The Pinablin 4-H Calasiao Inc., a non-government youth group in Calasiao, Pangasinan, has commended Congress’ passage of a measure aiming for sustainability of food production through financial support to the next generation of farmers in the country.
House Bill (HB) 9575 establishes the young farmers and fisherfolk challenge program, council and funding.
“This is one way to return young people’s aspirations for agriculture.”
“Isang panukala po na magpapanumbalik sa mga kabataan sa aspirasyon nila sa agrikultura. (This is one way to return young people’s aspirations for agriculture),” the group’s president Gerald Quinit said.
Quinit said as a young farmer and leader of the organization, he saw a “brighter future” ahead in agriculture but there were obstacles, such as the wrong connotation that farming is difficult and provides meager income.
“Sana po maipatupad na ang Magna Carta of Young Farmers nang magkaroon kami ng boses.”
“Sana po maipatupad na ang Magna Carta of Young Farmers nang magkaroon kami ng boses at upang matulungan po kami na magkaroon ng mga iba’t ibang benepisyo at madagdagan ang tulong mula sa gobyerno. (I hope the Magna Carta of Young Farmers will be implemented soon so that the young people like me will have their voice and for us to have support through different benefits and there will be more help from the national government),” he said.
Pangasinan fourth district Representative Christopher De Venecia said the bill aimed to create programs to support and empower the young Filipino farmers and fisherfolk to become partners of the state in attaining food security, agricultural development, and modernization.
It is also to encourage young people to be active participants in agriculture.
De Venecia authored HB 1997 seeking to provide for the Magna Carta of young farmers, which was included along with other similar bills to create HB 9575.
HB 9575 has been approved but still needs to undergo the bicameral committee with the Senate for approval before it will be signed by President Rodrigo Duterte to finally become a law.
