Rewble of Be, Philipines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Queen City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 8394

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

AN ACT PROMOTING INTEGRATED URBAN FARMING TO ADDRESS FOOD.
SECURITY CONCERNS AND LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES AND.
APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE

The humble intention of this proposed measure is to contribute to the attainment of
food security that still remains elusive to a lot of Filipinos. In 2018, according to a
Social Weather Station survey, 19 million Filipinos experienced hunger. Around half
that number experienced severe hunger.

To further advance agriculture and food security, this measure aims to promote the
practice of urban farming. Urban farming is the practice of cultivating, processing and
distributing food in or around a village, town or city which could also involve animal
agriculture, aquaculture and agroforestry, among others.

It provides a way to provide citizens easy access to several agricultural products
right within their cities and/or communities. In addition, under this measure, urban
agriculture and vertical farming shall be integrated in the academic curriculum for
secondary and tertiary level students of both public and private academic institutions.

In this light, the approval of this bill is fervently sought.

Lui MUND “LI F, VILLAFUERTE, JR.


An
Rewhli of the Philipines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quexew City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 8394

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

AN ACT PROMOTING INTEGRATED URBAN FARMING TO ADDRESS FOOD
SECURITY CONCERNS AND LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE

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

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Integrated Urban Agriculture
Act."

Sec, 2, Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to reaffirm
the fundamental right of every person to adequate food and to be free from hunger.
The achievement of self-sufficiency in food production and building climate resilient
communities is therefore adopted as primary state policy. Towards this end, key
reforms for the development of moder, appropriate, cost-effective and
environmentally safe agriculture technologies are hereby encouraged in order to
ensure the food security of the country.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purpose of this Act, the term:

3.1. Integrated Urban Agriculture - shall refer to the practice of cultivating, processing
and distribution of food in, or around a village, town or city. Integrated Urban
agriculture also involves animal husbandry, aquaculture, agro-forestry and
horticulture.

3.2. Vertical Farming - shall refer to the method of farming that is brought to the
urban space by employing the concepts of indoor agriculture in sky scrapers and
other modem buildings.


Sec. 4. Comprehensive Research on Integrated Urban Farming. - For the purpose of
this Act, the respective Secretaries of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) are hereby mandated to promote
the use of integrated urban agriculture and vertical farming in the country's
metropolitan areas as an instrument to address food security concerns and
regenerate ecosystem function of the Philippines. Idle and/or abandoned
government lots and buildings owned by either national and local governments or
available land resources in state universities and colleges shall be considered for
growing crops, raising livestock and producing food using the said methods. Safety
standards must be followed such that DOST and other pertinent agencies should
include research and development of appropriate technologies necessary in
promoting integrated agriculture technologies.

Sec. 5. Inclusion of Urban Agriculture and Vertical Farming in Agricultural Training. -
Urban agriculture and vertical farming used in agricultural production shall be
integrated in the academic curriculum for secondary and tertiary level students of
both public and private academic institutions offering courses on Agriculture,
Practical Arts, Home Economics and/or other subjects related to agriculture. A
course curriculum on gardening/urban gardening shall also be developed and
included into the regular curriculum of both elementary and secondary education.

All elementary and secondary schools, public or private, state colleges and
universities shall implement urban gardening/agriculture and include in its regular
curriculum its practical or on-hand application.

For universities and colleges, urban gardening or agriculture shall form part of the
required period of time spent by students in the National Service Training Program
(NSTP) or the Citizen Military Training (CMT). A plan therefore for the utilization or
the maximization of space occupied by schools shall be formulated specifically for
urban gardening/agriculture. Instructional materials shall also be developed.

The Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED). Shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for
the implementation of this section within six (6) months from the date of effectively
hereof.

SEC. 6. Creation and Composition of the Urban Farming Council (UFC). - There is
hereby established an Urban Farming Council (UFC) which shall be attached to the
Department of Agriculture. The UFC shall be composed of the following members:

(a) The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) who shall serve as Chair of
the UFC;

(b) The Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR); (c) The Secretary of the Department of Finance (DOF);

(d) The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST);

(e) Representative from the People's Organizations (PO);

(f) Representative from the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO);

(g) Representative from the National Urban Poor Sector Council of the National Anti-
Poverty Commission (NUPSC-NAPC);

(h) The National President of the League of the Cities of the Philippines;


(i) The National President of the League of the Municipalities of the Philippines; and,
@) Representative from the private sector who have expertise in urban farming
and/or vertical farming.

Sec. 7. Appropriation. - The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act
shall be equivalent to two percent (2%) of the annual appropriations of the
Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST),
Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CFIED) and
the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Sec. 8. Local Government Units Participation. - The local government units shall
formulate the policy on the practice of urban farming and the utilization of unused
spaces and idle lands. This shall require the enactment of local legislation
institutionalizing urban gardening or agriculture in all levels of the LGU. Further, this
shall require local governments to enact measures or ordinances that will include
urban gardening/agriculture as a regular component in budget appropriations of local
government units.

All cities and urbanized municipalities where urban farming activities are conducted
shall extend whatever assistance necessary for the urban practitioners/farmers to
exercise Urban Farming and benefit from any incentives under this Act.

All homeowners associations, neighborhood associations and community
associations and/or people's organizations are encouraged to participate in urban
farming activities within their area of operations. The concerned LGU shall grant
necessary incentives for the benefit of the members of the concerned associations or
people's organizations who actively participate in urban farming activities.

Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within six (6) months from the date of
effectivity of this Act, the DA, the DOST, the DepEd, the CHED, the DILG, and the
National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) through the National Urban Poor Sector
Council (NUPSC), in consultation with the private sector, business groups, input
providers, consumer groups, informal settlers and most vulnerable sectors, non-
government organizations and other stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary
implementing rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 10. 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. 11. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or
inconsistent with the provisions of this act is hereby repealed, modified or amended
accordingly.

Sec. 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the date
of its publication in the Official Gazette or In at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,