EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1912
November
DATE
TtME¥NOEX
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Uto" M. Lapid
AN ACT
ENHANCING THE RESILIENCY AND ADAPTABILITY OF FARMERS TO 
ADVERSE WEATHER AND CLIMATE EVENTS BY INSTITUTIONALIZING THE 
USE OF CROP CLIMATE CALENDARS, EQUIPPING FARMERS FOR CLIMATE- 
SENSITIVE DECISION-MAKING, AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO LOCALIZED 
WEATHER AND CLIMATE INFORMATION
EXPLANATORY NOTE
With almost 20 typhoons and storms visiting the country every year, the 
damage and devastation caused by these adverse weather conditions are felt by our 
citizens almost like clockwork. The rebuilding, restoration and rehabilitation after every 
natural calamity have become annual rituals, especially on disaster-prone areas. 
Nowhere is this more felt than In the farming sector. Year in and year out, billions of 
pesos are lost by the agricultural sector from storms, landslides or flashfloods. In 2019 
alone, Php 16 Billion worth of agricultural damage was Inflicted by typhoons that hit 
the country, while in 2018 the figure is a staggering Php 34.45 Billion.1 This year the 
damage caused by just two typhoons, Quinta and Super Typhoon Roily, amounted to 
Php 4.6 Billion.2 Behind these numbers are the lives and livelihood of thousands, if not 
hundreds of thousands, of farmers and their families plunging into economic hardship 
and poverty.
1 Karl R. Ocampo, Typhoons-lnflicted damage to agriculture in 2019 hit P16B, Inquirer.net, January 
4,2020 available at bttDs;//buslness.lnoulrer.net/286540/tvDhoons-lnfllcted-damaqe-to-agriculture-in- 
2019-hit-p-16b
2 Ralf Rivas, Quinta, Roiiy wipe out P4.6 biUion in agricuituraigoods, Rappler, November 3,2020 
available athttPs;//wwwJraDDler.com/buslness/aqn:culture-damaqe-aulnta-suDer-tvphoon-rollv- 
november-3-2020


This is why the government must exert ail efforts to transform the agricultural 
industry in the country into a state of climate resilience and adaptation. Innovative 
ideas and technologies, as well as proven best practices, must be tried, tested and 
eventually implemented to assist our farmers in managing the effects of climate 
change and weather disturbances.
This proposed measure aims to contribute to this mission of building a climate- 
resilient Philippine agriculture. One of the interventions that this bill seeks to 
institutionalize is the availability and use of crop climate calendars by our farmers. 
According to an April 2020 Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS) 
Discussion Paper, crop climate calendars serve to supplement traditional crop 
calendars by incorporating "phenological states, cultivation practices and weather and 
climate requirements that any crop faces throughout a cropping season"3 in addition 
to planting and harvest schedules. A crop climate calendar is defined as "a visual tool 
that presents the phenology and cultivation practices of a crop against the timeline of 
the cropping season, containing information on the weather and climate states that 
occur in the locality and the risks faced by the crop per growing stage in relation to 
these."4 Under this bill, the Department of Agriculture (DA) shall institutionalize the 
use of crop climate calendars throughout the Philippines. In coordination with 
municipal, city and provincial agriculturists, the DA shall equip all farmers and farmer's 
organizations in the formulation, use and interpretation of crop climate calendars that 
are tailor-made for each specific locality or community. These crop climate calendars 
shall be distributed free-of-charge to all farmers and farmer's organizations.
This bill also mandates the training and capacity-building of farmers and 
farmers' organizations In climate-sensitive decision-making and the use of relevant 
tools and applications. This will be done through the Agricultural Training Institute 
(ATI) of the DA. The formulation of dear, concise and easily understandable charts, 
tables, diagrams, briefers, and similar documents on climate-sensitive decision-making 
for distribution to farmers and farmers' organizations is likewise envisioned.
3 Sonny N, Domingo, et al.. Development of Crop Climate Calendars for High-Value Crops In Atok, 
Benguet: Report from Preliminary Co-Leaming and Co-Development Engagements with Agricultural 
Stakeholders In Benguet Province, PIDS Discussion Paper Series No. 2020-09 Abstract Page (2020) 
available at httDs://www.Dlds.Qov.Dh/Dublications/7004 
Id. at 1


