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House Bill No..

Introduced by Rep. Delphine Gan Lee and Rep. Orestes T. Salon

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Agri-Tourism is defined as an agricultural activity that endeavours to bring in visitors
in places of production; be it places of cultivation of plants or development of animals. The
concept is not only beneficial to the farmer and fisher folk concerned but also to the
community. Agri-Tourism increases the economic traffic channelled into the area due to the
increase of tourists and other attached personnel that comes with the development of the area.
Agri-Tourism introduces a boost of economic activity with no significant cost to the

producers vis-a-vis a potentially exponential increase in income

This bill enables the government to support the endeavours and actions of the farmers
and fisher folk and in doing so, seeks to improve the Philippine Agri-Tourism sector by

providing for a long-term legislative framework for its development.

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GAN LEE HON. ORESTES T. SALON
Repréentativ, AGRI Party-List Representative, AGRI Party-List


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

2862

House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. Delphine Gan Lee and Rep. Orestes T. Salon

AN ACT
PROMOTING AGRI-TOURISM BY IDENTIFYING AREAS THAT ARE VIABLE
FOR DEVELOPMENT AND STRENGTHENING THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. ~ This shall be known as the “Agri-Tourism Development
Act of 2016.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies. — The State recognizes that the agriculture and
fisheries sector are vital to the economy;

The State also recognizes that tourism is a primary source of income for our people
particularly those in remote and underdeveloped areas of our country;

It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote, propagate, develop further and
implement the agri-tourism centers in the Philippines that will cumulatively help farmers by
creating other sources of income apart from their harvests. Towards this end, a
comprehensive program for the creation of agri-tourism sites is hereby established.

‘The State recognizes and supports the central role of the farmers, indigenous people

and other stakeholders at the grassroots in this program.

SECTION 3. Definitions. — As used in this Act, the term “agri-tourism” shall refer to
the practice of inviting visitors to any stage of the agricultural process for purposes of

encouraging the sale of agricultural products or to earn income through their visit;

For purposes of this Act, the term “Secretary” shall refer to the Secretary of the
Department of Agriculture

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1 SECTION 4. Creation of the Position of Undersecretary for Agri-Tourism. - There

2 is hereby created in the Department of Agriculture the position of Undersecretary for Agri-
3 Tourism, solely for the purpose of attending to the needs of the agri-tourism industry, to be
4 appointed by the President. Such Undersecretary shall have the following functions:
5 (a) set policies and formulate standards for the effective, efficient and
6 economical operations of the agri-tourism industry in accordance with the programs
7 of the government;
8 (b) exercise supervision over all functions and activities of all offices and
9 instrumentalities and other offices related to agri-tourism including its officers and
10 personn
ul (c) establish, with the assistance of the director, such regional, provincial and
12 other agri-tourism officers and personnel as may be necessary and appropriate and
13 organize the internal structure of Bureau of Agri-Tourism in such manner as is
14 necessary for the efficient and effective attainment of its objectives and purposes; and
15 (d) perform such other functions as may be necessary or proper to attain the
16 objectives of this Act
7 SECTION 5. Creation of the Bureau of Agri-Tourism. — The Bureau of Agri-
18 Tourism (BAT) is hereby created with the following functions:
19 (a) prepare and implement a Comprehensive National Agri-Tourism Industry
20 Development Plan:
21 (b)_ recommend to Congress and to the President the areas that are prime for agri-tourism
22 but require infrastructure projects such as farm to market roads;
23 (©) provide for the registration and the issuance of identification cards to agri-tourism
24 farmers;
25 (4) monitor and review agri-tourism agreements between Filipino citizens and
26 foreigners who seek to invest in the agri-tourism sector;
27 (e) formulate and implement a Comprehensive Agri-Tourism Research and
28 Development Program, such as, but not limited to, organic farming, sea farming, sea
29 ranching, tropical/ornamental fish and seaweed culture, plantation tours, livestock and
30 farm fieldtrips, aimed at increasing resource productivity, improving resource use
31 efficiency, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the country's agri-tourism

