Senator Francis Tolentino is keen on putting the spotlight back on so-called "agricultural schools" in a bid to incorporate the youth in optimizing the agricultural, fisheries, and aquaculture sectors.

In his regular DZRH show on Saturday, Feb. 24, Tolentino spoke with Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Asis Perez to highlight the need to "refocus" on agricultural high schools in the Philippines.

“Sa education sector, ang isang dapat mabigyan ng pansin dito ay ang agricultural high schools kasi noong araw, napakaraming agricultural high schools (In the education sector, one of the things that should be focused on are the agricultural high schools because back in the day, there were a lot of agricultural high schools),” he said.

“Kung mababalik ang focus sa agricultural high schools, para pagdating ng kolehiyo, talagang interesadong-interesado na ang ating kabataan na mag-aral ng agrikultura (If we can bring back the focus on agricultural high schools, the students will really be eager to learn agriculture once they step foot onto college),” the senator added.

Tolentino likewise stressed the need to include knowledge institutions in the public-private partnerships (PPP).

“Ang nakikita kong missing link ay ang partisipasyon ng mga unibersidad— mga knowledge institutions. Sa fisheries, agricultural schools, maging research, dapat kasama na ang lahat ng mga estudyante. Kung hindi, magkakaroon ng disconnect (The missing link I have observed is the participation of universites--the knowledge institutions. When it comes to fisheries, agricultural schools, even in research, students should be included. If not, there will be a disconnect),” he said.

Tolentino endorsed this newest paradigm of development that involves universities, government, and industry in a bid to develop agriculture in the country.

Tolentino said the approach of involving the three institutions--termed a "triple helix", which he said works effectively in the agricultural development in the Netherlands and Germany--could potentially connect the new generation to the agriculture industry.

At present, the average age of Filipino farmers is 55 to 59 years old. This shows the lack of participation of the younger generation in the country's agricultural sector.

Tolentino said the direct involvement of universities with fisheries and agriculture courses could heighten youth participation in agriculture and fisheries development. This includes soil analysis and related research.

“The students from the universities could undertake soil analysis, for example, and apply innovations which could pave the way to close the gap for them to take on careers in agriculture and fisheries,” he said.

Tolentino said the application should be on a case-to-case basis, like in Central Luzon, where agriculture dominates; or fisheries in areas like Aklan and Zamboanga Peninsula.

Perez surmised that the younger generation shuns agricultural work because of low income and increased poverty incidence in the sector. Then there's also the option of employment in factories and overseas work.