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Republic of the Phi fo} a
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES XL DATE November 7, 2022 cp
Quezon City 5 = ligoam Oo *®
NINETEENTH CONGRESS Aaa i
First Regular Session os

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HOUSE BILL NO. _5867 INDEX

Introduced by Representative Joseph Gilbert F. Violago

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘This commendable bill had been filed in the past Congress and the present proponent
is acknowledging the wisdom and hard work of his predecessors.

Based on the Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data, as of August
8, 2022, the Philippine population is 112,636,025. With its rapid population growth compared
to other countries, the State shall ensure the steady food supply for the Filipino people.
Unfortunately, the agricultural lands in the country have been significantly decreasing through
the years because of land conversion. The demand for subdivisions, housing projects and
‘commercial and industrial buildings in what used to be agricultural lands prove the veracity of
these facts.

With the increasing population and the decreasing areas for agriculture, the government
must act swiftly to address the threat of inadequate food supply in the country. One of the
solutions towards this end is Urban Agriculture.

This bill seeks to promote integrated urban agriculture in urban areas nationwide. By
introducing farming to the cities, the gap between food production and consumption will be
reduced. Families in urban areas will have a choice on what food to grow and eat. Likewise, it
will educate them to be practice self-sufficiency. Crops can be grown in urban areas in idle
ands, pots, containers, empty cans, plastics and many more. Filipinos are known for their
ingenuity, hard work, and patience; hence, these traits will prove vital towards the success of
this program. In addition, urban agriculture will give the citizens food security in times of
crises, i., during pandemics, when there is a lack of mobilization, set against soaring prices
and inflation,

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

JOSEPH GILBERT F. VIOLAGO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _5867

Introduced by Representative Joseph Gilbert F. Violago

AN ACT
AN ACT PROMOTING INTEGRATED URBAN AGRICULTURE IN
URBAN AREAS NATIONWIDE TO ADDRESS FOOD SECURITY AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

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

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State shall promote and protect the fundamental right
of every person to adequate food and freedom from hunger. Recognizing the challenges to
food security and ecological balance in urban areas, the State shall optimize the use and
productivity of urban land resources and spaces to support sufficient and sustainable food
production. Towards this end, the State shall promote the development of modem, cost
effective, space-efficient, and environmentally safe agriculture technologies in urban areas to
contribute to achieving sustainable food production and food security, promoting agro-
ecology, ensuring public and mental health and thus improving the quality of life of urban
populations. In doing so, the State shall prioritize the conservation of the country's genetic
biodiversity, and endemic and heirloom flora and fauna as a strategy for climate change
adaptation, mitigation, and resiliency.

Accordingly, the State shall ensure the integration of principles, strategies, and technologies
on urban agriculture in urban planning, and instill a love of farming among urban dwellers
most especially the youth.

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

(a) “Agro-ecology” shall refer to a scientific discipline and set of practices that studies
how different components of the agroecosystem interact and seeks sustainable farming
systems that optimize and stabilize Yields. It applies ecological concepts and principles
to manage interactions among plants, animals. humans and the environment for food
security and nutrition;

(b) “Community Gardens” shall refer to any piece of land cultivated by group of people
using 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 ornamentals, as a form


of sustainable land use system for economic and societal development. community
gardens may be found in neighborhoods and schools or connected to institutions such
as hospitals or located on the grounds or roofs of shared housing. such as tenements
and apartment complexes;

(©) “Food Forest Gardening” shall refer to 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 are directly useful to humans. It also refers to a system of agro-
forestry that creates diverse, productive, healthy. ecologically sound and sustainable
system of land use;

(@) “Food security” shall refer to a situation wherein all people have
safe, nutritious food. at all times, to maintain a healthy and active li

‘cess to sufficient,

(©) “Food system” shall refer to a complex web of activities involving the production,
processing, transport, and consumption of food. Issues concerning the food system
include the governance and economies of food production, its sustainability, the degree
to which we waste food, how food production affects the natural environment and the
impact of food on individual and population health;

() “Good Agricultural Practices” shall refer to the practices that address environmental,
economic, and social sustainability for on-farm processes, and which result in safe and
quality food and non-food agricultural products;

(g) “Idle lands” shall refer to non-agricultural lands in urban and urbanizable areas on
which no improvements have been made by the owner, as certified by the city,
municipal or provincial assessor. Idle government lands refer to lands owned by any
‘government entity that have been idle and have not been used for the purpose for which
they have been reserved for the past ten (10) years;

(h) “Indoor farming” shall refer to controlled environment agriculture which aims to
optimize plant growth to house vertical farming techniques in greenhouses,
warehouses, abandoned buildings, shipping containers, tunnels, skyscrapers and
modern buildings using soilless farming techniques such as hydroponies, aquaponics,
and aeroponics;

