Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO._ 4332

Introduced by Representative RAYMOND ADRIAN SALCEDA

AN ACT
PROMOTING URBAN FOOD SECURITY THROUGH INTEGRATED

AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, ENSURING THE PRODUCTIVE USE OF IDLE
SPACES, LINKING WITH SCHOOL FEEDING AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution guarantees the right of the people to health (Article II, Section 15) and
mandates the State to promote proper nutrition, especially among children (Article XV, Section
3). In line with these mandates, the Philippines has committed to the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 2: ending hunger,
achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture.

Yet, despite government programs, the challenge of hunger persists. The Food and
Nutrition Research Institute reports that 53.9 percent of Filipino households are food insecure.
The Social Weather Stations survey in early 2022 showed that 3.1 million families experienced
involuntary hunger at least once in the preceding three months. These figures underscore the
urgency of game-changing approaches to food production.

Urban and peri-urban areas, where population growth and poverty are concentrated,
face the sharpest incidence of food insecurity, Rapid urbanization reduces land available for
food production, while idle public and private lands remain underutilized. This Act therefore
seeks to transform such spaces into productive farms, gardens, and aquaculture sites,
maximizing limited land resources through modem, space-efficient, and environmentally
sound technologies.

Urban agriculture contributes not only to food security but also to poverty reduction,
environmental sustainability, and community resilience. It supports the National Greening
Program, strengthens community-building, and provides fresh, nutritious produce near
consumers, reducing transport costs and post-harvest losses. When linked to school feeding


programs and the Sagip Saka Act, it can ensure continuous farm-to-school and farm-to-
community supply chains.

This measure, to be known as the Urban Food Security through Integrated Agriculture

and Fisheries Act, introduces the following innovations:

L

Integration of urban agriculture in local development planning, zoning ordinances, and
the Comprehensive Land Use Plans of LGUs, supported by the Department of Human
Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the Department of Agriculture
(DA);

. A convergence framework anchored on the DA, but linked to DepEd’s Gulayan sa

Paaralan, DSWD’s 4Ps, and local school feeding programs under Republic Act No.
11037, ensuring that urban agriculture directly reduces child malnutrition;

. Fiscal instruments to support households and cooperatives engaged in urban farming,

including Land Bank credit windows, PCIC microinsurance for urban gardens and
aquaculture, and incentives for subdivision and condominium developers who integrate
food spaces;

. Use of digital agriculture and green technology — rainwater harvesting, rooftop

gardens, hydroponics, aquaponics, and renewable energy systems — as part of climate-
resilient design for cities;

. Mandatory establishment of Urban Agriculture Desks in all cities and municipalities to

coordinate land identification, cooperative formation, and Sagip Saka procurement
linkages.
By transforming idle spaces into hubs of food production and nutrition, this measure

builds resilient food systems in cities and towns, reduces hunger, and empowers communities.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 433 2

Introduced by Representative RAYMOND ADRIAN SALCEDA

AN ACT
PROMOTING URBAN FOOD SECURITY THROUGH INTEGRATED
AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, ENSURING THE PRODUCTIVE USE OF IDLE
SPACES, LINKING WITH SCHOOL FEEDING AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS,
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 “Urban Food Security through
Integrated Agriculture and Fisheries Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote
the right to adequate food, freedom from hunger, and sustainable nutrition by transforming idle
and underutilized urban and peri-urban spaces into productive areas for agriculture and
fisheries.

Towards this end, the State shall:

(a) Integrate urban agriculture and fisheries into local development planning, land use,
and zoning;

(b) Promote climate-resilient, green, and digital agriculture technologies, including
hydroponics, aquaponics, rooftop farming, and rainwater harvesting;

(©) Strengthen the link between urban food production and nutrition programs,
particularly school feeding under Republic Act No. 11037 and household nutrition
under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps);

(6) Provide financial, insurance, and market support to households, cooperatives, and
communities engaged in urban agriculture; and


(©) Ensure inclusive participation of barangays, homeowners’ associations,
cooperatives, and civil society in building sustainable urban food systems.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act:

(a) Urban agriculture refers to the practice of cultivating crops, raising livestock, and
engaging in aquaculture within cities, peri-urban areas, and other densely populated
environments using innovative and space-efficient methods;

(b) Idle lands refer to non-agricultural lands in urban and urbanizable areas on which
no improvements have been made by the owner, as certified by the local assessor;

(c) Urban fisheries and aquaculture refer to food production systems using ponds, tanks,
or other controlled environments suitable for raising fish and aquatic products in urban
and peri-urban areas;

(d) Community gardens refer to collective farming or gardening projects undertaken by
neighborhood associations, cooperatives, or schools to grow vegetables, fruits, or other
edibles for consumption and local markets;

(©) Digital agriculture refers to the use of information and communication technologies,
artificial intelligence, and data platforms to optimize farm productivity, logistics, and
market access in urban agriculture; and

(£) Green jobs refer to employment in urban agriculture and fisheries that contribute to
food security while ensuring environmental sustainability, renewable energy use, and
climate adaptation.

SEC. 4. Coverage. This Act shall cover idle or abandoned government or private lands,
buildings, rooftops, shipping containers, subdivisions, condominiums, public housing, open
spaces in urban and peri-urban areas, and available land resources in schools, universities,
military camps, and government facilities suitable for crop, livestock, or aquaculture
production.

SEC. 5. Role of Local Government Units (LGUs). All LGUs shall:
(a) Identify and map idle lands and facilities suitable for urban agriculture;

(b) Establish Urban Agriculture Desks under their City or Municipal Agriculture
Offices;

(c) Incorporate urban agriculture in Comprehensive Land Use Plans, Annual
Investment Plans, and other local development instruments;

(4) Facilitate the organization of community cooperatives, neighborhood associations,
and school-based gardening groups; and

(e) Allocate a portion of their twenty percent (20%) development fund for urban
agriculture programs.


SEC. 6. Integration with National Programs. The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall
lead the implementation of this Act through a National Convergence Program on Urban
Agriculture and Fisheries, in coordination with the Department of Human Settlements and
Urban Development (DHSUD), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD), and other relevant agencies.

The DA shall ensure that urban food production directly supports:

(a) the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program under DepEd;

(b) the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Filipino Act (Republic Act No. 11037);
(c) the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the DSWD; and

(d) the Sagip Saka Act (Republic Act No. 11321).

SEC. 7. Fiscal and Financial Support.

(a) The Land Bank of the Philippines shall establish credit windows and soft loans for
households, cooperatives, and communities engaged in urban agriculture and fisheries.

(b) The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) shall design insurance packages
that cover urban gardens, rooftop farms, aquaponics, hydroponics, and other innovative
systems.

(c) Subdivision and condominium developers who integrate urban agriculture spaces
into their projects may qualify for incentives under the Green Jobs Act (Republic Act
No. 10771).

SEC. 8. Education and Research.

(a) The DepEd shall integrate urban agriculture concepts in the curriculum and
strengthen the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program.

(b) The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and state universities and colleges
(SUCs) shall promote instruction, extension, and research on urban agriculture,
fisheries, and digital farming systems.

(©) The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) shall prioritize research and
development on climate-resilient and space-efficient food production methods.

SEC. 9. Appropriations. The amounts necessary for the initial implementation of this
‘Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of concemed agencies.
Thereafter, the sums necessary for continued implementation shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the Department of Agriculture, in coordination with concemed agencies,
shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.


SEC. 11. Separability Clause. \f any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and
effect.

SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, rules, and regulations
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 13. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,