32 program;

33 (f) establish and maintain a Comprehensive Agri-Tourism Information System;


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(g) provide extensive development support services in all aspects of agri-tourism
creation and marketing;

(h) provide advisory services and technical assistance on the improvement of the
industry;

(i) advise and coordinate with LGUs on the maintenance of proper development and
maintenance in agri-tourism sites;

() coordinate with LGUs and other concerned agencies for the establishment of
productivity enhancing and market development programs in agri-tourism
communities;

(k) enforce all laws, formulate and enforce all rules and regulations governing the
conservation and management of agri-tourism sites;

(I) assist the LGUs in developing their technical capability in the development,
management, regulation, conservation, and protection of agri-tourism sites;

(m) perform such other related functions which shall promote the development,

conservation, management, protection and utilization of agri-tourism sites.

SECTION 6. Composition of BAT. - As a line bureau, the BAT shall be headed by a
Director and assisted by two (2) Assistant Directors who shall supervise the administrative
and technical services of the bureau respectively. It shall establish regional, provincial and
municipal offices as may be appropriate and necessary to carry out effectively and efficiently

the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 7. Educational campaign at all levels. - The Department, the CHED, the
Department of Education and the Philippine Information Agency shall launch and pursue a
nationwide educational campaign to:

(a) help realize the policies and implement the provisions of this Act;

(b) promote agri-tourism and inform the public of new agri-tourist destinations; and

(©) promote the principle of sustainable development;

SECTI

8. Infrastructure Support. - The Department in cooperation with
concemed agencies shall:
(a) prepare and implement a nationwide plan for the development of agri-tourism

fishing ports and markets;


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(©) prioritize the construction of farm-to-market roads linking the agri-tourism sites to
markets, bus terminals, train stations, ainports, coastal landing points and arterial
roads/highways;

(©) establish and maintain quality laboratories in identified areas and prescribe the
highest standards for the operation and maintenance of such agri-tourism sites;

(@ arrange and make representations with appropriate funding institutions to finance
Such facilities for the use of the agri-tourism cooperatives/associations:

(© develop and strengthen marketing facilities and promote cooperative marketing

systems; and

SECTION 9. Strict Compliance with Environmental Laws. ~ The utilization and
development of all areas under this Act shall be regulated by the DENR pursuant to all laws

and statutes on the utilization and Protection of natural resources and the environment, and

‘must strictly comply with the land use plan approved by the local government unit concemed
and the requirements imposed by existing DENR rules, regulations, and other issuances,

taking into consideration the sustainable use and development of the area.

SECTION 10. Incentives for Municipal and Small-Scale Agri-Tourism Businesses.
~ Municipal and small-scale agri-tourism farmers shall be granted incentives which shall
include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) a capability-building program for targeted parties shall be developed by the

Department to promote greater bankability and credit worthiness of municipal and

small-scale agri-tourism farmers. Such program shall include organizing activities,

technology transfer, and skills training related to agri-tourism, as well as credit
management; and

(b) an information campaign shall be conducted to promote the capability
building and credit programs. The campaign shall ensure greater information

dissemination and accessibility to targeted agri-tourism farmers.

SECTION 11. Funding. — The amount of two hundred fifty million Pesos
(P250,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated for the initial year of this Act. Every year
thereafter, Congress shall allocate an amount not less than thirty million pesos
(P30,000,000.00) to be included in the budget of the Department for the implementation and

continued expansion of this program.


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SE

ON 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ The Secretary shall adopt
rules and regulation to implement the provisions of this Act within ninety (90) days from the

date of effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 13. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or the application of
such provision to any person or circumstance is declared invalid, the remainder of the Act or
the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected by

such declaration,

SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or

inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

SECTION 15. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after

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

Adopted,