(@® “Integrated urban agriculture” shall refer to the development paradigm that
encompasses principles, management technologies, and the policies relating to the
practice and application of agricultural and fisheries production of food and goods in
urban areas;

(@ “Peri-urban areas” shall refer to areas where urban and rural features and processes
‘meet, interact and intertwine, usually located between city and countryside. Peri-urban
areas are semi-dense clusters with a density of at least three hundred (300) inhabitants
per square kilometer and a population of five thousand (5,000) or more, but are neither
contiguous with nor within two (2) kilometers of an urban area:


(k) “Protected agriculture” shall refer to the use of technologies that enclose crops to
harvest higher yields, safer, cleaner and of better quality even out of season by
modifying the natural environment and protect crop against the elements which include
high temperature, excessive rainfall, humidity, wind, birds, and insects;

(1) “Social preparation” shall refer to the series of activities designed to prepare the
underprivileged and homeless families to cope with the changes brought about by
government development projects;

(m) “Soilless agriculture” shall refer to the method of growing plants that do not rely on
the soil as a source of nutrients and water; common methods are hydroponics,
aquaponics and aeroponies;

(n) “Urban areas” shall refer to classification as may be made by the Philippines Statistics
‘Authority (PSA) which under PSA Resolution No. 01. Series of 2017-098, covers any
of the following:

(I). Ifa barangay has a population size of five thousand (3,000) or more;

(2) Ifa barangay has at least one establishment with a minimum of one hundred
(100) employees;

(3) Ifa barangay has five (5) or more establishments with a minimum of zero (0)
employee, and five (5) or more facilities within the two (2)-kilometer radius from
the barangay hall;

(0) “Urban planning” shall refer to multi-disciplinary art and science of analyzing,
specifying, clarifying, harmonizing, managing and regulating the use and development
of land and water resources, in relation to their environs, for the development of
sustainable communities and ecosystems in urban and urbanizable areas;

(p) “Urbanizable areas” shall refer to sites and lands which, considering the present
characteristics and prevailing conditions, display marked and great potential of
becoming urban areas within the period of five (5) years; and

(@) “Vertical farming” shall refer to the methods or practices of increasing the number of
plants grown in an area by growing crops in vertically stacked layers; such as generally
done in greenhouses, warehouses, abandoned buildings, shipping containers, tunnels,
skyscrapers and modem buildings using soilless farming techniques such as
hydroponics, aquaponics or aeroponics.

SEC. 4. Coverage. — This Act shall cover idle or abandoned government or private lands,
buildings, shipping containers, subdivisions or villages, public housing, open spaces in all
urban, peri-urban and urbanizable areas in the country, and all available land resources and
18S in schools, state or private universities and colleges, military camps suitable for
ing poultry, livestock and aquaculture: Provided, That, the utilization
of idle lands for urban agriculture purposes shall not be used as grounds for the eviction, of
informal settler families occupying the lands; Provided further, That, the raising of poultry
and livestock shall be limited to urbanizable areas and all livestock raising shall be subject to
health and safety standards and regulations issued by the Department of Health (DOH),
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Human
Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and other relevant government agen



SEC. 5, Urban Farming. — Local government units (LGUs) shall identify and develop idle
government and private lands and buildings, without prejudice to the rights of owners of
private lands, buildings and open spaces, within their jurisdiction, for full or partial conversion
solely to community gardens, food forest gardens, indoor farms and/or vertical farms to
support food security and community nutrition; Provided, That food forest gardens and urban
farms adopting agro-ecological principles shall be the priority form of urban agriculture
wherever applicable and feasible; Provided further, That, spaces allocated for urban
agriculture and aquaculture shall not be prime lots.

All LGUs, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Cooperative
Development Authority (CDA), shall capacitate neighborhood associations and people's
organizations, and facilitate the organization and registration of community-based
cooperatives. to undertake community gardening and establish community farmers’ markets.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit or extinguish the rights of owners to their private
lands and spaces without their consent or without their receipt of just compensation, in case of
expropriation.

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) shall ensure that
the design and development of subdivision, condominium and public housing projects have
provisions for adequate spaces for community gardens, food forest gardens, greenhouse
agriculture, roof gardens, indoor farms and vertical farms. Towards this end, the DHSUD, in
coordination with the DA, shall capacitate homeowners’ associations to undertake community
gardening and vertical farming,

The DA shall provide the necessary technical assistance and support services, including the
provision of seeds and seedlings and gardening tools. access to loans from government
financial institutions, and training workshops that shall capacitate various stakeholders. It may
assist in the design, establishment, promotion and regulation of indoor and vertical farming
machineries and facilities to ensure the full productivity of community gardens, school
gardens, food forest gardens, greenhouse farms, roof gardens, and indoor and vertical farms.

