Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. ______
___________________________________________________________________
Introduced by Representative Brian Raymund S. Yamsuan
___________________________________________________________________
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In a country where agriculture plays a vital role in the livelihood of many
communities,
addressing
the challenges presented by climate change is of
paramount importance. Rising temperatures, droughts, erratic rainfall patterns, and
stronger typhoons have become common in the country.
In particular, the Bicol
Region, represented by the Bicol Saro Partylist in the present Congress, is annually
besieged by a multitude of typhoons, making it a hotspot for natural calamities.
These extreme and unpredictable weather conditions disrupt planting and harvesting
schedules, making it increasingly difficult for farmers to rely on their traditional
knowledge alone. Ultimately, these events pose a significant threat to the agriculture
sector and the country's food security.
No less than the 1987 Constitution enshrines the State’s commitment to
support agriculture through appropriate technology, research, financial support,
production assistance, marketing, and other essential services.1 The government
should be able to catch up with fast-changing technological applications to enable
our farmers to harness the power of space and science in
developing innovative
farming and adapting to the disruptions triggered by climate change.
Thus, the proposed measure seeks to establish the use of crop climate
calendars throughout the Philippines, customized for each specific locality or farming
community through a collaborative effort among the Department of Agriculture (DA),
the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAG-ASA), the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), and the local government units.
Crop calendars would provide accessible and digestible information that
would equip farmers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions
1 Section 5, Art. XIII, 1987 Constitution of the Philippines
September 13, 2023
10:36 am
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regarding planting and harvesting times. This can reduce the risk of crop losses and
promote efficient resource management by optimizing water and fertilizer use, in line
with the country’s commitment to sustainable farming.
For these reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
REP. BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN
Bicol Saro Party-list


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. ______
___________________________________________________________________
Introduced by Representative Brian Raymund S. Yamsuan
___________________________________________________________________
AN ACT ENHANCING THE RESILIENCY AND ADAPTABILITY OF FARMERS TO
ADVERSE WEATHER AND CLIMATE EVENTS BY INSTITUTIONALIZING THE
USE OF CROP CLIMATE CALENDARS, EQUIPPING FARMERS FOR
CLIMATE-SENSITIVE DECISION-MAKING, AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO
LOCALIZED WEATHER AND CLIMATE INFORMATION
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Climate-Resilient
Agriculture Act.”
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — In recognition of the importance of agriculture in
the country’s economic development, the State shall enhance the resiliency and
adaptability of the sector against the adverse effects of weather disturbances
and climate change that endanger productivity levels and harvest yield. Climate
resiliency shall be a priority government intervention for the agriculture sector.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall be
defined as follows:
a. Crop climate calendar refers to a visual tool that presents the phenology
and cultivation practices of a crop against the timeline of the cropping
season, containing information on the weather and climate states that
occur in the locality and the risks faced by the crop per growing stage in
relation to these;
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b. Climate-sensitive decision refers to decisions that hinge on weather and
climate states, with final outcomes and even decision alternatives which
are varying, depending on the prevailing weather phenomena; and
c. Localized weather and climate information refers to information on
weather and climate phenomena that are particularized down to the city
or municipal level.
SEC. 4. Crop Climate Calendars. - The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall
establish and promote the use of crop climate calendars throughout the
Philippines. In coordination with municipal, city and provincial agriculturists, the
DA
shall implement a continuing program for all farmers and farmer’s
organizations to formulate, use, and interpret crop climate calendars that are
tailor-made for each specific locality or community. These crop climate
calendars shall be distributed free-of-charge to all farmers and farmer’s
organizations and be made available online.
SEC. 5. Use of Satellite Data. — The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) shall
provide the DA relevant space data, including but not limited to, satellite imagery,
that would support the establishment and implementation of crop climate
calendars throughout the Philippines.
SEC.
6.
Localized
Weather
and
Climate Information. — The Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)
shall provide regular and up-to-date localized weather and climate information to
city, municipal and provincial agriculturist’s offices and directly to the farmers
themselves through all available means of communication and information
dissemination including internet, social media, television and radio. Such
information shall be written in simple English, Filipino, and other regional
languages and dialects as necessary and must be presented in a clear, concise
and easily understandable form.
Sec. 7 Climate-Sensitive Decision-Making. — The DA, through the Agricultural
Training
Institute
(ATI),
shall
provide
regular
appropriate
training
and
capacity-building for farmers and farmer’s organizations in the practice of
climate-sensitive decision-making and the use of relevant tools and applications.
The ATI shall formulate and develop clear, concise and easily understandable
charts, tables, diagrams, briefers, and similar documents on climate-sensitive
decision-making for distribution to farmers and farmers’ organizations.
Sec. 8 Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation of this
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations for the year following
its enactment into law and thereafter.


SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the DA, in coordination with PAGASA, PhilSA, and other
relevant government agencies, farmers’ organizations and stakeholders, shall
issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
proclamations, rules and regulations, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 11. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part of this Act, or the
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or
invalid, the remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby.
SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.
Approved,