Lastly, another PIDS Discussion Paper noted that one of barriers faced by 
farmers in reiation to making the right decisions in "crop choice, crop variety and 
harversting" is the "iack of localized weather and climate information that is tailored 
to the conditions of their iocality.,,s This bill mandates the Philippine Atmospheric, 
Geophysical and. Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to provide regular 
and up-to-date localized weather and climate Information (in clear, understandable 
and simple English, Filipino and other regional language or dialect) to city, municipal 
and provincial agriculturist's offices and directly to the farmers themselves through all 
available means of communication and information dissemination (internet, social 
media, television and radio). Localized Information in this sense is information that is 
particularized down to the city or municipal level. Although currently, the PAGASA 
reports Climate Information for Agriculture in its website6, the same is only presented 
down to the regional or provincial level with minimal mention of weather information 
for some cities or municipalities. Moreover, the information is not presented in an 
easily digestible form and without translation (aside from Filipino) to other regional 
and local dialects.
In view of this, early passage of this bill is sought.
[NUEL "LITO" M. LAPID
Senator
5 Sonny N. Domingo, et al., Barriers to application of weather and dlmate information in smallholder 
vegetable farming in Benguet, PIDS Discussion Paper Series No. 2020-14 21 (2020) available at 
https://www.Dlds.qov.ph/Dublicatlons/7021
6 http://bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/agri-weather#farm-weather-forecast


EIGKTEEmU CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 1912
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
ENHANCING THE RESILIENCY AND ADAPTABILITY OF FARMERS TO 
ADVERSE WEATHER AND CLIMATE EVENTS BY INSTITUTIONALIZING THE 
USE OF CROP CLIMATE CALENDARS, EQUIPPING FARMERS FOR CLIMATE- 
SENSITIVE DECISION-MAKING, AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO LOCALIZED 
WEATHER AND CLIMATE INFORMATION
Be It enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
In Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as "Climate-Resilient 
Agriculture Act."
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - Recognizing the importance of agriculture in 
the country's economic development, it is imperative that the State shall enhance the 
resiliency and adaptability of the sector to weather disturbances and adverse climate 
events that endanger productivity levels and harvest yield. Being a disaster-prone 
archipelago, climate resiliency must be a priority government intervention for the 
agriculture sector.
Section 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall 
be defined as follows:
a. Crop climate calendar - a visual tool that presents the phenology and
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cultivation practices of a crop against the timeline of the cropping 
season, containing information on the weather and climate states that 
occur in the locality and the risks faced by the crop per growing stage in 
reiation to these;
b. Climate-sensitive decision - decisions that hinge on weather and climate 
states, with final outcomes and even decision aiternatives which are 
varying depending on the prevailing weather phenomena; and
c. Localized weather and dimate Information - these are information on 
weather and climate phenomena that are particularized down to the city 
or municipal level.
Section 4. Crop Oimate Calendars. - The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall 
institutionalize the use of crop climate calendars throughout the Philippines. In 
coordination with municipal, city and provincial agriculturists, the DA shall equip all 
farmers and farmer's organizations in the formulation, use and interpretation of crop 
climate calendars that are tailor-made for each specific locality or community. These 
crop climate calendars shall be distributed free-of-charge to all farmers and farmer's 
organizations.
Section 5. Qimate-Sensitive Decision-Making. - The DA, through the 
Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), shall provide regular appropriate training and 
capacity-building for farmers and farmer's organizations in the practice of climate- 
sensitive decision-making and the use of relevant tools and applications. The ATI shall 
formulate and develop clear, concise and easily understandable charts, tables, 
diagrams, briefers, and similar documents on climate-sensitive decision-making for 
distribution to farmers and farmers' organizations.
Section 6. Localized Weather and Climate Information. - The Philippine 
Atmospheric, Geophysical and. Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is 
hereby mandated to provide regular and up-to-date localized weather and climate 
information to city, municipal and provincial agriculturist's offices and directly to the 
farmers themselves through all available means of communication and information


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dissemination (internet, social media, television and radio). This information must be 
written in simple English, Filipino and other regional language or dialect as necessary 
and must be presented in a clear, concise and easily understandable form.
Section 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of 
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations for the year following 
its enactment into law and thereafter.
Section 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the DA and PAGASA, in coordination with other relevant 
government agencies, farmers' organizations and stakeholders, shall issue the 
necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
Section 9. Repealing Clause.—All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
proclamations, rules and regulations, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 10. Separability Oause. - If any provision or part of this Act, or the 
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or Invalid, 
the remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby.
Section 11. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,