TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No.____ 8
25 JUL-2 P4-.11
Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito
AN ACT
MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AGRI-FOOD TERMINALS AND 
TRADING CENTERS IN EVERY PROVINCE PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Our 1987 Philippine Constitution specifically provides that the State shall 
recognize the right of farmers, farmworkers, and landowners, as well as cooperatives, 
and other independent farmers' organizations to participate in the planning, 
organization, and management of the program, and shall provide support to 
agriculture through appropriate technology and research, and adequate financial 
production, marketing, and other support services.
According to the data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the value 
of production in agriculture and fisheries dropped by 2.2% to PI.75 trillion in 2024. 
This was recorded to be the lowest in eight years.1 As a result of this, 1.4 million 
farmers suffered P57.78 billion in losses in 2024. As the Philippines is largely an 
agricultural country, it is important for the government to give more support to the 
sector and to our farmers and fisherfolks.
In this proposed measure, we endeavor to develop a stronger and more 
effective agricultural supply chain in the country, by creating agri-food terminals in
1 https://www.philstar.eom/business/2025/01Z29/2417560/agriculture-output-dwindles-8-year-low-2024


every province. These food-terminals will serve as a central point for farmers and 
fisherfolks to deliver their goods, enabling transactions with wholesale buyers as well 
as individual consumers, and guaranteeing that products are offered at competitive, 
if not lower prices.
Currently, the Department of Agriculture has a Kadiwa ng Pangub program 
which is a key component to address the lack of food terminals in the country. The 
program aims to empower local farmers and fisherfolks, including local MSMEs 
establishing direct market connections, enabling them to sell their produce directly to 
consumers. As of 2024, there are 447 KADIWA pop-up stores and on-wheels sites fully 
operating across various regions. The program is estimated to benefit more than 
10,000 farmers nationwide.
The proposed bill will complement and institutionalize this effort, scaling the 
government's market linkage programs beyond temporary or pop-up settings. The 
establishment of Agri-Food Terminals and Trading Centers in every province wili cut 
the cost of goods and agricultural products that will be accessible to our consumers, 
and will in turn increase the income of our farmers. This bill ensures that the benefits 
of Kadiwa and other similar initiatives become sustainabie and inciusive.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
JV EJERCITO


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No.____
25 JUL-2 P4 -11
hb.ovci.'.
Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito
AN ACT
MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AGRI-FOOD TERMINALS AND 
TRADING CENTERS IN EVERY PROVINCE PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Agri-Food Terminal and
2 
Trading Centers Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Principles and State Policies. - It is hereby declared the
4 
policy of the State to give aid to farmers by providing venue to promote and market
5 
their produce and giving them access to buyers who can offer competitive prices.
6 
Towards this end, a comprehensive program for the creation of a nationwide system
7 
of agricultural food terminals and trading centers is hereby established.
8 
The goal of these centers is to provide an avenue where farmers and livestock
9 
raisers can directly sell their products to institutional buyers and gain higher profit;
10 
moreover, this endeavor for a higher mobility for locally produced agricultural products
11 
to the whole country for cheaper cost of transportation.
12 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
13 
(a) Agri-Food Terminals - a centralized facility in a province where agricultural
14 
products are assembled, stored, processed, and distributed.
15 
(b) Trading Center - a facility that enables direct transactions between
16 
producers and buyers, including institutional markets, wholesalers, and
17 
retailers.


1 
(c) Smallholder Farmers and FIsherfolk - agricultural workers with limited
2 
access to resources, land, and capital.
3 
Sec. 4. Establishment of Agri-Food Terminals and Trading Centers - The
4 
Department of Agriculture (DA), in coordination with the Department of Public Works
5 
and Highways (DPWH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and
6 
concerned LGUs, shall establish and manage an Agri-Food Terminals and Trading
7 
Center in every province within five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act. Cities
8 
and municipalities are hereby encouraged to establish their own Agri-Food Terminals
9 
and Trading Centers.
10 
Agri-Food Terminal and Trading Centers shall have the following standards for
11 
their creation and operation:
12 
a. It shall be mandatory for the province to setup at least one Agri-food
13 
Terminal and Trading Center adjacent to a train stations located within
14 
the jurisdiction of the province concerned.
15 
b. In provinces where there is no train station. Agri-food Terminal and
16 
Trading Center shall be set up strategically near ports, bus terminals or
17 
any transport hub within the jurisdiction of the province concerned.
18 
c. For the first two (2) years from the date of operation, terminals/centers
19 
shall concentrate on the top three (3) agricultural products of the
20 
province. The list shall be expanded to five after this period.
21 
d. Each center shall be equipped with a warehousing center, cold storage
22 
and any similar facilities necessary to accommodate and store
23 
agriculture product.
24 
Sec. 5. Work Plan. - In line with this Act, the Department of Agriculture shall
25 
develop the following:
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a. A plan of bringing the program down to the grassroots, utilizing available
27 
personnel and facilities on the local level and those of LGUs;
28 
b. A pattern of cooperation and mutual assistance with LGUs, Peoples
29 
Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations, which will
30 
maximize people empowerment and participatory approaches to
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program formulation, implementation and monitoring; and


1 
c. A schedule of short-term, medium-term and long-term targets on
2 
research and development, marketing, trade promotion/initiatives,
3 
capacity building, among others.
4 
Sec. 6. Funding. - The amount of Twenty-Five billion (Php 25,000,000,000) is
5 
hereby appropriated for the initial year of implementation of this act, thereafter, the
6 
amount of Ten Billion pesos (Php 10,000,000,000) shall be included in the budget of
7 
the Department for implementation and continued expansion of this program. In
8 
addition, the establishment and operation of terminals and centers will be made with
9 
the available participatory funding from the national government with adequate equity
10 
from the Local Government Units.
11 
Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30) days from the
12 
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Interior and
13 
Local Government, in consultation with appropriate government agencies and other
14 
stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement this
15 
Act. The implementing rules and regulations shall include a template to guide the cities
16 
and municipalities in the establishment of their own Agri-food Terminals and Trading
17 
Centers.
18 
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be declared
19 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby
20 
shall remain in full force and effect.
21 
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, memorandum
22 
orders, memorandum circulars, administrative orders, ordinances or parts thereof
23 
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby deemed repealed or
24 
modified accordingly.
25 
Sec. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
26 
publication in the Official Gazette or In a newspaper of national circulation.
Approved,