Educational Assistance for Children and Dependents of Farmers and Fisherfolks Act

ma Office of the Sectery TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 26 FEB -5 P2:57 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1769 Introduced by Senator Camille A. Villar AN ACT PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO CHILDREN AND DEPENDENTS OF FARMERS AND FISHERFOLKS EXPLANATORY NOTE The country as an archipelago relies on agriculture and coastal fisheries as its key contributors to food security and nutrition. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), of the 43.7 million employed Filipinos, 22.2% are in the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (AFF) sector-87.3% in agriculture and forestry and 12.7% in fishing and aquaculture. However, farmers and fisherfolks remain the poorest among the workforce. According to PSA, farmers and fisherfolks consistently rank the highest in poverty incidence at 27% and 27.4% respectively. Using the above figures as the baseline, farmers and fisherfolks struggle to ensure the education of their children and dependents due to financial constraints. Thus, the State bears the responsibility of ensuring their access to quality education by providing educational assistance-in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 adopted by the Philippines as a member-state of the United Nations and public policy. The objective of this bill is aligned with Article 14, Section 2, paragraph 3 of the 1987 Constitution, which calls for the establishment and maintenance of a system of scholarship grants, student loan programs, subsidies, and other incentives which shall be available to deserving students in both public and private schools, especially to the underprivileged.

As such, approval of this measure is urgently sought. Caller sin CAMILLE A. VILLAR

Senaip TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE Office of the scorency REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session FEB -5 P2:57 SENATE 1769 RECEIVED BY: S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Camille A. Villar AN ACT PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO CHILDREN AND DEPENDENTS OF FARMERS AND FISHERFOLKS Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the " Educational Assistance

for Children and Dependents of Farmers and Fisherfolks Act".

Sec. 2. Educational Assistance for Children and Dependents of Farmers and

Fisherfolks. - Children and dependents of farmers and fisherfolks listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) shall be entitled to educational assistance from basic education until their completion of tertiary education in public school. The educational assistance includes free educational materials, board and lodging, transportation expense, clothing and other similar expenses.

Sec. 3. Special Funds for Educational Benefits. - In order to carry out the

provisions of this Act, there is hereby established a Special Fund, to be known as the "Educational Benefits for Farmers and Fisherfolks Fund", in the amount of Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00). Such Fund shall be perpetually maintained and used exclusively for the benefit of children and dependents of farmers and fisherfolks; Provided, That not more than 5% of this Fund shall be used for the administration of the Special Fund.

Sec. 4. Administration of the Fund. - The Unified Student Financial Assistance

System for Tertiary Education Governing (UniFAST) Board in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and three (3) representatives from the farmers and fisherfolks selected from a verified procedure of selection as agreed upon by the farmers and fisherfolks, shall have the primary responsibility of managing and supervising the Fund. It shall also formulate policies, implement rules and regulations, guidelines and other related functions to oversee, manage and supervise operations of the Fund. The UniFAST Secretariat shall serve as the Secretariat providing administrative support to the Board and shall perform functions as authorized by the UniFAST Board.

Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from

the effectivity of this Act, the UniFAST Board in consultation with the Department of Agriculture shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations for this Act.

Sec. 6. Separability Clause. - If any section or provision of this Act shall be

declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or the provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and

regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Sec. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following

its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,