TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
)
SENATE 
S. B. No. 66
25 JUL -3 P3 :40
Introduced by Senator Rodante D. Marcoleta
AN ACT
ADDRESSING FOOD SECURITY CONCERNS THROUGH INTEGRATING 
INSTRUCTIONAL GARDENS IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL 
CURRICULA AND PROMOTING THE USE OF URBAN AGRICULTURE, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that, "[T]he State shall 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness 
among them". It is therefore incumbent upon the State to provide programs that will 
promote awareness about the benefits of proper nutrition in order to address the rampant 
malnutrition among the Filipino youths.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF, 2023) reported that malnutrition is 
responsible for the deaths of 95 Filipino children each day, with 27 out of every 1,000 
children failing to survive beyond the age of five. In 2019 alone, the Department of 
Education has recorded a total of 1,836,793 undernourished pupils from kindergarten to 
Grade 6. This coincides with the recent report that the Philippines is among the ten 
countries with the highest number of stunted children globally, with one out of four 
Filipino children, under the age of five, affected by stunting. In response to these alarming 
statistics, the World Health Organization, in 2021, categorized the prevalence of stunting 
among Filipino children as a public health issue of "very high" significance.1
1Hungry children do not make good students (Opinion piece by Kenneth Hartigan-Go, Angel Faye 
Castillo, Melissa Louise Prieto)


The growing incidence of malnutrition can be categorically linked to the low 
academic performance among Filipino children. Undernourished bodies result in 
undernourished minds, more so in the case of malnutrition. Thus, it is imperative for the 
national government to take proactive and tangible measures that can help Filipino 
students to actively participate in combating this public health concern.
The establishment of vegetable gardens in schools can serve as an effective 
strategy for mitigating hunger, while also providing a practical learning environment 
where children can acquire knowledge about the art and science of planting, and its 
nutritional importance and other various benefits.
This bill aims to mandate the establishment of instructional gardens in all 
elementary and secondary schools in the country, as a measure to help address hunger 
and malnutrition and serve as an interactive educational tool that will teach the students 
about the fundamental concepts of nutrition and its significance to academic learning: 
and early exposure to farming — a valuable skill for citizens of an agricultural nation such 
as the Philippines.
Moreover, this bill seeks to promote agriculture in urban areas, through vertical 
farming, and in other areas of the country, as a mechanism to further address food 
security and environmental concerns of the country.
For the above reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
RODAm E D. MARCOLETA


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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
)
SENATE 
S. B. No. 66
25 JiJL-3 P3:40
\
Introduced by Senator Rodante D. Marcoleta
AN ACT
ADDRESSING FOOD SECURITY CONCERNS THROUGH INTEGRATING 
INSTRUCTIONAL GARDENS IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL 
CURRICULA AND PROMOTING THE USE OF URBAN AGRICULTURE, 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 "Instructional Gardens and 
Urban Agriculture Act"
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to promote food 
security, food quality, improved health, fight hunger and malnutrition, poverty alleviation, 
improved quality of environment through greening, reduction in pollution, and creation 
of savings in household expenditures. Towards this end, key reforms for the development 
of appropriate, cost-effective, and environmentally safe agricultural practices are hereby 
encouraged in order to ensure the food security of the country.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be 
defined as follows:
a. Instructional Gardens refer to a program of instruction in all elementary and 
secondary schools, where knowledge and skills, not only in urban agriculture and
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b.
vertical farming, but in agricultural food production in gen 
school children through relevant theories and actual engagement in agricultural 
cultivation/production. The theories and actual production shall revolve around the 
concepts of composting, waste management techniques, healthy and nutritious 
farm produce, sustainable farm practices, among others;
Urban Agriculture refers to the practice of cultivating, processing and distributing 
of food in or around a village, town or city. Urban agriculture also Involves animal 
husbandry, aquaculture, agro-forestry and horticulture; and.


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c. Vertical Farming refers Xo the method of farming that is brought to the urban space
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by employing the concepts of indoor agriculture in skyscrapers and other modern
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buildings.
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Sec. 4. Promotion of and Comprehensive Research on Urban Agriculture and
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Vertical Farming. - For purposes of this Act, the respective Secretaries of the Department
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of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) are hereby
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mandated to promote the use of urban agriculture and vertical farming in the country's
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urban areas and in other areas in the country where such farming methods are suited,
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as an intervention mechanism for further addressing food security concerns of the
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country.
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Idle and/or abandoned government lots and buildings owned by either the national
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government or local governments or available land resources in state universities and
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colleges shall be considered for growing crops, raising livestock, and producing food using
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the said methods.
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Sec. 5. Institutionalization of Instructional Gardens in School Curricula. -
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Instructional Gardens program shall be integrated in the academic curricula for
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elementary and secondary level students of both public and private academic institutions,
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particularly in subjects in agriculture, practical arts, home economics, and/or other related
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subjects.
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The Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the DA, shall
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promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this Section
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within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act.
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Sec. 6. Local Government Units' Participation. - Local government units (LGUs)
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shall formulate a policy on the practice of urban agriculture and vertical farming, utilizing
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unused spaces and idle lands.
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This shall require the enactment of local legislation institutionalizing urban
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agriculture in all levels of the LGU. LGUs shall also grant necessary incentives to their
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constituents who actively participate in urban farming activities.
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Sec. 7. Tax Incentives. - All allocations of grants, endowments, donations, or
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contributions and technical assistance provided by private individuals or corporations to
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schools for the promotion and implementation of Institutional Gardens in the school
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curricula, as certified by the DepEd, shall be exempt from taxes and duties.
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Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within nineb/ (90) days from the
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effectivity of this Act, the DepEd shall, in coordination with DA and the DOST, promulgate
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the implementing rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.
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Sec. 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this
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Act shall be included in the annual budget of DepEd.
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Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid
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or unconstitutional, the remaining parts not affected shall remain in full force and effect.


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Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, letters
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of instructions, administrative orders, proclamations or administrative regulations that are
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified
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accordingly.
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Sec. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
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in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,