Solon bats for agri-fisheries state college in Basilan

House Deputy Speaker and lone Basilan district Rep. Mujiv Hataman. Photo from the congressman’s office

MANILA, Philippines — A state college focusing on agriculture and fisheries may soon rise in the province of Basilan, if the proposal passes the House of Representatives.

Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman has filed a House bill seeking to establish a tertiary educational institution in the city of Isabela, which will be called the Basilan Agriculture and Fisheries College.

“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 sources,” Hataman said in his bill.

It is likewise seen to promote research, advanced studies and academic leadership in the said areas of specialization, he added.

Agriculture and fisheries, according to the lawmaker, are among the main sources of livelihood for people in Basilan.

“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 said in a statement.

He pointed out that while the state college will focus on agriculture and fisheries studies, it will also offer a variety of courses to provide students with more options for them to enroll in.

If passed into law, the bid to have an agri-fisheries state college erected in Basilan will need a total of P5 billion for its initial implementation.

In the third quarter of 2022, the Philippine Statistics Authority saw a significant employment drop in the country’s agriculture and forestry industry.

Preliminary results of the October 2022 Labor Force Survey showed that the agriculture and forestry industry lost at least 510,000 workers–from 9.73 million in July to 9.22 million in October. – With reports from Kimberly D. Albaño, INQUIRER.net intern

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JPV