‘The DA shall ensure that the technical assistance it provides is consistent with Philippine Good
Agricultural Practices (PHILGAP) or a set of standards and regulations ensuring food quality
and safely, facilitation of market access, establishment of community farmers’ markets and
reduction in non-compliance with issuances regarding permitted pesticides and other
contamination hazards, as provided under Republic Act No. 10611, otherwise known as the
“Food Safety Act of 2013", and relevant laws.

The DA, in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). the Department of Energy
(DOE), and the Department of Public Works And Highways (DPWH) shall also undertake the
establishment of rainwater harvesting facilities in compliance with Republic Act No. 6716,
entitled "An Act Providing for the Construction of Water Wells, Rainwater Collectors,
Development of Spring and Rehabilitation of Existing Water Wells in All Barangays in the
Philippines”, renewable energy systems and solid waste management systems, including
waste-to-energy facilities, to provide sustainable supply of water, energy and compost to
‘community gardens. food forest gardens and urban farms.


SEC. 6. Urban Agriculture and Aquaculture in Urban Planning. — The DHSUD, in
coordination with the DA, shall ensure the integration of concepts and principles of urban
agriculture and its relationship to other processes in the food system in urban planning.
‘Accordingly, the DHSUD and DA shall promote sustainable, smart and organic food
production systems that harness the benefits of new technologies and methods in soil, nutrient,
water and energy management, such as composting, rainwater harvesting and utilization of
renewable energy. The DHSUD shall also ensure the rational use of land resources in urban
planning to promote sustainable peri-urban interface, as well as for the spatial requirements of
supply chain management and logistics to strengthen urban-rural foodshed linkages.

‘Towards these ends, the DHSUD shall promulgate guidelines for the harmonization of the
comprehensive land use plans and zoning ordinances of LGUs with urban agriculture policies,
frameworks, strategies, and standards.

All LGUs are hereby mandated to incorporate urban agricultural development in their
respective Annual Development Plans, Annual Investment Plans, Physical Framework Plans,
and Development Master Plans including the hiring of agriculturists and agricultural and
biosystems engineers to carry out urban agriculture program.

Likewise, LGUs, with the assistance of the DA, Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), shall
establish and maintain a digital information system to facilitate the efficient collection,
‘management and analysis of urban food systems, agriculture and nutrition data, as well as the
monitoring and evaluation of LGU performance vis-i-vis the food system agriculture and
nutrition targets, to inform local planning, policy-making and programming bodies, and to
ensure open public access to data

SEC. 7. Urban Agriculture/Aquaculture Education. — The Department of Education
(DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Educations (CHED). with the technical assistance of
the DA, shall integrate urban agriculture 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 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
utilizing advanced techniques of crop and food animal production, urban agriculture and
farming, and cultivating awareness and appreciation of genetic biodiversity, heirloom and
endemic flora and fauna, and agro-ecological principles.

‘The DepEd, with the assistance of the DA, shall strengthen the implementation of its Gulayan
sa Paaralan Program in clementary and secondary schools. The establishment of school
gardens shall be encouraged to ensure continuous supply of vegetables for schoo! feeding, in
accordance with Republic Act No. 11037, otherwise known as the "Masustansyang Pagkain
Para sa Batang Filipino Act.”

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


SEC. 8. Urban Agriculture Awareness Campaign. — The DILG, National Nutrition Council,
and LGUs are mandated to formulate policies on urban farming in consonance with the
provisions of this Act and be at the forefront of community-based education and awareness
campaigns. For this purpose, LGUs shall mobilize existing structures and local bodies such as
the provincial, city and municipal agricultural offices, the provincial, city, municipal and
barangay agriculture and fishery councils, the provincial, city, municipal, and barangay
federation of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and the youth sector represented in any local special
body under LGUs.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall integrate urban agriculture
and community nutrition in the seminar-workshops and training programs to educate qualified
household-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Filipino Program (4Ps).

SEC. 9, Research and Development. — The DA and the DOS T, as well as relevant state
universities, government research and development institutions, and the private sector, shall
intensify research on methods and technologies to support urban agriculture, including the
development and operation of sustainable demonstration urban community gardens, food
forest gardens, greenhouse, indoor, roof and vertical farms.

SEC. 10. Incentives. — Compliance by subdivision and condominium developers and owners
with Section 5 of this Act may qualify them for incentives provided for under Republic Act
No. 10771, otherwise known as the "Philippine Green Jobs Act of 2016", subject to the rules
and regulations promulgated by the Department of Finance and the DHSUD.

‘The commitment and performance of LGUs in the implementation of this Act shall be included
in the criteria for the awarding of the Seal of Good Local Governance and the provision of
incentives, provided for under Republic Act No. 11292, otherwise known as “The Seal of
Good Local Governance Act of 2019."

Loans extended by government and private banks to participating individuals, corporations
and partnerships shall be treated as compliance with Republic Act No. 10000, otherwise
known as "The Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act of 2009”.

