Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The year-long lockdown brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected small 
scale food producers like farmers and fisherfolk. Many farmers and fisherfolk communities have 
been unable to sell their produce or harvest due to the travel restrictions and other health 
protocols implemented to curb the rise in COVID-19 cases in the country. Add to this the 
numerous typhoons which hit the country during the last quarter of 2020. While there were 
various initiatives launched by private individuals and organizations to help farmers and fisherfolk 
to sell their produce in Metro Manila, these initiatives could only target specific communities.  
In recognition of the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the farming and fishing 
industries, this measure seeks to provide a monthly emergency cash subsidy amounting to one 
thousand pesos (P1,000.00) for a period of one year to households of small-scale farmers and 
municipal fisherfolk living below the poverty line and whose primary means of earning, livelihood 
and/or generating income have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
April 5, 2021
10:52 AM
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A COVID-19 EMERGENCY CASH GRANT TO RURAL FARMERS AND 
MUNICIPAL FISHERFOLK LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE, APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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 “COVID-19 Emergency Cash Grant 
to Farmers and Fisherfolk Act.” 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – The Sate recognizes the adverse impact that the COVID-19 
pandemic has brought to our health and economy. The State shall uplift the standard of living 
and quality of life of the poor and maintain the existing gains of interventions of the government 
for economic growth and development to the poor, marginalized sectors and low-income 
households of our society exposed to various risks in this pandemic. 
Sec. 3. Emergency Cash Subsidy for Small-Scale Farmers and Municipal Fisherfolk. – 
All households of small-scale farmers and municipal fisherfolk registered before the appropriate 
offices of the Department of Agriculture within their respective districts or provinces, certified by 
the barangay concerned as such farmer or fisherfolk, who are living below the poverty line based 
on the threshold determined by the National Economic and Development Authority, and whose 
primary means of earning livelihood and/or generating income have been negatively impacted by 
the COVID-19 pandemic, shall be entitled to a cash grant of One Thousand Pesos (₱1,000.00) 
per month for a period of one year. Provided, That only one beneficiary shall be eligible for 
households with several small-scale farmers or municipal fisherfolk living under one roof. 
Small-scale farmers and municipal fisherfolk who are receiving conditional cash transfer or 
recipients of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act from the government shall not be 
entitled to receive the emergency cash grant mandated by this Act while they are receiving such 
conditional cash transfer or 4Ps. 
Sec. 4. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be 
charged against the current and subsequent appropriations of the Department of Agriculture and 
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other departments, agencies or instrumentalities tasked to implement this Act under the General 
Appropriations Act. 
 
Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity 
of this Act, the Department of Agriculture shall, in coordination with appropriate government 
departments and agencies and with the participation of local government units, promulgate the 
necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
 
Sec. 6. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines. 
Approved,