The Free Tertiary Agricultural Education Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 25 JUL -3 P3:40 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session PECU SENATE S. B. No. 67 Introduced by Senator Rodante D. Marcoleta AN ACT GRANTING FREE TERTIARY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION, AND OTHER RELATED COURSES TO ALL DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF QUALIFIED FARMERS, FARM WORKERS OR FISHERFOLKS, AND DESERVING FILIPINO STUDENTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE The agricultural sector has long been a fundamental component of the Philippine economic development, given the vast and rich agricultural resources of the country. In the first quarter of 2025, the Gross Domestic Product from agriculture decreased to Php456664.44 million from Php 523784.28 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.1 Considering the importance of this sector, being a major source of employment (~25%) in the country, it is important to note that a large proportion of agricultural workers actually live under poverty conditions.? In 2018, the agriculture sector employed 10 million workers which correspond to 24.3% of the national employment data. Poverty prevailed among agricultural workers with poverty incidence at its highest among farm workers at 41% compared to the national poverty incidence of 27%. Incidentally, according to a report from the World ' https://tradingeconomics.com/philippines/gdp-from-agriculture ZILO Studies In Philippines' Agricultural Sector

Bank in the Philippines, the output per worker has importantly increased over the last decade, but real wages have stagnated. 3 A significant challenge faced by the agricultural sector is the waning interest among Filipino students in pursuing agricultural education. This is due to continuous lack of opportunities and financial growth as well as rampant poverty prevalent among Filipinos working in the agriculture sector. During the recent years, there has been a notable decline in enrollment in agriculture-related courses across the Philippines, with the latest amounting to 1.5% decrease in enrolment each year. This downward trend raises a very serious concern for the future of the Philippine agriculture sector, reflecting a diminishing enthusiasm among the younger generation to continue and build careers in agriculture. In response to this serious concern, it is imperative to encourage increased student enrollment in agricultural programs to ensure the sustained development of the agricultural sector. This proposed measure seeks to address the issue by providing free tertiary education in agriculture and other related courses to qualified Filipino students, especially those children of our farmers, farm workers, and fisherfolks. It aims to serve as an incentive for the younger generation to pursue careers in agriculture by granting them access to quality education and training them in accordance with the latest trends and development in the agriculture industry. In addition to fostering a robust agricultural system within the country, this proposed measure aims to enhance and stimulate agricultural research - a vital component in advancing the sector. Through the free tertiary agricultural education to the qualified students, the state can help mitigate the declining interest in agricultural studies among students and contribute to maintaining the sector's competitiveness and long-term sustainability. 4https://www.searca.org/press/declining-agriculture-enrollment-poses-threat-to-food-security

In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. ( RODANTE D. MARCOLETA

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE JUL -3 P3:40 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session RECS SENATE S. B. No. 6'7 Introduced by Senator Rodante D. Marcoleta GRANTING FREE TERTIARY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION, AND OTHER RELATED COURSES TO ALL DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF QUALIFIED FARMERS, FARM WORKERS OR FISHERFOLKS, AND DESERVING FILIPINO STUDENTS, 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 Free Tertiary Agricultural

Education Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy, - It is the declared policy of the State to promote

sound agricultural development in the country and to achieve global competitiveness in the agricultural sector. Towards this end, education and trainings on Agriculture shall be 6 encouraged among the youth to inculcate the latest agricultural principles and techniques. The State, therefore, shall extend the avenue for this learning process by providing accessible education on agriculture and other related courses.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall be

defined as: a. Financially-Incapacitated Household refers to a family who is not classified as indigent but demonstrates clear inability to pay or spend for necessary basic expenditures for daily living, as determined and assessed by a social worker;

b. Qualified Dependent Children refers to the children of farmers, farm workers, or fisherfolks who have completed Grade 12 from any Philippine high school, are enrolled or about to enroll in any state college or university where agriculture and its related courses are offered; c. Qualified Filipino Student refers to any Filipino student who comes from an indigent or financially-incapacitated household that has completed Grade 12 from any Philippine high school, or who is enrolled or about to enroll in any state college or university where agriculture and its related courses are offered; d. Registered Farmers - are those individuals whose sole source of income is agriculture, who actually cultivate or till the land, whether as owner or lessee of the land, or who actually engage in crop production, livestock and poultry farming, and who are included in the registry of farmers of the Department of Agriculture (DA); and, e. Farm Workers - are individuals who do not own any farm land but, instead, are seasonably employed to perform agricultural work and services.

