STI, Jollibee school to make agri relevant again

Businessman Eusebio Tanco-led STI Holdings has firmed up a joint venture deal with tycoons Tony Tan Caktiong and Edgar Sia II to develop an agricultural school that will be integrated into a commercial complex in Tanauan, Batangas.

STI Education Services Group Inc. (STI ESG) broke ground on April 21 for the first phase of the STI Academic Center and CityMall in Tanauan, Batangas. This is part of an effort to boost agricultural education in the country through a “farm-to-table” school that will offer agricultural courses, including managing quick-service and gourmet restaurants, STI said in a recent disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Designed to accommodate 5,400 senior high school and college students next school year, the academic center will stand on a 35,114 square meter property in Soledad Park Subdivision, Barangay Darasa.

“My experience in JFC (Jollibee Foods Corp.) has given me unique perspectives on the challenges and importance of having a consistent and reliable supply of high-quality agricultural products. I am excited with this collaboration as it will help to uplift the agricultural and related sectors through education, another potential means for us to contribute to nation-building,” said Tan Caktiong, chair and founder of JFC.

The collaboration is meant to make agriculture as a more viable business that will attract next generation farmers. Despite a predominantly agriculture-based economy, farming has lost its appeal to the Filipino youth due to perceptions of agriculture as a less prestigious and profitable undertaking. Studies show that the average age of a farmer is 57 years old, posing threat to food security, productivity and sustainability.

This condition is seen more prevalent in rural areas where farming has been the primary source of income and where much of the population still live in poverty.

Based on the National Statistical Coordination Board’s report in 2009, poverty incidence is highest among fishermen and farmers at 41.4 percent and 36.7 percent compared to the overall poverty incidence of 26.5 percent.

Recognizing these challenges, Tanco said it was crucial to devise an up-to-date curriculum and amplify the domain of agriculture in preparation for the Asean integration. “It is imperative for both students and educators to cover the entire agribusiness commodity system and employ innovative approach and technology to be on par with the global standards in agricultural education,” Tanco added.