Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. HARRIS CHRISTOPHER M. ONGCHUAN 
       EXPLANATORY NOTE 
A food forest is a planting system that utilizes the patterns found in nature. 
Edible plants are strategically planted together to support each other and reduce pests 
and weeds. Now low-maintenance and also resilient to extreme weather conditions, 
this planting strategy has already been used in almost 70% of all Philippines 
households, albeit to a lesser extent.  
This bill proposes that the Philippine Food Forest Gardening Commission be 
created to introduce and promote the Food Forest Gardening Program. The 
introduction of a system that is efficient, low-cost, and low-maintenance will greatly 
increase the yield of our edible plants. Established in households, school yards, and 
idle lands, these food forests aim to maximize land use and promote sustainable 
agriculture. 
The bill also proposes to establish the Philippine Center for Food Forest 
Gardening which will be under the Philippine Food Forest Gardening Commission. It 
aims to help the Commission through seminars, faura, and other networking to help 
the Commission administer its functions efficiently and effectively.  
The bill was first filed in the 17th Congress by Rep. Lee and was refiled in the 
18th Congress by Rep. Legarda. It was approved by the House in the 18th Congress 
and was transmitted to the Senate.  
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HARRIS CHRISTOPHER M. ONGCHUAN 
August 30, 2022
8:02 am
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 Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by Representative 
HARRIS CHRISTOPHER M. ONGCHUAN 
AN ACT  
PROMOTING FOOD FOREST GARDENING, PROVIDING 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 “Food Forest Gardening 
Act of 2019.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
build. preserve, and maintain a healthy ecosystem; protect and develop biodiversity 
and habitats for wildlife; conserve the country’s crop genetic diversity and heirloom 
plants as a strategy for climate change adaptation, mitigation and resiliency; and 
promote public awareness on ecological and sustainable use of land resources for 
food production and other products.  
Toward this end, the government, in coordination with the stakeholders in the 
business sector, such as land developers and social entrepreneurs and the civil 
society, shall promote and integrate Food Forest Gardening by establishing and 
developing community gardens in the country as a form of sustainable land use 
system for food production and other agricultural products for economic and societal 
development. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
shall mean: 
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a. Agro-Forestry — a land use management system in which trees or shrubs are 
grown around or among crops or pasture land and combines shrubs and trees in 
agricultural and forestry technologies to create more diverse, productive. profitable, 
healthy, ecologically sound, and sustainable land-use systems: 
b. Companion Planting — planting of different crops in close proximity for ecological 
pest control, pollination, providing habitat for beneficial creatures, maximizing use 
of space, and to otherwise increase the crop productivity: 
c. Crop Rotation — practice of successive planting of different crops on the same land 
to improve soil fertility and crop yield, reduce soil erosion and help control insects 
and diseases; 
d. Ecosystem —a complex set of relationships among the living resources, habitats, 
and residents of an area which includes plants, trees, animals, fish, birds, 
microorganisms, water, soil and people: 
e. Forest Gardening — “multi-layered crop farming’ or a low maintenance and 
sustainable method of food production that is based on woodland ecosystems, 
incorporating fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vines, and perennial vegetables 
which yields directly useful to humans and a system of agro-forestry that creates 
diverse, productive, healthy, ecologically-sound and sustainable system of land use: 
f. Perennial Vegetables — plants that live for more than two (2) years; and, 
g. Sustainable Land-Use Management — use of land resources, including soil, water. 
animals and plants, for the production of goods to meet changing human needs while 
simultaneously ensuring the long-term productive potential of these resources and 
the maintenance of their environmental functions. 
SECTION 4. Institutionalization of the Philippine Food Forest Gardening Program. 
— In order to ensure food security and regenerate ecosystem functions through a 
system of layers of vegetation, the Philippine Food Forest Gardening Program, 
hereinafter referred to as the “Program”, is hereby institutionalized. For this purpose, 
Food Forest Gardening may be established in the following places: 
a. Any parcel or portion of land; 
b. Public spaces such as urban yards or city and municipal parks: 
c. Unutilized and idle public land; 


