Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
From 2006 up to present, our farmers and fishers were consistently recorded as the 
sectors with highest rates of poverty incidence.1 With the COVID-19 pandemic, they 
have further suffered massive economic losses due to the imposition of mobility and 
quarantine restrictions. This is true to almost all sectors, especially to the tourism 
industry where tourist attractions and sites across the country have entirely closed or 
experienced strict limited operations.  
With the objective towards robust economic recovery after the onslaught of the 
pandemic, it is imperative for the State to support sectors that had suffered severe 
consequences from the pandemic with high potential of economic output. One small 
but growing sector is agritourism. In a survey conducted by the Department of Tourism, 
it shows that preferences of travelers have changed due to the pandemic. More people 
prefer to go to open spaces to ensure health protection that’s why some travelers 
embraced a lifestyle of mountain climbing, biking, diving, and surfing which are all done 
in open areas.2 Moreover, agritourism offers wide array of outdoor activities such as 
organic farming, sea farming, sea ranching, tropical/ornamental fish and seaweed 
culture, plantation tours, livestock and farm fieldtrips. 
Having these in mind, agritourism is highly suitable in giving people more meaningful 
and experiential travel while enabling our farmers, fishers, and small business owners 
to value add their existing operations. More so, many souvenir items directly rely on 
agricultural products.  This could bring additional source of income for our agricultural 
producers while showcasing the beauty of our natural resources and of farming and 
fishing as a professional field. 
With these considerations, this bill aims to create the Bureau and the Office of 
Undersecretary for Agri-Tourism under the Department of Agriculture. Also, this 
1 https://saad.da.gov.ph/2021/01/da-saads-contribution-to-philippines-poverty-reduction-an-
analysis#:~:text=Among%20the%2011%20basic%20sectors,4.6%20million%20fishers%20are%20po
or. 
2 https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/4/26/DOT-promotes-farm-tourism.html 
July 22, 2022
4:34 pm
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measure seeks to prepare and implement a Comprehensive National Agri-Tourism 
Industry Development Plan, establish a Comprehensive Agri-Tourism Information 
System, as well as provide extensive development support services to agritourism 
sites owners. On top of this, this bill also intends to launch educational campaigns and 
provide incentives to small scale businesses, farmers, and fishers engaged in 
agritourism.  
 
As an agricultural country believing on the potential of agri-tourism, immediately 
passage of this bill is earnestly sought.  
 
 
 
 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.             MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE   
 
 
 
 
TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA  
 
 
NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


3
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 
AN ACT  
PROMOTING AGRI-TOURISM BY IDENTIFYING AREAS THAT ARE VIABLE FOR 
DEVELOPMENT AND STRENGTHENING THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE 
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 “Agri-Tourism Development 
Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies. – The State recognizes that the agriculture and 
fisheries sector are vital to the economy. The State also recognizes that tourism is a 
primary source of income for our people particularly those in remote and 
underdeveloped areas of our country. 
It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote, propagate, develop 
further and implement the agri-tourism centers in the Philippines that will cumulatively 
help farmers by creating other sources of income apart from their harvests. Towards 
this end, a comprehensive program for the creation of agri-tourism sites is hereby 
established. 
The State recognizes and supports the central role of the farmers, indigenous 
people, and other stakeholders at the grassroots in this program. 
SECTION 3. Definitions. – As used in this Act, the following terms shall refer to: 
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a. 
"Agri-tourism" shall refer to the practice of inviting visitors to any stage of 
the agricultural process for purposes of encouraging the sale of agricultural 
products or to earn income through their visit; 
 
b. 
"Secretary" shall refer to the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. 
 
SECTION 4. Creation of the Position of Undersecretary for Agri-Tourism. – There 
is hereby created in the Department of Agriculture the position of Undersecretary for 
Agri-Tourism, solely for the purpose of attending to the needs of the agri-tourism 
industry, to be appointed by the President. Such Undersecretary shall have the 
following functions: 
a. 
Set policies and formulate standards for the effective, efficient and 
economical operations of the agri-tourism industry in accordance with the 
programs of the government; 
b. 
Exercise overall supervision over all functions and activities of all offices 
and instrumentalities and other offices related to agri-tourism including its 
officers; 
c. 
Establish, with the assistance of the director, such regional, provincial and 
other agri-tourism officers as may be necessary and appropriate and 
organize the internal structure of Bureau of Agri-Tourism in such manner 
as is necessary for the efficient and effective attainment of its objectives 
and purposes; and 
d. 
Perform such other functions as may be necessary or proper to attain the 
objectives of this Act. 
 