SEC. 11. Inter-Agency Coordination, — There is hereby established a National Convergence
Program on Urban Agriculture and Aquaculture. The DA is hereby designated as the Lead
Implementing Agency and the Secretariat of the Convergence Program. The following
agencies shall perform duties and responsibilities in order to develop and sustain concerted
action to promote urban agriculture:

(a) The DA shall provide technical assistance and support services to LGUs, community
based cooperatives, homeowners’ associations, neighborhood associations and people's
‘organizations to ensure the viability and cost-effectiveness of urban agriculture
projects and through its Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering, shall
provide the design, specifications, establishment strategies, promotion, regulation and
technical assistance in the fabrication of production models of indoor farming, vertical
farming and other urban agriculture machineries, equipment and facilities;

(b) The DHSUD shall encourage the integration of urban agriculture principles, policies,
strategies, frameworks and standards in the design and development of subdivisions
and condominium projects. The DHSUD shall ensure such integration in public


housing projects and in the preparation or updating of development and investment
plans, CLUPs and zoning ordinances of LGUs. The DHSUD shall also promulgate the
necessary rules and monitor compliance therewith. The DHSUD shall provide
assistance to homeowners’ associations to strengthen their capacity to undertake urban
agriculture or aquaculture projects in their neighborhoods and communities:

(©) The DILG shall monitor the compliance of LGUs with the provisions of this Act in
order to determine their qualification for the incentives provided under Republic Act
No. 11292;

(d) The DepEd shall integrate the principles and practice of urban agriculture using
advanced crop production techniques like soilless agriculture, indoor farming or
vertical farming to include modern methods of irrigation and automated systems into
the primary and secondary education curricula, including the establishment of school
gardens under the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program. The DepEd shall ensure the adequate
capacity building programs such as training-workshop, hands-on training or immersion
program of teachers and the development of appropriate instructional materials such
as educational video and manual for this purpose;

(€) The DOST shall conduct research on modern, cost-effective methods and technologies
to support urban agricultural production, as well as post-harvest handling of surplus
produce from urban agriculture projects;

() The DTI shall provide technical assistance in processing and packaging of surplus
produce from urban agriculture and aquaculture projects and ensure access of local
government units, cooperatives, homeowners’ associations, and people's organizations
to markets;

(g) The DOF shall administer the grant of incentives under Section 10 of this Act to
qualified persons based on their compliance with Section 5 of this Act;

(h) The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall ensure adequate funding for
the functions and programs provided for by under this Act;

(i) The CHED shall develop and implement curriculum on capacity building programs
such as training-workshop, hands-on training or immersion program and related
standards and instructional materials in support of urban agriculture;

(j) The DPWH in compliance with RA 6716 is mandated to undertake construction of water
wells, rainwater collectors, development of springs and rehabilitation of existing water
wells in all barangays in the Philippines, taking into consideration the population.
hydrologic conditions, costs of project development and operations, financial and
economic factors and institutional arrangements;

(k) The National Nutrition Council and the Food and Nutrition Research Institute shall
assist the DepEd in identifying the crops to be cultivated in school farms and in
preparing nutritious food, pursuant to standardized menus to ensure child nutrition
provided for under Republic Act No. 11037, and in developing the modules on


(I) The CDA shall provide guidance and assistance to LGUs in the development of
cooperatives within their jurisdiction;

(m)The Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor shall undertake social preparation
activities to encourage participation and empower poor and underprivileged
‘communities from the preparation and planning to implementation and evaluation of
urban development projects;

(n) The Philippine Information Agency shall undertake a nationwide information
campaign, utilizing all forms of media, to raise awareness and encourage participation
of the public in the implementation of this Act, in close coordination with other cultural
agencies such as the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCAA) and the Film
Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP);

(0) The Council for the Welfare of Children shall integrate urban agriculture in the
formulation of programs and measures providing dynamic leadership in ensuring a
child-friendly and child sensitive society; and

(p) The National Youth Commission, as the Philippine government's sole policy-making
body on youth affairs and consistent with its role in coordinating and implementing
programs designed to help the youth become more aware of the issues surrounding
them, shall include an appreciation of urban agriculture.

SEC. 11. Performance Report to Congress. — The DA and partner agencies in the National
Convergence Program on Urban Agriculture and Aquaculture shall submit annual
performance reports to Congress.

SEC. 12. Appropriations. — The funds necessary to cany out the initial implementation of
this Act shall be charged against the respective budget of concerned agencies for the current
year. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act
Shall be included in the annual General Approy

SEC. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety days (90) from the
effectivity of this Act, the agencies under the National Convergence Program on Urban
Agriculture and Aquaculture shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 14. Separability Clause. — \f any part or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional
or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected shall continue to remain in
full force and effect.

SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, issuances, rules and regulations
inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 16. Effect This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,