Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House Bill No. _ 3789

Introduced by Hon. Delphine Gan Lee

EXPLANATORY NOTE

There is very little investment in the agricultural and fisheries sectors. For every peso
loaned to the country, only a centavo goes to agriculture. To compound the problem, the
Filipino farmer is growing old. The average Filipino farmer is older than all of his Asian
counterparts. Local farmers are also less receptive to modern technologies due to its high cost
and lack of technical know-how to operate them.

This status quo is unacceptable if we are to be competitive in the ASEAN Economic
Community in 2015. More agriculture and fisheries graduates choose to concentrate in other
fields. Thus, they would rather go to cities or work abroad to work odd jobs after four years
of college. This is due to a dearth of opportunities locally.

This bill seeks to strengthen the active participation of the Filipino youth in
agricultural productivity by institutionalizing the Youth Farming Program. This intends to
equip the youth in with the necessary technical and entrepreneurial skills, to help them in
capital formation with the end goal of having them contribute to food security, generate
employment in the rural areas, and strengthen the agri-fisheries sector to meet the challenges
of the ASEAN Economic Community.

‘The early passage of this bill is thus earnestly sought.

HON, PI GAN LEE
Rept tative; AGRI Party-List


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3789,

Introduced by Hon. Delphine Gan Lee

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE YOUTH FARMING SECTOR, PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Youth Farming Sector
Act of 2013.”

SECTION 2, Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
inculcate in the Filipino youth the dedication and commitment to be effective partners for the
continued improvement of our agricultural and fisheries sector through entrepreneurship and

agribusiness.

SECTION 3. Policy Goals and Objectives. — This Act has the following objectives:

(A) To encourage young agriculture and fisheries graduates to engage in agribusiness
and support them to become entrepreneurs;

(B) To halt the movement of young farmers to urban centers or abroad by generating
better employment opportunities in the countryside; and

(C) To enlist young and competent entrepreneurs in improving the competitiveness of
the agricultural and fisheries sectors;

(D) To demonstrate to young graduates the high income potential in agribusiness thru

value-adding activities;


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(E) To emphasize to the youth their indispensable role in nation-building and

economic development.

SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. ~ The following terms shall be defined as:

(a) “Program” refers to the Youth Farming Program or YFP as established under this
Act;

(b) “Department” shall refer to the Department of Agriculture;

(©) “Young Farmer Entrepreneur” or YFE shall refer to an individual who is 18-35
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 agriculture or fisheries, or agribusiness course who shall be chosen from the
state colleges and universities (SCU’s) to represent their respective regions. The
YFE shall undergo training to be conducted by the Department, in coordination
with SCU’s, after which they shall be deployed to engage in agricultural activities

in their respective regions.

SECTION 5. Program Implementation. - An Executive Committee is hereby created
to implement the Youth Farming Program to be composed of five (5) representatives from the
different agricultural sectors to be determined by the Secretary of Agriculture, The Execom
shall oversee and monitor the implementation of this program. It shall also promulgate rules
and regulations and adopt rules of procedures to effectively carry out the provisions of this
Act.

SECTION 6. Local government units. - Local Government Units shall endeavor to
support the program through additional counterpart funding assistance, production,
processing, technical, and marketing support.

SECTION 7, Role of the SCUs. — The SCUs shall assist the YFEs in the preparation
of project proposals and feasibility studies. They may endorse projects to the YFP Executive

Committee.

SECTION 8. Funding. — The sum of Fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00) is hereby
appropriated out of any savings or unexpended balance in the National Treasury not

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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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain

valid and subsisting.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or
inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended

accordingly.

SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (1 5) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,