Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 284 _

Introduced by Representatives
Estrellita B, Suansing and Horacio P. Suansing, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Agriculture is the perennial backbone of the Philippine economy. Using
contemporaneous Philippine statistics, the sector employs a substantial 65%-
70% of our workforce. While farming has always been associated with rural
areas and done on vast farmlands, farming can also be done in the cities - a
practice called urban agriculture. In fact, urban agriculture is now being
practiced in many countries all over the world, and in recent years, has been
introduced in the country.

This proposed measure seeks to promote integrated urban agriculture
development in all metropolitan areas nationwide to address food security
concerns.

The world population will double in 50 years. Studies have shown that
new land will be needed to grow enough food for everyone. Urban agriculture
and vertical farming will not only clean our environment and avoid further
climate change, but will also provide residents with sufficient, safe, and
nutritious food. Furthermore, urban agriculture and vertical farming will help
reduce poverty.

This bill is a re-file of House Bill No. 9105, which passed Third and
Final Reading during the 17% Congress, thus, a study has been made. In view
of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnest sought.

REP. ESTRELLITA B. SUANSING REP. HORACIO SUANSING, JR.
1% District, Nueva Ecij 2n4 District, Sultan Kudarat


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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 284

Introduced by Representatives
Estrellita B. Suansing and Horacio P. Suansing, Jr.

AN ACT
PROMOTING INTEGRATED URBAN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN
ALL METROPOLITAN AREAS NATIONWIDE TO ADDRESS FOOD
SECURITY CONCERNS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Integrated Urban
Agriculture Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. -The State shall ensure that the fundamental
right of every person to adequate food and to be free from hunger is
guaranteed and protected. As such, the achievement of self-sufficiency and
sustainability in food production is adopted as a primary State policy.
Towards this end, the State shall develop climate-resilient communities in the
metropolitan areas through the promotion of modern, appropriate, cost-
effective, and environmentally safe agriculture technologies to ensure food
security, promote a healthy citizenry and an improved quality of life for urban
dwellers.

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

(a) Food security refers to a situation wherein food is available and
affordable at all times, and where people have access to sufficient, safe and
nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life;

(b) Integrated urban agriculture refers to the development paradigm
that encompasses principles, management technologies, and the policies
relating to the practice and application of agricultural production of food and
goods in urban areas; and


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(0) Vertical farming refers to the method of farming that is brought to
the urban space by employing concepts of indoor agriculture in skyscrapers
and other modern buildings.

SEC. 4. Scope. - This Act shall apply to all urban spaces such as idle,
government or private lots or buildings, available land resources in State or
private universities and colleges suitable for growing crops and raising
poultry, livestock and aquaculture.

SEC. 5. National Agriculture and Fisheries Council. - The National
Agriculture and Fisheries Council (NAF Council) is hereby mandated to
monitor and ensure the proper implementation of this Act. The Council shall
be composed of the following members:

(a) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (Chairperson);

(b) Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management;

(c) Secretary of the Department of Education;

(d) Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources;

(c) Secretary of the Department of Health;

() Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local
Government;

(@) Secretary of the Department of Finance;

(h) Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment;

() Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways;

() Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology;

(k) Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development;

() Secretary pf the Department of Trade and Industry;

(m) Secretary of the Department of Transportation;

(n) Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education;

(0) Chairperson of the National Anti-Poverty Commission;

(p) Director General of the National Economic and development
Authority;

(q) Director General of the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority;

(ct) Chairperson of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor;

(s) _ Representative from the Academe;

(t) Representative from the private sector who has the expertise in
urban agriculture and vertical farming; and

(u) Lead Convenor of the Urban Agriculture Practitioners Network of
the Philippines.


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Cabinet secretaries who are members of the Council may designate
their duly authorized and permanent representatives whose ranks shall in no
case be lower than assistant secretary.

SEC. 6. Powers and Functions of the NAF Council. - The NAF Council shall
have the following additional powers and functions:

(a) Develop a unified strategy to link agricultural production to
nutrition programs;

(b) Conduct policy studies, program monitoring and comprehensive
researches on food production, sustainable food systems and the country’s
urban agriculture agenda;

(c) Ensure that department resources are used to effectively
encourage agricultural production in urban communities;

(4) Provide technical assistance in support of vertical farming,
backyard food production and community gardening programs consistent
with the goals of poverty reduction, food security and healthy eating habits in
urban communities; and

(e) Submit periodic reports and policy recommendations to Congress
for the proper implementation of this Act.

SEC. 7. Inclusion of Urban Agriculture in the Educational System. -
Urban agriculture shall be integrated in the academic curriculum for
elementary, secondary and tertiary level students of both public and private
academic institutions offering courses in Agriculture, Practical Arts, Home
Economics and/or other subjects related to agriculture. A course curriculum
on gardening shall be developed and included in the regular curriculum of
elementary and secondary education. Instructional materials shall likewise
be developed.

For universities and colleges, urban agriculture shall form part of the
required period of time spent by students in the National Service Training
Program or the Citizens’ Military Training. A plan for the utilization or
maximization of space occupied by schools shall be formulated specifically for
urban agriculture purposes.

SEC. 8. Responsibility of Local Government Units. - The local government
units (LGUs), in coordination with the NAF Council, shall formulate policies
on the practice of urban agriculture and on utilizing urban spaces, unused
spaces and idle lands, consistent with its existing policy on the
Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and zoning ordinances: Provided, That

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spaces for urban agriculture shall not be prime lots or areas suitable for
investments. The LGUs in cities and urban areas are required to enact local
legislation institutionalizing urban agriculture as a regular component in the
annual appropriations of the LGUs.

All homeowners’ associations, neighborhood associations, community
associations, people’s organizations, and local business establishments shall
be encouraged by the LGU to participate in urban agriculture activities.

SEC. 9. Information and Education Campaign. - In order to raise public
awareness, provide information and engage the public to participate in
activities and projects on urban agriculture, the NAF Council shall engage the
assistance of the Philippine Information Agency, through the Public
Information Office in each city and municipality, to undertake a nationwide
information campaign.

SEC. 10. Appropriations. - The funds necessary to carry out the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s budget
of the Department of Agriculture. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary
for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within six (6) months
from the effectivity of this Act, the NAF Council, in coordination with the
concerned agencies, shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees or issuances,
executive orders, letter of instruction, administrative orders, rules and
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,