SIXTEENTH CONGRESS Of THE REPUBLIC 
OF TI-IE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. _~4 a.a 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A NEW OFFICE UNDER TI-IE DEPARTMENT OF 
AGRICULTURE TO INCREASE THE EMPHASIS ON URBAN AGRICULTURAL 
ISSUES AND TO EFFECTIVEL Y ENCOURAGE LOCAL AGRICULTURAL 
PRODUCTION AND INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF FRESH FOOD IN 
URBAN AREAS, PARTICULARLYUNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES 
EXPERIENCING I-lUNGER, POOR NUTRITION, OBESITY, AND 
FOOD INSECURITY 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
"Food deserts" are areas with limited access to affordable and nutritious food. In 
many Philippine cities and rural areas, economic, demographic and land use changes over 
the past several years have created communities where supermarkets are non-existent and 
where poor quality food, limited choices, and lack of affordable food impact large 
segments ofthe population. 
This bill proposes to create an office under the Department of Agriculture focused 
on strengthening the Philippine agriculture by diversifying food production - moving 
[rom reliance on globally consolidated and industrial food chains to a system that 
.includes local production.! 
The objective o[ the bill is to pursue better coordination to empower communities 
to eliminate food dcserts, purchase and produce food locally, create sustainable food 
I http://www.maryknollogc.org/newsnotes/35.3/greeningurbanfood.deserts.htm!. 


systems, and connect better the existing programs that can and should be used to alleviate 
pockets of hunger and severe food insecurity2 
2 http://www.govtrack.lIs/collgress/bilitexl.xpd?bill=h 111-4971. 
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,!:1 f' n:1 t 1:' 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
{01l1r r 111 HI£" '~"nl'"frtr~ 
Second Regular Session 
':4 DEC-9 P2:44 
SENATE 
S. No. 
2492 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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AN ACT 
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ESTABLISHING A NEW OFFICE UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF 
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AGRICULTURE TO INCREASE THE EMPHASIS ON URBAN AGRICULTURAL 
4 
ISSUES AND TO EFFECTIVELY ENCOURAGE LOCAL AGlUCUL TURAL 
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PRODUCTION AND INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF FRESH FOOD IN 
6 
URBAN AREAS, PARTICULARLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES 
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EXPERIENCING HUNGER, POOR NUTRITION, OBESITY, AND 
8 
FOOD INSECURITY 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This law shall be known as the "Greening Food 
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Deserts Act". 
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SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
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(A) "Departmcnt" refers to the Department of Agriculture. 
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(B) "Secretary" refers to the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. 
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(C) "Underserved community" refers to a community that, as determined by the 
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Secretary, has: 
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(1) limited access to affordable, healthy foods, including fresh fruits and 
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vegetables; 
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(2) a high incidence of a diet-related disease (including obesity) as 
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compared to the national average; 
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(3) a high rate of hunger or food insecurity; or 
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(4) severe or pcrsistent poverty. 


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SECTION 3. Office 0/ Urban Agriculture. ~ The Secretary shall establish within 
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the Department an office to be known as the Office of Urban Agriculture. 
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(A) 
Purpose. ~ The Office of Urban Agriculture is established for the purpose 
of coordinating activities throughout the Department related to urban 
agriculture and nutrition. 
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(D) 
Specific Responsibilities. -- The Office of Urban Agriculture shall be 
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responsible for coordinating Department activitics and conducting oversight in 
the following mission areas: 
(1) Ensuring that Department authorities are used to effectively encourage 
agricultural production in underserved communities to combat hunger, 
poor nutrition, obesity, and food insecurity. 
(2) Ensuring that Department authorities are used to empower communities, 
especially communities 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 thc Department as a tool for 
economic development in underserved communities in a manner that 
addresses local conditions and engages local residents through 
agricultural economic development. 
(4) Conducting systematic and regular reviews of Department authorities 
and making policy recommendations to Congress and the Secretary on 
new authorities or regulation changes to assist underserved communities 
to combat hunger, poor nutrition, obesity, and food insecurity. 
2 


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(5) Ensuring that the programs established by this Act are implemented in a 
manner 
consistent with 
the 
goal 
of eliminating 
underserved 
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communities. 
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SECTION 4. Natural Resource Conservation Service Technical Assistance in 
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Support of Backyard Conservation and Community Gardening Programs. -
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(A) 
Authority to Provide Assistance. - The Secretary shall provide technical 
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assistance in support of backyard conservation and community gardening 
programs involving'small-scale subsistence and personal-use agriculture for 
the purpose of achieving expanded and improved production; and 
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implementing conservation methods related to small-scale and personal-use 
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production. 
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(B) Use of Botanical Gardens. - To provide technical assistance under this Act, the 
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Secretary shall seek to certify botanical gardens as third-party providers. 
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SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be declared 
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unconstitutional, any other provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and 
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. effect. 
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SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, 
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or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/fldpnov20 14 
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