COTABATO CITY — The Parliament bill filed today proposes to establish a scholarship and return service program for deserving Bangsamoro students pursuing degrees in agriculture and allied fields.

According to BTA Bill No. 185, human resource development in the agriculture sector will be strengthened by providing support to aspiring agricultural professionals.

The Bangsamoro Agriculture Scholarship and Return Service Program should be administered by the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education to provide scholarships, fill the human resource needs of the agriculture and food sectors, and produce competitive high-level and middle-level agricultural professionals.

Any scholar under the program is entitled to financial assistance from the Bangsamoro Government, covering tuition fees, allowances for books, uniforms, and transportation; internship fees, board review and licensure fees; and monetary assistance during review education-related subsistence.

Accreditation is available to 22 agricultural, fishery, forestry, and natural resources programs listed in the proposed bill.

The proposed bill requires the grantee to complete an internship at the Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry, the Environment ministry, or any other institution linked with or accredited to them.

In addition, after passing the licensure exams, the grantee must render mandatory return service for at least four years, preferably in the provincial offices closest to their hometown.

Upon the effectivity of the proposed bill, all other regionally- funded agriculture scholarship programs will be consolidated under this program.

It is authored by Members of the Parliament Atty. Laisa Alamia, Atty. Lanang Ali, Mohammad Yacob, and Mohagher Iqbal. (LTAIS- Public Information, Publication and Media Relations Division)