Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

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HOUSE BILL NO. *9

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

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EXPLANATORY NOTE
Clamor for a better food system and higher food budget among the country's prison
facilities have been heard as far back the early 2000s. This led to the passage of the
Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013 which mandated decent provisions of living
quarters, food, water and clothing to inmates. However, the call for a raise in the food
budget for the inmates still persisted. This is only expected to rise as the number of
admitted inmates swelled by as much as 40 percent in the latter half of 2017*. Early
this year, the Manila City Jail resorted to buying commercial rice despite its higher
price tag due to lack of supply from the National Food Authority’

To address the need for access to adequate food for the country's penal institutions,
this bill proposes to implement Prison Agricultural programs in prison facilities. The
program will provide training to prisoners who will be allowed to work and cultivate the
arable areas and perform farming activities for their own consumption or to be sold for
profit. It aims to help increase rice and food production and recoup money for the
inmates' welfare.

The concept of Prison Farms is not new to the Philippines—the Iwahig Prison and
Penal Farm in Palawan is one of the many that practice maintaining open-air jails
Along other colony-type penal institutions, there is definitely room for improvement in
the penitentiary system in the country.

As such, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

AY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

1749
HOUSE BILL NO.

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Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

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AN ACT MANDATING ALL PENAL INSTITUTIONS WITH AREAS SUITABLE FOR
AGRICULTURE TO IMPLEMENT A VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURAL LIVELIHOOD
PROGRAM FOR PRISONERS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled

SECTION 1. Prison Agricultural Program. — The Bureau of Corrections shall in
Coordination with the Department of Agriculture, implement a voluntary agricultural
livelihood program in all penal institutions with areas suitable for agriculture. The
Program shall provide training within their respective penal institution to prisoners who
will be allowed to work and cultivate the arable areas and perform farming activities to
produce crops and goods for their own consumption or to be sold for profit. The profits
derived from the program shall be credited to the Prison Agriculture Revolving Fund

SECTION 2. Role of the Department of Agriculture. — The Department of Agriculture
shall supply the seeds, fertilizers, equipment and other implements necessary for the
voluntary agricultural livelihood program and shall provide technical support and advice
to prison personnel on the management and maintenance of the prison farm. It shall
also provide the prisoners who will participate in the program the necessary training on
agriculture, equipment operations, and farming procedures.


The head of the penal institution shall act as the custodian of the agricultural supplies
and equipment.

SECTION 3. Voluntary Participation of Prisoners and Their Wages. — The prisoners
who will work in the farm shall be chosen upon the recommendation by the head of the
penal institution concerned based on a criteria that shall be determined by the
Department of Justice (DOJ).

The chosen prisoners shall work on a voluntary basis only, in which case the participant
shall be paid the minimum wage rate that is prevailing in the area where the penal
institution is located. The compensation shall be paid from the Prison Agriculture
Revolving Fund.

SECTION 4. Prison Agricultural Revolving Fund. — Every penal institution
implementing the agricultural program shall establish the "Prison Agricultural Revolving
Fund," consisting of the earnings derived from the program.

The Prison Agriculture Revolving Fund shall be exclusively and primarily used for the
following:

a. Payment of wages of inmates who work in the prison farm; and

b. Acquisition of agricultural inputs, seeds and fertilizers and other provisions for
farming.

At the end of the year, fifty percent (50%) of the Prison Agricultural Revolving Fund
shall be given as dividends to all inmates who participated in the agricultural program;
twenty percent (20%) shall be utilized for the improvement of the penal or prison facility;
and the remaining thirty percent (30%) shall be the start-up funds for the succeeding
year.

SECTION 5. Reportorial Requirement. — The Bureau of Corrections shall, in
Coordination with the Department of Agriculture, conduct a review of the Pri
Agricultural Program every two (2) years and submit a report to both Hous:
Congress. Said report shall contain the following information:

a. Rate of success, failure of the program;

b. Expenses incurred in the implementation of the program per cropping season;
. List of inmates who participated in the program;


d. Benefits of the program;
. Problems encountered in the implementation of the program; and

f. Recommendation of the heads of each of the penal institutions.

SECTION 6. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the initial implementation of
this Act shall be charged to the appropriations for the Department of Agriculture.
Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days after the
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Justice shall, in coordination with the Secretary
of Agriculture, issue such rules and regulations necessary for the effective
implementation of this Act.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. — Should any provision herein be declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or
other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect in fifteen (15) days after
Publication in the Official Gazette or in one (1) newspaper of general circulation in the
Philippines.

Approved,