NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session  
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Hon. Antonio B. Legarda Jr. 
AN ACT  
PROMOTING FOOD FOREST GARDENING, PROVIDING FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe defines „‟food forests‟‟ 
as a way of combining agriculture and forestry in an urban environment to create 
edible landscapes by mimicking how plants grow naturally on multiple layers 
within a forest.1 According to Philippine Statistics Authority, headline inflation in 
the Philippines rose further from 4.9 percent in April 2022 to 5.4 percent in May 
2022.2 Inflation for food at the national level increased further to 5.2 percent in May 
2022, from 4.0 percent in April 2022.3 With prices of food and basic commodities on 
the rise and climate change, it is imperative that alternative methods of farming be 
introduced to ensure a stable and sustainable food production in the country. 
Thus, this bill seeks to promote and institutionalize Food Forest Gardening as 
an alternative and sustainable food production method in the country. Corollary to 
that, the Philippine Food Forest Gardening Commission (PFFGC) shall be created, 
which shall be an attached agency to the Department of Agriculture (DA). The 
Philippine Center for Food Forest Gardening (PCFFG) shall also be established to 
provide information, training, education, expertise, and best practices to implement 
the Food Forest Gardening Act. 
In line with the policy adopted by its original proponent Senator Loren 
Legarda, this bill therefore likewise serves as a counter-part House Bill. It is for the 
reasons stated above that the passage of this measure is earnestly sought. 
ANTONIO B. LEGARDA JR.
1 https://unece.org/climate-change/press/food-deserts-food-forests-how-cities-can-shape-more-sustainable-food-systems 
2 https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/survey/price/summary-inflation-report-consumer-price-index-2018100-may-2022 
3 Ibid. 
July 27, 2022
4:40 pm
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session  
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Hon. Antonio B. Legarda Jr. 
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 2022.” 
Sec. 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. 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
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;
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b. Companion Planting — planting of different crops in close proximity for ecological 
pest control, pollination, providing habitat for beneficial creatures, maximizing the 
use of space, and otherwise increasing the crop productivity; 
c. Crop Rotation — the 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 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 
that yields directly useful to humans and a system of agroforestry that creates a 
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. 
Sec. 4. Institutionalization of the Philippine Food Forest Gardening Program. — 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 


 
 
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g. Idle parcels of land in schools, colleges, and universities; and, 
h. Actual yards of households. 
Sec. 5. Objectives of the Program. — The following are the objectives of the Program: 
a. To introduce low-maintenance food production through agroforestry; 
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.  
Sec. 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). 


 
 
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Sec. 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 
at 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 the overall progress of the food forest training program and review the 
monitoring and evaluation of results; 
6. Submit an annual report to Congress; and 
7. Perform such other tasks necessary for the effective implementation of this Act. 
Sec. 8. Participation of LGUs. — All LGUs are hereby mandated to establish the 
Program which shall focus on implementing comprehensive food forest gardening in their 
respective levels and jurisdictions.  The concerned LGUs shall encourage all home developers, 
homeowners, neighborhoods, communities, and/or people‟s organizations to participate in 
the Program. 
Sec. 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. 
Sec. 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. 


 
 
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Sec. 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. Training; and 
d. Pilot programs 
Sec. 12. Integration of the Program in School Curriculum. — The Program shall be 
integrated into the academic curriculum for senior high school and college students taking up 
Agriculture, Practical Arts, Home Economics, and/or other subjects related to agriculture. 
Sec. 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. 
Sec. 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 this Act. 
Sec. 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.  
Sec. 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. 
Sec. 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,