SECTION 5. Creation of the Bureau of Agri-Tourism. – The Bureau of Agri-Tourism 
(BAT) is hereby created with the following functions: 
a. 
Prepare and implement a Comprehensive National Agri-Tourism Industry 
Development Plan; 
b. 
Recommend to Congress and to the President the areas that are prime for 
agri-tourism but require infrastructure projects such as farm-to-market 
roads; 
c. 
Provide for the registration and the issuance of identification cards to 
agritourism farmers; 


 
5
d. 
Monitor and review agri-tourism agreements between Filipino citizens and 
foreigners who seek to invest in the agri-tourism sector; 
e. 
Formulate and implement a Comprehensive Agri-Tourism Research and 
Development Program, such as, but not limited to, organic farming, sea 
farming, sea ranching, tropical/ornamental fish and seaweed culture, 
plantation tours, livestock and farm fieldtrips, aimed at increasing resource 
productivity, improving resource use efficiency, and ensuring the long-term 
sustainability of the country's agri-tourism program; 
f. 
Establish and maintain a Comprehensive Agri-Tourism Information System; 
g. 
Provide extensive development support services in all aspects of agri-
tourism creation and marketing; 
h. 
Provide advisory services and technical assistance on the improvement of 
the industry; 
i. 
Advise and coordinate with LGUs on the maintenance of proper sanitation 
and hygienic practices in agri-tourism sites; 
j. 
Coordinate with LGUs and other concerned agencies for the establishment 
of productivity enhancing and market development programs in agri-
tourism communities; 
k. 
Enforce all laws, formulate and enforce all rules and regulations governing 
the conservation and management of agri-tourism sites; 
l. 
Assist the LGUs in developing their technical capability in the development, 
management, regulation, conservation, and protection of agri-tourism sites; 
m. 
Perform such other related functions which shall promote the development, 
conservation, management, protection and utilization of agri-tourism sites. 
 
SECTION 6. Composition of BAT. – As a line bureau, the BAT shall be headed by a 
Director and assisted by two (2) Assistant Directors who shall supervise the 
administrative and technical services of the bureau respectively. It shall establish 
regional, provincial, and municipal offices as may be appropriate and necessary to 
carry out effectively and efficiently the provisions of this Act. 
 
SECTION 7. Educational Campaign at all Levels. – The Department, the 
Commission on Higher Education, the Department of Education and the Philippine 
Information Agency shall launch and pursue a nationwide educational campaign to: 


 
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a. 
Help realize the policies and implement the provisions of this Act; 
b. 
Promote agri-tourism and inform the public of new agri-tourist destinations; 
and 
c. 
Promote the principle of sustainable development. 
 
SECTION 8. Infrastructure Support. – The Department, in cooperation with 
concerned agencies, shall: 
a. 
Prepare and implement a nationwide plan for the development of agri-
tourism fishing ports and markets; 
b. 
Prioritize the construction of farm-to-market roads linking the agri-tourism 
sites to markets, bus terminals, train stations, airports, coastal landing 
points and arterial roads/highways; 
c. 
Establish and maintain quality laboratories in identified areas and prescribe 
the highest standards for the operation and maintenance of such agri-
tourism sites; 
d. 
Arrange and make representations with appropriate funding institutions to 
finance 
such 
facilities 
for 
the 
use 
of 
the 
agri-tourism 
cooperatives/associations; and 
e. 
Develop and strengthen marketing facilities and promote cooperative 
marketing systems. 
 
SECTION 9. Strict Compliance with Environmental Laws. – The utilization and 
development of all areas under this Act shall be regulated by the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) pursuant to all laws and statues on the 
utilization and protection of natural resources and the environment, and must strictly 
comply with the land use plan approved by the local government unit concerned and 
the requirements imposed by existing DENR rules, regulations, and other issuances, 
taking into consideration the sustainable use and development of the area. 
 
SECTION 10. Incentives for Municipal and Small-Scale Agri-Tourism 
Businesses. – Municipal and small-scale agri-tourism farmers shall be granted 
incentives which shall include, but are not limited to, the following: 
a. 
Capability-building program for targeted parties shall be developed by the 
Department to promote greater bankability and credit worthiness of 


 
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municipal and small-scale agri-tourism farmers. Such program shall include 
organizing activities, technology transfer, and skills training related to agri-
tourism, as well as credit management; and 
b. 
An information campaign shall be conducted to promote the capability 
building and credit programs. The campaign shall ensure greater 
information dissemination and accessibility to targeted agri-tourism 
farmers. 
 
SECTION 11. Funding. – The amount of two hundred fifty million pesos (Php 
250,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated for the initial year of this Act. Every year 
thereafter, Congress shall allocate an amount not less than thirty million pesos (Php 
30,000,000.00) to be included in the budget of the Department for the implementation 
and continued expansion of this program. 
 
SECTION 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Secretary shall adopt 
rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act within ninety (90) days 
from the date of effectivity of this Act. 
 
SECTION 13. Separability Clause. – Should any provision herein be declared 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this 
Act. 
 
SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations 
or other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 15. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect in fifteen (15) days after 
publication in the Official Gazette or in one (1) newspaper of general circulation in the 
Philippines. 
 
Approved,