HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Republic of the Philippines RECEIVED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE!
Quezon City pate: 10 AUG 2016
TIVE: 0
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS fav: 5

First Regular Session

2818

REGISTRATION UNIT.
|. BILLS AND INDE X SERVICE

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Estrellita B. Suansing

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 institutionalize integrated urban farming in the
highly urbanized cities and municipalities nationwide. This, in turn, will help address food
security concerns and regenerate ecosystem functions.

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 also provide residents with
safer, healthier food, at the same time keeping farmers in business. Furthermore, urban
agriculture and vertical farming will help reduce poverty

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.’

‘LLITA B. SUANSING

* This bill is a re-file of House Bill No. 5597 filed during the 16" Congress.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2818

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Estrellita B. Suansing

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.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
reaffirm the fundamental right of every person to adequate food and to be free from hunger.
Towards this end, the State shall endeavor to achieve self-sufficiency in food production and
the building of climate-resilient communities in the metropolitan areas through the promotion
of key reforms for the development and promotion of modern, appropriate, cost-effective and
environmentally safe agriculture technologies in order to ensure food security, promote a
healthy citizenry and advance an improve quality of life for urban dwellers.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the term:

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

(b) Integrated urban agriculture refers to the developmental 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;

(c) Urban agriculture refers to the practice of cultivating, processing and
distributing food in or around a village, town or city including animal husbandry,
aquaculture, agro-forestry and horticulture;

(8) Urban farming refers to any act of farming in a city using land or the space of
a building, including the roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with
vegetation through the use of any growing medium such as pots, plots and
membranes;

Page 2 of 6


wre

warvausn

10
ce
12

13
14

15
16
7

18
19
20

24
22
23
24

25
26
27
28

29
30
31
32

33
34
35

36
37
38
39
40

(€) 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;

() Community gardens refer to any piece of land gardened by a group of people
sing either individual or shared plots on public or private land with the consent of the
‘owner, to produce edibles, such as herbs, vegetables, fruits or omamentals.
Community gardens may be found in neighborhoods and schools, or connected to
institutions such as hospitals or located on the grounds of shared housing such as
tenements, apartment complexes and shanty towns;

SECTION 4. Office of Urban Agriculture. - The Secretary of the Department of
Agriculture shall establish within the Department an office to be known as the Office of
Urban Agriculture.

(a) Purpose. - The Office of Urban Agriculture is established for the purpose of
coordinating activities throughout the Department related to urban agriculture.

(b) Specific Responsibilities. - The Office of Urban Agriculture shall be
responsible for coordinating Department activities and conducting oversight in the
following areas:

(1) Ensuring that Department authorities are used to effectively
encourage agricultural production in urban communities to combat hunger and food
insecurity.

(2) Ensuring that Department authorities are used to empower
communities, especially communities in urban areas with a large percentage of low-
income residents, to eliminate shortages of affordable, fresh food products, increase
‘the local production and sale of food, and create sustainable food systems.

(3) Developing a unified strategy to link the agricultural production and
nutrition programs administered by the Department as a tool for economic
development on urban communities in a manner that addresses local conditions and
engages local residents through agricultural economic development

(4) Conducting systematic and regular reviews of the Department's
authorities and making policy recommendations to Congress and the Secretary on
new authorities or regulation changes to assist urban communities to combat hunger,
poor nutrition and food insecurity.

(6) Ensuring that the programs established by this Act are
implemented in a manner consistent with the goal of poverty reduction, food security
and healthy eating habits in urban communities.

SECTION 5. Natural Resource Conservation Service Technical Assistance. ~ The
Secretary shall provide technical assistance in support of backyard and community
gardening programs involving small-scale subsistence and personal-use agriculture for the
purpose of achieving expanded and improved production, and implementing conservation
methods related to small-scale and personal-use production.

Page 3 of 6


ounRune

10

1

12
13

14
15

16

17

18

19
20

21

22
23

31
32

33
34

35

SECTION 6. Creation and Composition of the Urban Agriculture Council of the
Philippines (UACP). ~ To carry out the purpose of this Ac, there is hereby established an
Urban Agriculture Council of the Philippines (UACP) which shall be attached to the
Department of Agriculture. Its task is to promote urban agriculture in the country. The
Council shall meet every three (3) months or as often as necessary. The UACP shall be
composed of thirteen (13) members:

(a) The Secretary of the DA, who shall serve as the Chair of the UACP;

(b) The Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR);

(c) The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST);
(d) The Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DT!);

(©) The Director General of the National Economic Development Authority
(NEDA);

(f) The Representative from the National Urban Poor Sector Council of the
National Anti-Poverty Commission (NUPSC-NAPC);

(g) The National President of the League of Cities;
(h) The National President of the League of Municipalities;
()) The Chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Food of the Senate;

() The Chair of the Committee on Food Security of the House of
Representatives;

(k) The Representative from the Academe;

(I) The Representative from the private sector who has the expertise in urban
farming; and
(m)The Lead Convenor of the Urban Agriculture Practitioners Network of the
Philippines.
The Office of Urban Agriculture which shall be under the Office of the Secretary of

the Department of Agriculture shall be the secretariat of the Urban Agriculture Council of the
Philippines.

