Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
 First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _______________
Introduced by ANG PROBINSYANO 
Party-List Representative Alfred Delos Santos
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In line with the policy of the State to improve the socio-economic well-being
of  the  workers  in  the  agricultural  sector,  this  Bill  aims  to  provide  necessary
assistance  to  them  to  further  improve  their  work.  According  to  the  Philippine
Statistics Authority, among the basic sectors of Philippine society, farmers posted
one of the highest poverty indices with 34.3%. It also consistently registered as one
with the highest poverty incidence in 2006, 2009, and 2012. As such, this Bill aims
to address several problems that these workers face.
It must be acknowledged that access to the internet has become a necessity
during this day and age, with the vast amount of information that can be uploaded
and spread using different social media platforms. Using the internet, our farmers
can  keep  up  to  date  with  weather  bulletins,  information  as  regards  different
agricultural technology and planting methods, and the like. Through social media,
they can also be able to take advantage of these platforms to directly sell their
produce at much competitive prices, eliminating the need for middlemen.
In  light  of  the  foregoing,  the  Bill  proposes  measures  oriented  primarily
towards enhancing assistance to those in the agricultural development sectors.
It is for the foregoing premises that the approval of this Bill is earnestly
sought.
      ALFRED C. DELOS SANTOS
Representative, Ang Probinsyano Party-List
July 13, 2022
4:43 pm
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
 First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _______________
Introduced by ANG PROBINSYANO 
Party-List Representative Alfred Delos Santos
AN ACT
PROVIDING INTERNET ACCESS FOR THE AGRI-BUSINESS SECTOR
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the
Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Internet Access for
Farmers Act.”
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared as a policy of the
State  to  provide  support  to  agriculture  through  appropriate  technology  and
research,  and  adequate  financial,  production,  marketing,  and  other  support
services.
Considering that the State recognizes the importance of the development of
the agricultural sector in the overall goal of sustainable national economic growth,
the State  shall hereby  endeavor  to  promote  and comprehensively  improve the
opportunities given to workers in the agricultural sectors.
SECTION 3. Roles and Responsibilities. – All concerned national agencies shall
support the implementation of this Act and promote best practices that fall within
their respective mandates. The following shall identify, prepare, and provide policy
guidance and technical resource assistance to the Department of Agriculture and
the Local Government Units in the implementation of this Act on a national and local
scale:
a)
The Department of Information and Communications Technology shall
provide  technical  assistance  in  planning,  developing,  and  formulating  the
framework of internet assistance to be extended to the farmers. 
b)
The Department of Interior and Local Government shall take the lead in
partnering with Local  Government Units  in raising awareness  and promulgating
policy measures in the implementation on the local level.
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c)
The Department of Public Works and Highways shall assist with the
construction  of  infrastructure  that  is  necessary  to  provide  internet  access  to
farmers.
d)
The Department of Agriculture shall arrange periodic online seminars
and materials for online dissemination, with particular focus on topics that will be
immediately useful for farmers. 
The  Department  of  Information  and  Communications  Technology  shall
regularly  provide  technical  and  financial  assistance  in  monitoring  the  status  of
farmers’ internet access and shall provide measures for the improvement of such.
SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DA, in cooperation
with the DICT, DILG, DPWH, and the private sector stakeholders on agricultural
development, shall formulate and prepare the necessary implementing rules and
regulations for the provisions of this Act.
SECTION 5. Monitoring and Implementation. – The DA shall form an Oversight
Committee  to  monitor  the  implementation  of  the  provisions  of  this  Act.  The
Oversight Committee shall be composed of representatives from the DICT, DILG,
DPWH, and the private sector stakeholders on agricultural development: Provided,
That the Oversight Committee shall submit bi-annual reports regarding the status of
the implementation of the provisions of this Act to the Committee on Agriculture
and Food of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
SECTION 6. Funding. – The funding essential in carrying out the provisions of
this Act shall be included in the proper General Appropriations Act: Provided, That
the  first  inclusion  shall  be  in  the  General  Appropriations  Act  during  the  year
following its enactment into law.
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part of this Act is held
invalid  or  unconstitutional,  the  remaining  provisions  or  parts  unaffected  shall
remain in full force and effect.
SECTION  8.  Repealing  Clause. –  All  laws,  executive  orders,  presidential
decrees  or  issuances,  letters  of  instruction,  administrative  orders,  rules,  and
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,