d. Community or common spaces of land developments: 
e. Portions of rural farms: 
f. Urban housing projects 
g. Idle parcels of land in Schools, colleges and universities; and, 
h. Actual yards of households. 
SECTION 5. Objectives of the Program. — The following are the objectives of the 
Program: 
a. To introduce low maintenance food production through agro-forestry: 
b. To establish sustainable food forest gardening using mostly perennial vegetables 
through crop rotation and companion planting in the country; 
c. To maximize land use and provide a significant source of income for urban and 
rural communities; 
d. To transform farmers from mere mono-crop cultivators to multi-crop 
agripreneurs: 
e. To utilize idle lands and consequently create beautiful living spaces; 
f. To serve as a model for the youth inspiring them towards Sustainable agriculture: 
and,  
g. To help farmers build productive farming communities and produce high-quality 
crops for the country’s economy. 
SECTION 6. Creation and Composition of the Philippine Food Forest Gardening 
Commission. — There is hereby created the Philippine Food Forest Gardening 
Commission, hereinafter referred to as the “Commission”, which shall be attached to 
the Department of Agriculture (DA) and shall act as a policy-making body for 
effective and continuing implementation of the provisions of this Act. It shall be 
headed by the Secretary of the DA, as Chairperson, and the Secretary of the 
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as Co-Chairperson. The 
following shall be its members: 
a. Director of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI); 
b. a representative of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
(DENR); 
c. a representative of the Department of Finance (DOF); 


d. a representative of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST); 
e. a representative of the Department of Education (DepEd); 
f. A representative of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED); 
g. 2 representatives of the land developers associations; and, 
h. 2 representatives of Non-Government Organizations (NGOs). 
 
SECTION 7. Powers and Functions of the Commission. — The Commission shall 
have the following powers and functions: 
1. Formulate framework, plan, and policy for the Philippine Food Forest Gardening 
in both national and local levels; 
2. Prepare a comprehensive manual for the Philippine Food Forest Gardening 
Program; 
3. Formulate guidelines for the food forest gardening training program for Local 
Government Units (LGUs), concerned agencies and offices; teachers or instructors of 
both public and private schools teaching subjects related to agriculture, particularly 
those under the K to 12 program, and other interested members of society, such as 
non-government organizations (NGOs); 
4. Devise and implement resource development scheme to ensure continued 
allocation of funds; 
5. Assess overall progress of the food forest training program and review the 
monitoring and evaluation of results; 
6. Submit annual report to Congress; and 
7. Perform such other tasks necessary for the effective implementation of this Act. 
6.             Ensuring that the ICT programs and operations are consistent with national 
policies and standards. 
SECTION 8. Participation of LGUs. — All LGUs are hereby mandated to establish 
the Program which shall focus on implementing a comprehensive food forest 
gardening in their respective levels and jurisdictions. The concerned LGUs shall 
encourage all home developers, homeowners, neighborhood, community and/or 
people’s organizations to participate in the Program. 
SECTION 9. Incentives. — Those participating in the Program shall be granted 
incentives including, but not limited to, exemption from payment of real estate tax, 


exemption from existing rules and regulations prohibiting farming or growing food 
in backyards, patios or houses, and other incentives as may be provided by the 
Commission and the law. 
SECTION 10. Establishment of the Philippine Center for Food Forest Gardening. — 
The Philippine Center for Food Forest Gardening is hereby established, which shall 
be under the Commission and shall provide information, training, education, 
expertise, best practices and networking to implement the food forest gardening 
program. It shall likewise provide the necessary secretariat, administrative, and 
technical Support to the Commission. 
SECTION 11. Management Fund. — For the implementation of this Act, a 
management fund shall be established for the following purposes: 
a. Research 
b. Information and educational Campaign; 
c. Trainings; and 
d. Pilot programs. 
SECTION 12. Integration of the Program in School Curriculum. — The Program shall 
be integrated in the academic curriculum for senior high school and college students 
taking up Agriculture, Practical Arts, Home Economics and/or other Subjects related 
to agriculture. 
SECTION 13. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation of 
this Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the budget of the DA, DILG, 
DOST. DepEd, CHED and DENR not otherwise appropriated. Thereafter, the funds 
shall be included in the annual budget of the aforementioned agencies. 
SECTION 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The DA, in coordination with 
the DILG, DOST, DepEd, CHED, DENR and other stakeholders, shall promulgate the 
rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of tis Act. 
SECTION 15. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act, or any part thereof, 
shall be declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected 
thereby shall continue in full force and effect. 


SECTION 16. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, proclamations, 
executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly 
SECTION 17. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following 
its complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved.