AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee is prodding the Landbank of the Philippines to expand its scholarship program for dependents of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), something that it can easily do based on its income, the solon said.
The state-run financial institution recently announced that it has allotted P128 million for the new scholarship program to cover the educational expenses of 360 scholars from 2023 to 2028.
Local farmers' dependents will be the beneficiaries in the program dubbed, "Iskolar ng LandBank".
But Lee said Landbank should do much more and aggressively expand this program even as it catches up on its other duties.
Accordign to the rookie congressman, Landbank can easily afford expanding the scholarship as it has generated a net income of P30.1 billion in 2022, a figure that is 38.2 percent more than the P21.7 billion it earned in 2021.
"Baka naman maaari pang dagdagan ang scholars ng programa upang mas marami pa ang makinabang (Maybe we could increase the number of scholars in the program so that more people will benefit). We must remember that it would ultimately be to our benefit if we can convince the best and the brightest to pursue a career in agriculture. Winner tayo lahat kapag nanatili sila at napayabong nila ang sektor (If they remain in the sector, then we all win)," said Lee.
At any rate, Lee said the program was "a step in the right direction" in the effort to convince the youth to pursue a career in the sector amid a continued exodus of agricultural workers.
The program will support 60 new scholars every year until 2028, with each scholar receiving P100,000 per year to cover allowance and expenses for books, clothing, and other course requirements. Special cash incentives will also be awarded to those who graduate with honors.
According to Landbank, it has initially partnered with 12 state colleges and universities in Metro Manila; Northern, Central and Southern Luzon; Visayas; and Mindanao.
Lee has repeatedly called for government action to infuse “new blood” in agriculture, as the average age of farmers in the country is from 57 to 59 years old.
Former Department Agriculture (DA) secretary William Dar previously warned that the Philippines may face a critical shortage of farmers in 12 years.