KABAYAN Party-list Rep. Ron Salo filed a measure that seeks to integrate a mandatory agricultural-scouting program in the curriculum for elementary and junior high school in all public and private schools.

He said that House Bill 6769 or the proposed Agri-Scouting Act aims to inspire and move young people to take leadership roles with strong emphasis on agriculture, fisheries, forest and marine conservation and management and ecology-related training programs.

The lawmaker said that he was inspired by the success of the boy and girl scouting movement in the Philippines whose training program prepares the youth for responsible leadership and nation-building.

Salo said that so much has been said about the predicaments in agricultural development and environmental conservation efforts.

“Sadly, however, there is no significant initiative to tap and empower the Filipino youth sector to concretely contribute to address these long-standing challenges,” he said in his explanatory note.

The measure also seeks to empower the youth and prod them to take a proactive stance in environment conservation and climate change resiliency, understand the fundamental concepts of proper food nutrition as well as modern farming, fisheries, and food production methods.