Press Release
February 7, 2009

LOREN CALLS ON FILIPINO ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS TO SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS OF AGRI AND FISHERIES STUDENTS

Senator Loren Legarda, Senate chair of the Agriculture Committee and concurrent chair of the Congressional Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization (COCAFM) invites alumni associations to support scholarships of students who will enroll in agriculture and fisheries courses.

The senator who will hear this coming Wednesday, February 11, 2009, the bill Institutionalizing the Young Farmers Program is alarmed at the disinterest of our youth to pursue courses in agriculture and fisheries. "They are weary of the occupation of their parents and life in the farm. They want to go to the cities and dream of white-collar jobs or just change their environment.", Loren said.

She therefore appeals to Filipino alumni associations here and abroad to make it their mission to provide incentives to their hometown youth to consider a future career in agriculture and fisheries so that the country could prepare the replacement for our aging farmers, estimated by rural sociologists to be in the age range of 70 to 75 years old. "I know that many of our alumni associations are wondering what are the most important involvements they could have in the development of their hometowns and provinces. I say that it is in averting the loss of producers in farm and fishing communities and in producing cadres who will propel agricultural and fisheries modernization.", the senator stated.

Senator Antonio Trillanes is the author of Senate Bill SB 2037-- Institutionalizing the Young Farmers Program. His bill seeks to provide support for graduates of agriculture and fisheries courses in their agribusiness or entrepreneurial ventures so that they will use their academic preparation for the development of the agriculture and fisheries sector rather than in unrelated fields. Senator Legarda will file her own bill this coming week, in time for the Wednesday's hearing. Her bill version includes as Young Farmers those who will enroll in agriculture and fisheries courses. "If they enroll in agriculture or fisheries course, they will enjoy scholarships. Our farmers and fisherfolks, our food producers, do not have enough money to send their children to college. So we want to help them."

Contemplating on the source of fund for the scholarship program, Loren said the Agricultural Competitive Enhancement Fund (ACEF) could allocate funds to state universities and colleges as well as private higher education institutions (HEIs) for scholarships. "And this is the reason why I am also calling our alumni associations to channel their donations to their alma mater for the support of those considering college education in agriculture and fisheries. I am also calling on the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) who chairs the National Agriculture and Fisheries Education System (NAFES) to orchestrate a core activity in career counseling in both elementary and high school-make the member education institutions conceptualize an attractive career guidance program so that our children will not look down on farming and fishing as a lowly occupation.", the senator stated.

"My bill will also provide for the training of the Young Farmers to become assistant extension workers of the Municipal Agricultural Officers (MAOs). The enrolled Young Farmers will assist the MAOs under the Adopt-a-Farm Program that is to be created by the legislative proposal. The adopted farm will become the student's field laboratory.", the senator added.

In the National Extension Services System bill heard by the Loren's committee on agriculture last Wednesday, February 4, 2009, the senator noted the dysfunctional agricultural and fisheries extension system in the country resulting from the devolution of extension personnel in the early 90s. "The extension bill seeks to strengthen decentralization by making the municipal extension officers accountable to the provincial agricultural officers (PAOs).

The national government, the Department of Agriculture, will provide under a grant-in-aid scheme, the salaries of the extension workers so as to insulate them from the politicized extension system in the countryside. We are not backtracking from our commitment to strengthen local governments. We just want to ensure that the standards for extension services are in place. And this is what the extension bill hopes to accomplish among others.", the senator said.

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