SECTION 7. Powers and Functions of the Council. - The Council shall have the
following duties, powers and functions:

(a) Formulate the implementing guidelines, programs and operating principles
of this Act;

(b) Study and make recommendations regarding the impact of urban farming in
metropolitan communities;

(©) Monitor and carry out the implementation of this Act;

Page 4 of 6


wn

evans

10
a
22

13
14
15
16

7
18
19
20
2a

22
23

24
25
26
27
28

29
30
31

32
33
34
35
36
37

38
39
40
a1

(d) Submit to Congress a report of its findings and recommendations;

(e) To exercise all powers and functions necessary for the objectives and
purpose of this Act.

SECTION 8. Comprehensive Research on Urban Agriculture. ~ For the purpose of
this Act, the respective Secretaries of the DA, DOST, DENR and the academic community
shall help develop research agenda on urban agriculture and vertical farming in the country’s
metropolitan areas as an instrument to address food security concerns and regenerate
ecosystem functions in the country.

Towards this end, idle and/or abandoned government lots and buildings owned by
either the national governments or local governments or available land resources in state
colleges and universities shall be considered for growing crops livestock and producing food
using the said methods.

Safety standards, good agricultural practices and good handling practices must be
emphasized and promoted at all times, such that DA, DOST, and the local government units
(LGUs), together with pertinent agencies should see to its implementation in the promotion
of urban agriculture to minimize risks of microbial food safety hazards.

SECTION 9. Inclusion of Urban Agriculture in the Educational System. — Urban
agriculture and vertical farming as used in agricultural production shall be integrated in the
academic curriculum for elementary, secondary and tertiary level students of both public and
private academic institutions for those studying in Agriculture, Practical Arts, Home
Economies and/or other subjects related to agriculture

A course curriculum on urban agriculture shall also be developed and included into
the regular curriculum of both elementary and secondary education

For colleges and universities, urban agriculture shall form part of the required period
of time spent by students in the National Service Training Program (NSTP) or the Citizens
Military Training (CMT). A plan, therefore, for the utilization or maximizing space occupied by
schools shall be formulated specifically for urban agriculture. Instructional materials shall
also be developed.

The Department of Education (DepED), in coordination with the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED), shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the
implementation of this Section within six (6) months from the date of effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 10. Responsibility of Local Government Units. - The LGUs shall formulate
policy on the practice of urban agriculture, utilizing unused spaces and idle lands consistent
with its existing policy on the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and zoning ordinances.
This shall require the enactment of local legislation institutionalizing urban agriculture in the
LGU and also the enactment of measures or ordinances that will include urban agriculture as
a regular component in the annual appropriations of the LGU.

All metropolitan LGUs are required to provide assistance in the form of training as
well as other benefits or incentives under this Act to residents who adopt urban agriculture.
Towards this end, a model or demonstration urban farm/garden shall be developed and
which shall be open to the public for visitation and educational purposes.

Page 5 of 6


All homeowners’ associations, neighborhood associations, community associations,
and people organizations including local business establishments shall be encouraged by
the LGU shall grant necessary incentives under existing laws for the benefit of the members
of the concerned associations or organizations engaged in urban agriculture.

SECTION 11. Information and Education Campaign. ~ In order to raise public
awareness, and provide education on urban agriculture, the DA shall engage the assistance
of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Public Information Office of the urban cities
and municipalities, in coordination with the DILG, the DepED, and the CHED, to undertake a
national education information campaign.

SECTION 12. Appropriations. - The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of
this Act shall be included and incorporated in the annual general appropriations of the DA
under the Office of the Secretary.

SECTION 13. Tax Incentive and/or Tax Credits. - The owner of the building or a
parcel of land utilized for urban agriculture, as defined in this Act, shall receive a real
property tax credit for every square meter, consistent with existing tax laws.

SECTION 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within six (6) months from the
effectivity of this Act, the DA and the DOST shall promulgate such implementing rules and
regulations necessary for the proper implementation of this Act.

SECTION 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be declared
unconstitutional, any other provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 16. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules and
regulations, or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
modified or amended accordingly.

SECTION 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

Page 6 of 6