RURAL FARM SCHOOLS LAW 

ENSURES FOOD SECURITY

Advocates and practitioners of Rural Farm Schools nationwide pushed for the faster implementation of RA 10618 or the Rural Farm Schools Act following the release of its IRR last August, (2015). Led by the Pilipinas Associations of Rural Families for Education and Development (PARFED), a press conference was held last November 25, 2015 to call for the establishment of at least one rural farm school in every province in the country.

 Cong. Sharon S. Garin of AAMBIS-Owa Partylist attended the press conference to show her support. She also authored the bill, closely monitoring its progress during house committee deliberations.

 “I fully support PARFED’s advocacy of strengthening and establishing rural farm schools nationwide. This is the reason why I authored the Rural Farm School Act. I came from a farming family and as the Chair of Congress’ Special Committee on Food Security, I recognize the special role of small farmers and their families on the issue of food security in the country,” Garin said in her remarks during the event.

 “The creation of Rural Farm Schools in every province would provide opportunity for young students interested in farming to experience firsthand farming operations as a positive move towards strengthening the farming industry,” she added.

 In a recent forum on food security and biotechnology in Congress, expert revealed that the Philippines remain vulnerable to low crop output due to climate change, which leads to price shocks and food insecurity.

 “These rural farm schools would be a good venue for research and development toward better agricultural practices, greater crop output and would be invaluable in the attempt to make our country food secure. Teaching our youth the value of farm work is one of the best investments in making our country food secure in the future,” Garin ended./MP