Section 6Sec./Art. 6

Human Resources Development. All stakeholders in the sugarcane industry shall contribute to the development of a sustainable human resource for the industry. Towards this end, the DOLE, in collaboration with the SRA, the Commission on Higher Education, the TESDA, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the private sector, shall formulate and implement a Human Resources Development (HRD) Master Plan for the sugarcane industry which shall include, but not limited to, the following:

(a) Capacity building, skills trainings, institutional strengthening of the sugarcane industry workers, small farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries and their organizations to actively contribute in productivity and competitiveness;

(b) Scholarship program for the underprivileged but deserving college and post graduate students who are taking up courses in relevant fields of discipline in SUCs which have programs in agriculture, agricultural engineering and mechanics, and chemical engineering/sugar technology; and for vocational courses and skills development for farmers and farm technicians, and skilled workers in sugar mills, sugar refineries, distilleries and biomass power plants;

(c) Conduct of capability training or attendance to local or international trainings and seminars by farmers, mill, refinery, distilleries and biomass power plant technicians, including the SRA technical personnel on the latest technologies related to sugarcane farming, manufacture or production of sugar and other products derived from sugarcane;

(d) Formulation and implementation of competency standards and training regulations for technical vocational education and training for the sugarcane industry by the TESDA; and

(e) Upgrading of facilities, faculty development and strengthening of the on-the-job training program of agri-based higher education institutions in sugarcane areas towards the production of highly employable and globally competitive graduates needed by the sugarcane industry.