Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

House BiLL No, 6860 *

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Recent studies have shown that the average age of the Filipino farmer is 57 years old.
This would show that under most retirement and pension schemes, majority of our farmers
should already qualify for pension and retirements benefits, if they were included in the
coverage. Sad to say, agricultural workers and other workers in the informal sector are not
covered by pension programs of the government either through the GSIS, SSS or other
special laws.

This is a huge injustice considering that the agricultural sector is among the most
important sector in the country, contributing P13 billion or about 9% of the GDP and
agricultural workers making up 26.1% of the country’s labor force or about 11.29 million
workers. This means that more than one-fourth of the country’s labourers are not covered by
retirement and pension benefits.

Our senior citizen farmers and agricultural workers are forced to continue working
long hours in undesirable conditions, just to continue to support themselves and their
families. This could lead to health issues considering their advanced age and frail
dispositions.

This lack of long-term benefits, in addition to the low income and intensive work are
Perhaps also one of the reasons why less and less people are entering and working in the
agricultural sector. This continuing decline of agricultural workers would spell disaster for
our food security in the future should it be allowed to continue.

Our farmers remain the poorest of the poor among the country’s labor force and it is
only right that the government extend all manner of support towards them. Giving them the
benefit of a pension is just one of the many ways of providing them the social protection that
they rightfully deserve.

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is eamestly sought.

SI S. GARIN
A -Owa Partylist


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OR REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no 8360

Introduced by Representative Sharon S. Garin

AN ACT
CREATING AN AGRICULTURAL PENSION FUND TO PROVIDE PENSION
BENEFITS TO FARMERS AND FISHER FOLK

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

SECTION 1. Title ~ This Act shall be known as the “Agricultural Pension Fund
Act”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy — The Constitution provides that the State shall, from
time to time, review to upgrade the pensions and other benefits due to retirees of both the
government and private sectors, As far as may be possible, it should provide to those who
have less in life the opportunity to earn for their living so that they may play a more active
role in social life and especially in the economic and political spheres. It is the duty of the
State to create conditions which are necessary to realize the right of all citizens particularly
the underprivileged the equal opportunity.

SEC. 3. Creation of the Agricultural Pension Fund — The Agricultural Pension Fund
is hereby established to provide pension benefits to agricultural workers, specifically farmers

and fisherfolk.

SEC. 4. Implementing Agency. ~ The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC),

4n attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA) shall be the main implementing


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agency of the provisions of this Act. To fulfill the goals of this Act, it shall perform the

following duties and functions:

a. Manage and invest the funds properly to ensure sustainability and increased capacity

to provide benefits;

b. Create a pension plan that shall become the basis for the allocation of benefits to its

pensioners;
©. Promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act;
d. Coordinate with other relevant agencies in the fulfilment of the goals of this Act; and

¢. Perform other duties and functions towards and efficient and effective implementation

of this Act.

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations — Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the PCIC Board of Directors shall, in consultation with the Secretary
of Agriculture and representatives of recognized farmers and fisherfolk's groups, promulgate

rules and regulations necessary for the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 6. Appropriations ~ To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as may
be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. Thereafter,
the amount necessary for the continuous operation of the Program shall be included in the
annual appropriation of the DA.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain
valid and subsisting.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive

order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule and regulation contrary to or


inconsistent with any provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended
accordingly.
SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

Publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,