W ork Scholarship Program (TWSP) Guidelines. httD://www.tesda.aov.Dh/About/TESD/V1277