Sec. 4. Free Tertiary Agricultural Education Program (FTAEP) - The Commission

on Higher Education (CHED), in coordination with DA, shall establish a scholarship program for deserving Filipino students who want to pursue a degree in tertiary agricultural education. Qualified students shall receive the following: a. Free tuition fee, miscellaneous fee, and other school fees; b. Allowance for learning materials, supplies and equipments; c. Clothing or uniform allowance; d. Allowance for dormitory or housing accommodation; e. Transportation allowance; f. Internship fees, including financial assistance during on-the-job practicum training; g. Agriculturists board review fee; h. Annual medical insurance; and, i. Other education-related miscellaneous subsistence or living allowance.

Provided, That within one (1) year from the completion of the program, the scholar shall render a return to service work in the local agriculture sector for a period of not less than one (1) year, with corresponding salary and benefits. Graduates of this program shall have priority application to any work under the DA and its attached agencies.

Sec. 5. Qualifications for the Scholarship Grant - An applicant for the FTAEP shall

possess the following qualifications: a. Must be a Filipino citizen residing in the Philippines; b. Must be a graduating Grade 12 student or a graduate of Grade 12 from any Philippine high school, duly recognized by the Department of Education, who belongs to an indigent or financially incapacitated household duly assessed by a social worker; or a dependent child of a registered indigent farmer, farm worker or fisherfolk; and, c. Must have passed the entrance examination and complied with other related requirements for admission in an agriculture program or any related course thereto.

Sec. 6. Conditions for the Grant of Scholarship. - Deserving students accepted to

the FTAEP shall be subject to the following conditionalities: a. Must sign an agreement stating the terms and conditions of the scholarship program on a form duly prescribed by the CHED and the DA; b. Must carry the minimum load of subjects as prescribed by the State university or college (SUC) or higher education institution (HEI); c. The scholar may be allowed, for valid reasons, to file for a leave of absence for a period not exceeding one (1) school year; d. The scholar shall receive and continue to enjoy the benefits of the scholarship until the completion of the course, provided that he or she will not exceed the maximum residency rule of the program; and, e. Must render return of service in the local agriculture sector, within one (1) year from the completion of the course, for a period not less than one (1) year;

Sec. 7. Information Dissemination. - The CHED and DA shall conduct regular

information dissemination and recruitment with regard to the FTAEP to encourage qualified students to become agricultural scholars.

Sec. 8. Training While Serving Mandatory Return Service and Plantilla Positions. -

The CHE and DA shall develop programs and seminars for the continuous training of scholars while serving the mandatory return service under this Act. In addition, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), DA, and local government units (LGUs) where applicable, shall ensure that all scholars required to render return service under this Act shall be appointed to appropriate plantilla positions commensurate to their merit and fitness.

Sec. 9. Role of CHED. - The CHED shall have the following functions;

a. Ensure the timely and adequate release to partner-SUCs and HEIs of the funds necessary for the implementation of the MSRS Program, and monitor the timely and adequate release of the same by the partner-SUCs and HEIs to the scholar- beneficiaries under the MSRS Program; b. Require SUCs and HEIs to implement and submit a tracking, monitoring, evaluation and assistance system in order to determine the whereabouts of the medical scholars after graduation from SUCs or HEIs; and, c. Recommend, in coordination with partner-SUCs and HEIs, to the DBM the amount necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.

Sec. 10. Role of SUCs, Local Universities and Colleges (LUCS) and HEIS. - The

SUCs, LUCs and HEIs shall have the following functions: a. Monitor the progress of all scholars in their respective educational institutions, identify those who have low or failing grades, and counsel them to improve their academic performance;

b. Coordinate with the CHED to ensure the timely release and accurate distribution of allowances and other fees to the scholars; c. Make an annual report to the CHED on the performance of scholars and other necessary or vital information regarding the FTAEP; d. Assist the CHED in the conduct of regular information dissemination on, and recruitment to, the FTAEP; e. Recommend strategies to CHED and DOH to improve the implementation of the MSRS Program; and, f. Conduct a tracer study on the whereabouts of their respective scholars after graduation from their institution and submit the results thereof to the CHED;

Sec. 11. Role of DA and LGUs. - The DA and LGUs shall have the following

functions: a. Assist the CHED in the conduct of the regular information dissemination on the FTAEP and in the recruitment of scholar-applicants; b. Develop a career pathway for graduates and agriculturists who are beneficiaries of the FTAEP in the national agriculture service system to incentivize scholars to continue serving therein; c. Create a mechanism or system to provide the necessary support, including support to ensure their safety and protection, for the integration of scholars who will be assigned to the LGU; and, d. Recommend to the CHED any strategies to improve the implementation of the FTAEP.

Sec. 13. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the implementation

of this Act shall be included in the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education under CHED in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the

effectivity of this Act, the CHED and DA shall, in coordination with public and private

1 HEIs, promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this 2 Act.

Sec. 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid

4 or unconstitutional, the remaining parts not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, letters

of instructions, administrative orders, proclamations or administrative regulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Sec. 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication

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