House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3171

Introduced by Representatives Rico B. Geron

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It has always been the State policy to promote comprehensive rural
development, to protect the rights of the farmers and to ensure food security for every
Filipino citizen.

This bill seeks to register every Filipino farmers before the Deparment of
Agriculture (DA). As there are rights established in this measure, the registration and
later on the monitoring thereof shall be the basis for the enforcement and protection of
‘such rights.

It is imperative to give due attention to the rights, needs and protection of the
Filipino farmers so as to secure food supply in the country. It does not only pertain to big
and medium farmers but it shall likewise cover backyard farmers.

Farmers’ problem on land tenurity and stability has becoming perrenial which
resulted to the discouragement, threat and dying farming industry in the country.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought for.

RECEIVED

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House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House BillNo.__ 3171

Introduced by Representative Rico B. Geron

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING FARMERS’ REGISTRATION AND PRESERVATION OF THEIR
RIGHTS

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

SECTION 1. Farmers’ Registration. — Every Filipino farmer shall be registered
and included in the rooster of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

It shall be the role of the DA to facilitate a simplified registration of the farmers
nationwide, to keep and maintain, to update and post the farmer's rooster. It shall be
considered as public document available to the public scrutiny.

For purposes of this Act, the terms are hereby defined:

“Farmer’ refers to any person engaged in agriculture, rasing living organisms for
food or raw materials. It shall include backyard farmer.

“Agricultural Land’ refers to lands devoted to or suitable for the cultivation of
the soil, planting of crops, growing of trees, raising of livestock, poultry, fish or
aquiculture production, including the harvesting of such farm products, and other farm
activities and practices performed in conjunction with such farming operations by
persons whether natural or juridical and not classified by the law as mineral land, forest
land, residential land, commercial land, or industrial land.

SEC. 2. Establishment of the Farmer's Right. — Notwithstanding any provision
of law, rule or regulation to the contrary, farmers’ right to retain occupancy and
unalienate agricultural lands shall be respected at all times. Prior to the declaration of
land use conversion as provided in the Republic Act No. 8435 otherwise known as the
Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997, no farmers shall suffer forced
relocation or be directed to close their farming activities until the farmer or farm owner
unilaterally decided the same.


To further protect the right of the farmers to the permanency and stability of
farming activities, any person who employed constructive forced relocation or closure
shall likewise be covered by this Act.

SEC. 3. Penalties. - Any person who violate this Act shall suffer a penalty of
imprisonment of two (2) to six (6) years, or a fine of One Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P100,000.00).

SEC. 4. Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Agriculture shall, within
sixty (60) days, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to faithfully implement
the intent and the provisions of this Act: Provided, That the failure of the Secretary of
Agriculture to promulgate the said rules and regulations shall not prevent the
implementation of this Act upon its effectivity.

SEC.5. Repealing Clause. -All laws, rules and regulations which are
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,