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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
3rd Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representative ERIC GO YAP 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Food security must be afforded not just to the free folk but also to those in the 
penitentiary institutions who likewise have the right to proper sustenance. Due to 
budget constraints and the growing number of inmates, penal institutions continue to 
struggle with providing food for all the prisoners. In addition, the constant increase 
in food prices makes it more challenging for the personnel of prison facilities to budget 
the allocated funding. 
This bill seeks to mandate all penal institutions with areas suitable for 
agriculture to implement a voluntary agricultural livelihood program for prisoners. 
Proper agricultural training shall be done so the prisoners can cultivate the lands 
within the perimeter allowed and be more mobile. Through this, the need for 
sufficient food for inmates will also be addressed. At the same time, the produce can 
also be sold and used to augment the budget for the benefit of our inmates.  
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
ERIC GO YAP 
November 17, 2021
9:59 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
3rd Regular Session 
House Bill No. _________ 
Introduced by Representative ERIC GO YAP 
AN ACT 
MANDATING ALL PENAL INSTITUTIONS WITH AREAS SUITABLE FOR 
AGRICULTURE TO IMPLEMENT AGRICULTURAL LIVELIHOOD PROGRAM 
FOR PRISONERS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Prison Agricultural Program. The Bureau of Corrections shall in 
coordination with the Department of Agriculture, implement a voluntary 
agricultural livelihood program in all penal institutions with areas suitable for 
agriculture. The program shall provide training within their respective penal 
institution to prisoners who will be allowed to work and cultivate the arable areas 
and perform farming activities to produce crops and goods for their own 
consumption or to be sold for profit. The profits derived from the program shall be 
credited to the Prison Agriculture Revolving Fund. 
SEC. 2. Role of the Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture 
shall supply the seeds, fertilizers, equipment and other implements necessary for the 
voluntary agricultural livelihood program and shall provide technical support and 
advice to prison personnel on the management and maintenance of the prison farm. 
It shall also provide the prisoners who will participate in the program the necessary 
training on agriculture, equipment operations, and farming procedures. 
The head of the penal institution shall act as the custodian of the agricultural 
supplies and equipment. 
SEC. 3. Voluntary Participation of Prisoners and Their Wages. The prisoners 
who will work in the farm shall be chosen upon the recommendation by the head of 
the penal institution concerned based on a criteria that shall be determined by the 
Department of Justice (DOJ). 
The chosen prisoners shall work on a voluntary basis only, in which case the 
participant shall be paid the minimum wage rate that is prevailing in the area where 
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the penal institution is located. The compensation shall be paid from the Prison 
Agriculture Revolving Fund. 
 
 
SEC. 4. Prison Agricultural Revolving Fund. Every penal institution 
implementing the agricultural program shall establish the "Prison Agricultural 
Revolving Fund," consisting of the earnings derived from the program. 
 
 
The Prison Agriculture Revolving Fund shall be exclusively and primarily 
used for the following: 
 
a. Payment of wages of inmates who work in the prison farm; and 
 
b. Acquisition of agricultural inputs, seeds and fertilizers and other provisions 
for farming. 
 
 
At the end of the year, fifty percent (50%) of the Prison Agricultural Revolving 
Fund shall be given as dividends to all inmates who participated in the agricultural 
program; twenty percent (20%) shall be utilized for the improvement of the penal or 
prison facility; and the remaining thirty percent (30%) shall be the start-up funds for 
the succeeding year. 
 
 
 
SEC. 5. Reportorial Requirement. The Bureau of Corrections shall, in 
coordination with the Department of Agriculture, conduct a review of the Prison 
Agricultural Program every two (2) years and submit a report to both Houses of 
Congress. Said report shall contain the following information: 
 
a. Rate of success, failure of the program; 
 
b. Expenses incurred in the implementation of the program per cropping season; 
 
c. List of inmates who participated in the program; 
 
d. Benefits of the program; 
 
e. Problems encountered in the implementation of the program; and 
 
f. Recommendation of the heads of each of the penal institutions. 
 
 
SEC. 6. Appropriations. The amount necessary for the initial implementation 
of this Act shall be charged to the appropriations for the Department of Agriculture. 
Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this 
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
 
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within sixty (60) days after the 
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Justice shall, in coordination with the Secretary 
of Agriculture, issue such rules and regulations necessary for the effective 
implementation of this Act. 
 


 
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SEC. 8. Separability Clause. Should any part of this Act be declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof that are not affected thereby 
shall continue to be in full force and effect.  
 
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, 
rules and regulations, and issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.  
 
SEC. 10. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper or general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,