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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
3rd Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representative ERIC GO YAP 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The series of community quarantine implemented to manage the spread of the 
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has underlined the importance of food 
security. At its onset, a lot of people were seen hoarding food supplies in groceries 
and wet markets, panicking at the idea of a possible, indefinite lockdown. This 
pandemic has shed light on the sheer importance of food security, proving that one 
has to learn sustainable food production.  
This bill seeks to promote instructional gardens in primary and secondary 
school curricula and foster the use of urban agriculture in all metropolitan areas 
nationwide to address the food security concerns of the country. It shall impart 
knowledge and skills, not only in urban and agriculture and vertical farming, but in 
agricultural food production in general.  
Agriculture is the past, present, and the future. It is the way forward and is the 
way to further ensure survival. Learning about planting and farming strengthens the 
creation of an environmentally sustainable community. Its inclusion in school 
curricula shall also aid in raising socially aware and responsible citizens.  
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
ERIC GO YAP 
November 17, 2021
9:59 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
3rd Regular Session 
House Bill No. _________ 
Introduced by Representative ERIC GO YAP 
AN ACT 
PROMOTING INSTRUCTIONAL GARDENS IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY 
SCHOOL 
CURRICULA 
AND 
PROMOTING 
THE 
USE 
OF 
URBAN 
AGRICULTURE IN ALL METROPOLITAN AREAS NATIONWIDE TO 
ADDRESS FOOD SECURITY CONCERNS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREOF 
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 Integrated Urban Agriculture Act of 2021”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. The State shall ensure that the fundamental right 
of every person to adequate food and to be free from hunger is guaranteed and 
protected. As such, the achievement of self-sufficiency and sustainability in food 
production is adopted as a primary State policy. Towards this end, the State shall 
develop climate-resilient communities in the metropolitan areas through the 
promotion of modern, appropriate, cost-effective, and environmentally safe 
agriculture technologies to ensure food security, promote a healthy citizenry and an 
improved quality of life for urban dwellers. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act: 
a.
Food security refers to a situation wherein food is available and affordable at
all times, and where all people have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious
food to maintain a healthy and active life; agricultural production of food and
goods in urban areas.
b.
Instructional gardens refer to a program of instruction in all elementary and
secondary schools, where knowledge and skills, not only in urban and
agriculture and vertical farming, but in agricultural food production in general,
are imparted to 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
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management techniques, healthy nutritious farm produce, sustainable farm 
practices, among others.  
 
c.  Integrated urban agriculture refers to the development 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; and  
 
d.  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.  
 
SEC. 4. Promotion of and Comprehensive Research on Urban Agriculture and 
Vertical Farming. For purposes of this Act, the respective Secretaries of the 
Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Science and Technology 
(DOST) are hereby mandated to promote the use of urban agriculture and vertical 
farming in the country’s urban areas and in other areas in the country where such 
farming methods are suited, as an intervention mechanism for further addressing 
food security concerns of the country.  
 
Idle and/or abandoned government lots and buildings owned by either the 
national government or local governments or available land resources in state 
universities and colleges shall be considered for growing crops, raising livestock, and 
producing food using the said methods.  
 
SEC. 5. Institutionalization of Instructional Gardens in School Curricula. 
Instructional Gardens program shall be integrated in the academic curricula for 
elementary and secondary level students of both public and private academic 
institutions, particularly in subjects in Agriculture, Practical Arts, Home Economics, 
and/or other related subjects.  
 
The Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the Department 
of Agriculture, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the 
implementation of this Section within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act.  
 
SEC. 6. Participation of Local Government Units. The local government units 
(LGUs), shall formulate policies on the practice of urban agriculture and vertical 
farming, and on utilizing urban spaces, unused spaces, and idle lands, consistent with 
its existing policy on the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and zoning 
ordinances. The LGUs in cities and urban areas are required to enact local legislation 
institutionalizing urban agriculture as a regular component in the annual 
appropriations of the LGUs. LGUs shall also grant necessary incentives to their 
constituents who actively participate in urban farming activities.  
 
All homeowners’ associations, neighborhood associations, community 
associations, people’s organizations, and local business establishments shall be 
encouraged by the LGU to participate in urban agriculture activities.  
 


 
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SEC. 7. Tax Incentives. All allocations of grants, endowments, donations, or 
contributions and technical assistance provided by private individuals or 
corporations to schools for the promotion and implementation of Institutional 
Gardens in the school curricula, as certified by the DepEd, shall be exempt from taxes 
and duties.  
 
SEC. 8. Appropriations. The funds necessary to carry out the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s budget of the 
Department of Agriculture. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the 
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act.  
 
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). Within six (6) months from 
the effectivity of this Act, the DA and the Department of Science and Technology, in 
coordination with the concerned agencies, shall promulgate the necessary IRR: 
Provided, that, spaces for urban agriculture shall not be prime lots or areas suitable for 
investments. The LGUs in cities and urban areas are required to enact local legislation 
institutionalizing urban necessary implementing rules and regulations to implement 
the provisions of this Act.  
 
SEC. 10. Separability Clause. Should any part of this Act be declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof that are not affected thereby 
shall continue to be in full force and effect.  
 
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, 
rules and regulations, and issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.  
 
SEC. 12. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper or general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,