TO boost agriculture and fisheries production in Basilan, a lawmaker has filed a bill seeking to establish a tertiary educational institution that aims to develop the two most important sectors in attaining food security.
Deputy Minority Leader and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman filed House Bill 7085 last Monday, which seeks to establish the Basilan Agriculture and Fisheries College and enable students from Basilan to study the latest trends and new technologies in agriculture and fisheries.
“Agriculture and fisheries are two of the main sources of livelihood for Basileños. A college that specializes in these two sectors will greatly benefit not only the citizens of Basilan, but the economy of the whole province as well,” Hataman, former governor of the now defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said.
“The state college will provide the necessary facility to enhance the desire of the people of Basilan for better education and develop the talents and skills of the youth in the province in the field of arts and sciences, teacher education, agriculture, aquaculture, engineering and technology, food technology, nutrition, as well as in vocational and other technical courses,” said Hataman.
According to the measure, the state college “shall primarily provide technical and professional training in sciences, arts, teacher education, agriculture, engineering and technology, fisheries, food technology, nutrition, as well as short-term vocational courses.”
“It shall likewise promote research, advanced studies and academic leadership in the stated areas of specialization,” HB 7085 read.
It shall be governed by a Board of Trustees composed of 11 individuals and chaired by the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). It shall also have the President of the College as vice chair, and the chairs of the committees on education and higher technical education of the Senate and the House, respectively, as two of the trustees.
The rest of the board shall be composed of: the Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority; the Minister of Basic, Higher and Technical Education of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; the President of the alumni association; the President of the faculty association; the Chairperson of the supreme student council; and two prominent citizens of Isabela City or of the Province of Basilan.
The Board of Trustees shall have the power to establish the following: an Institute of General Education Studies, a School of Agriculture and Aquatic Sciences, a School of Forestry and Environmental Science, a School of Engineering and Technology, a School of Education, a School of Business, a School of Veterinary Medicine, a School of Food Technology and Nutrition, an Indigenous Arts and Crafts Institute, and other schools and departments as the Board may deem necessary.
The bill said the amount of P5 billion from the National Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, and is to be allotted for the initial implementation of the proposal. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this proposal shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law.