Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
CREATING AN AGRICULTURAL PENSION PROGRAM TO PROVIDE 
SOCIAL SECURITY AND PENSION BENEFITS TO FARMERS AND 
FISHERFOLK 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippine Statistics Authority reports that at the onset of 2023 
more than 10 million of employed Filipinos are in agriculture, of which about 
8 in 10 are in farming and forestry and more than 1 in 10 are in fishing and 
aquaculture.   
With the farmers and fisherfolks’ significant contribution to economic 
development, however, the sector remains among the poorest of the nation. 
The World Bank Report listed that, “the farmers and fisherfolk residing in 
rural areas remain the poorest since 2006. Farmers were recorded with 31.6% 
poverty incidence in 2018 while fishers with 26.2%. Basically, around 5.5 
million farmers and 4.6 million fisherfolks are poor”. 
The lack of long-term benefits coupled with low income and undesirable 
work conditions are compounding factors affecting the number of agriculture 
workers which will definitely affect food security. Hence, this measure hopes 
to reduce their socio-economic risks and vulnerabilities. 
This measure seeks the establishment of the Farmers and Fisherfolk 
Social Security and Pension Program that will provide agriculture workers 
with a social pension upon retirement. The said social security program will 
be implemented by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) and the 
Social Security System (SSS). 
May 24, 2023
4:02 pm
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In recognition of the vital role of the farmers and fisherfolk in ensuring 
food security, and in national development, this bill hopes to provide farmers 
and fisherfolks the same social security that most employed professionals are 
entitled to especially upon their retirement.  
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought.  
REP. PM VARGAS 
Fifth District, Quezon City 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
CREATING AN AGRICULTURAL PENSION PROGRAM TO PROVIDE 
SOCIAL SECURITY AND PENSION BENEFITS TO FARMERS AND 
FISHERFOLK 
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 “Pensyon para sa 
Pilipinong Magsasaka at Mangingisda Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of State Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy 
of the State to: 
a. Revitalize the agriculture industry towards sustainability and create the
necessary conditions to end hunger, achieve food security, and improve
the general health and nutrition of Filipinos;
b. Recognize the fundamental role and give proper value to the
contributions of farmers and fisherfolk in our daily survival, national
development, and in ensuring long-term food security;
c. Protect and promote the welfare of farmers and fisherfolk by putting in
place measures that would reduce their socio-economic risks and
vulnerabilities, thereby improving their quality of life; and
d. Establish and institutionalize a comprehensive pension and social
security program for the benefit of agricultural workers.
SECTION 3. The Farmers and Fisherfolk Social Security and Pension 
Program. – The Farmers and Fisherfolk Social Security and Pension Program 
– There is hereby established the “Farmers and Fisherfolk Social Security and
Pension Program”, herein referred to as the Program, which shall provide
agricultural workers a substantial and reliable source of income security and
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secured retirement in their old age. The Program shall consist of a 
comprehensive and holistic approach in the provision of sickness, maternity, 
disability, retirement, death, and funeral benefits to farmers and fisherfolk. It 
shall be integrated and made consistent with the package benefits under 
Social Security System (SSS) and relevant programs of the Department of 
Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC). 
 
SECTION 4. Implementing Agencies.- The PCIC, an attached agency of the 
DA, and the SSS shall be the primary implementing agencies of the provisions 
of this Act. To fulfill the goals of this Act, they shall perform the following 
duties and functions: 
a. The SSS and PCIC shall tap the expertise of other relevant government 
offices in the formulation of the objectives, targets, and approaches 
under the Program. 
b. The PCIC shall manage the registration system of eligible agricultural 
workers under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agricultural 
(RSBSA) and maintain the required operational reports. 
c. The SSS shall manage funds allocated and the social security and 
pension scheme of the Program and maintain the required actuarial 
and financial reports. 
d. The PCIC and the SSS shall perform other duties and functions 
necessary in the efficient and effective implementation of this Act. The 
PCIC and the SSS shall collaborate with and secure the technical 
assistance of the DA in all stages of implementation of this Act. 
The DA shall ensure that the objectives of the Program are met and 
shall evaluate and monitor the Program’s contribution to the 
productivity of the of the agricultural sector and the improvement of the 
quality of life of farmers and fisherfolk. 
 
SECTION 5. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be drawn from the savings of the National 
Government. 
Thereafter, 
the 
funds 
necessary 
for 
the 
continuous 
implementation of the program shall be sourced from ten percent (10%) of the 
total annual duties collected from the importation of agricultural products. 
The supplemental amount necessary for its implementation shall be included 
in the annual appropriations of the DA. 
 
SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). – Within ninety 
(90) days from the date of effectivity of this Act, the PCIC shall, in consultation 
with the DA, SSS, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and 
the Department of Finance (DOF), formulate the IRR for the proper 
implementation of this Act. 
 


SECTION 7. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared 
invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected 
thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. – All laws, orders, decrees, rules and 
regulations, and other parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 9. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication either in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation in the Philippines. 
 
Approved,