Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5659

Introduced by Rep. Cecilia Leonila V. Chavez
Butil Farmers’ Party

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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 development and institutionalization of farm schools in the Philippines is imperative
to achieve economic growth and development and ensure food security considering that
we are basically an agricultural country where 32 % of our land is devoted to agriculture.
This is also an effective strategy for poverty reduction as it could significantly provide
employment for our 11.8 million labor force which comprise 30% of the total work force
in the country. Latest statistics show that 70% of the rurl poor can be found in the rural
areas.

This representation believes that farm schools can also fill the gap in the mismatch of the
economy and education. It puts together local families and people concemed to work
toward education and training of young people or adults, social and professional
integration, and the long-term development of the area where it is located.

In farm schools, students can spend part of their time in school and a longer period in actual
work situations. In some cases, for example, it means one week in school and three weeks
in the farm or two weeks in school and three weeks in the farm or work shop. Such
schedule takes into consideration the reality where the students, young or adults, need to
attend to work for a living. Yet, they can now go to school to enrich their knowledge on
agricultural production which ultimately redounds to greater agricultural productivity,
better living conditions for farmers’ and fisherfolk families and economic growth and
development for the entire nation.


This representation also believes that farm schools shall produce a new breed of young
Filipino farmers cognizant that, at the average, most our farmers are 57 years old with only
five years of elementary education. Through farm schools a new crop of Filipino farmers
who are educated, technologically advanced to improve farm productivity and equipped
with entrepreneurial with management skills.

The concept of farm schools are not entirely new even in the Philippines. In fact, several
farm schools have already been in existence through the years through the initiative of
farmers’ organizations and cooperatives. Moreover, The Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA), in cooperation with the Agricultural Training Institute
(ATI) of the Department of Agriculture (DA), is set to establish farm schools throughout
the country to make our farm workers and fisherfolk better skilled and competent in the
face of the ASEAN economic integration.

The development and institutionalization of farm schools is essential in keeping with our
Constitution which provides 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.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate consideration and passage of this bill is earnestly

requested.

CECILIA LEONOILA V. CHAVEZ
Representative
Butil Farmers? Party


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 5659

Introduced by Rep. Cecilia Leonila V. Chavez
Butil Farmers’ Party

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

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

SECTION I. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Farm School and Agriculture
Training Scholarship Act of 2017”.

SEC. 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.


SEC. 3. Objectives. - The objectives of this Act are as follows:

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;

¢. 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;

€. To coordinate, integrate, and establish the effectiveness of the human resource
policies and programs of all government agencies charged with the
implementation thereof

SEC. 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. A system of accreditation to ensure the quality of agricultural education
instruction and learning;

b. Special modules on agricultural technology, farm mechanization, financial literacy
and how to access socialized credit; and,

c. A scholarship program that will fund the farmers’ involvement in human capacity
building programs for enhanced farm productivity and income.

SEC. 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;


¢. Minimum security and safety facilities and equipment; and,

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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 8. Appropriations. - An initial fund of PS00 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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,