Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3412
Introduced by REP. JOSE FRANCISCO “KIKO” B. BENITEZ, Ph.D.
EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution provides for the protection and promotion of the right to health of the people
(Article II, Section 15), as well as proper nutrition, especially of children (Art. XV, Sec. 3). As
such, the Philippines has adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17
Sustainable Development Goals. Under Sustainable Development Goal 2, the Philippines has
committed to end hunger, ensure food security, improve nutrition, increase agricultural
productivity and promote sustainable, resilient food production systems.

The Government has instituted programs towards these ends. However, the country is still far
from achieving foo ity. According to the Expanded National Nutrition Survey conducted
by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, 53.9 percent of Filipino households are food
insecure.

Meanwhile, based on the Second Quarter 2019 Survey of the Social Weather Station, 10
percent or an estimated 2.5 million families experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the
past three months prior to the survey. The highest hunger incidence was recorded in Metro
Manila, with 15.7 percent or approximately 520,000 families experiencing hunger. This is four
(4) percentage points higher than the number in March 2019.

To address this, it is imperative to introduce game-changing solutions, increasing food
production by maximizing available spaces and utilizing emerging agricultural technologies
and methods, particularly in urban areas where hunger incidence is prevalent.

The promotion of household-, community- and school-based urban agriculture will contribute
to food security and poverty reduction, strengthen community-building, support the National
Greening Program, and instill among citizens, especially the youth, environmental
consciousness. Urban agriculture also puts value in otherwise idle urban spaces, maximizing
limited land resources that are increasingly shrinking due to rapid urbanization and
unsustainable urban development.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3412

Introduced by REP. JOSE FRANCISCO “KIKO” B. BENITEZ, Ph.D.

AN ACT
PROMOTING INTEGRATED URBAN AGRICULTURE IN URBAN AREAS
NATIONWIDE TO ADDRESS FOOD SECURITY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

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 “Integrated Urban
Agriculture Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ The State shall promote and protect the fundamental
right of every person to adequate food and freedom from hunger. Recognizing the challenges
to food security and ecological balance in urban areas, the State shall optimize the use and
productivity of urban land resources and spaces to support sufficient and sustainable food
production. Towards this end, the State shall promote the development of modern, cost-
effective, space-efficient, and environmentally-safe agriculture technologies in urban areas to
guarantee food security, ensure public health and improve the quality of life of urban
populations. Accordingly, the State shall ensure the integration of principles, strategies and
technologies on urban agriculture in urban planning.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. ~ For purposes of this Act:

a. “Food security” refers to a situation wherein all people have access to sufficient, safe,
nutritious food, at all times, to maintain a healthy and active life:

as

“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;

. “Vertical farming” refers to the method or practice of indoor agriculture, or growing
produce in vertically stacked layers in skyscrapers and modern buildings using
geoponic, hydroponic or aeroponic growing methods.

d. “Community gardens” refer to any piece of land cultivated by a group of people using
either individual or shared plots on public or private land with the consent of the
owner, to produce edibles, such as herbs, vegetables, fruits or ornamentals.
Community gardens may be found in neighborhoods and schools, or connected to


institutions such as hospitals or located on the grounds or roofs of shared housing,
such as, but not limited to, tenements and apartment complexes.

idle lands” refer to non-agricultural lands in urban and urbanizable areas on which
no improvements have been made by the owner, as certified by the city, municipal
or provincial assessor. Idle government lands refer to lands owned by any
government entity that have been idle and have not been used for the purpose for
which they have been reserved for the past 10 years;

f. “Urban areas” refer to all cities regardless of their population density and to
municipalities with a population density of at least five hundred (500) persons per
square kilometer;

“Urbanizable areas” refer to sites and lands which, considering the present
characteristics and prevailing conditions, display marked and great potential of
becoming urban areas within the period of five (5) years;

h. “Urban planning” refers to multi-disciplinary art and science of analyzing, specifying,
clarifying, harmonizing, managing and regulating the use and development of land
and water resources, in relation to their environs, for the development of sustainable
communities and ecosystems in urban and urbanizable areas; and,

i, “Social preparation” refers to the series of activities designed to prepare the
underprivileged and homeless families to cope with the changes brought about by
government development projects.

SEC. 4. Scope. ~ This Act shall apply to all urban spaces, such as, but not limited to, idle
government or private lands, subdivisions/villages, public housing, and open spaces, in all
urban areas and urbanizable areas in the country.

SEC. 5. Community Gardening and Vertical Farming, ~ Local government units shall
identify and develop idle government and/or private lands, without prejudice to the rights of
‘owners of private lands, and open spaces, within their jurisdiction, for full or partial conversion
to community gardens; Provided, That, spaces allocated for urban agriculture shall not be
prime lots. LGUs, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the
Cooperative Development Authority, shall capacitate neighborhood associations and people’s
organization, and/or facilitate the organization and registration of community-based
cooperatives, to undertake community gardening.

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development shall ensure the provision of
adequate spaces for community gardens and/or vertical farms in the design and development
of subdivision, condominium and public housing projects. Towards this end, the DHSUD, in
coordination with the DA, shall capacitate homeowners’ association to undertake community
gardening and/or vertical farming.

The DA shall provide the necessary technical assistance and support services, including, but
not limited to, provision of seeds and seedlings, and gardening tools, access to loans from
government financial institutions, and agricultural training, to ensure the full productivity of
community gardens and vertical farms.


SEC. 6. Urban Agriculture in Urban Planning. ~ The DHSUD shall ensure the
integration of urban agriculture in urban planning. Towards this end, the DHSUD shall
promulgate guidelines for the harmonization of Comprehensive Land Use Plans and zoning
ordinances of local government units with urban agriculture policies, frameworks, strategies
and standards.

LGUs are hereby mandated to incorporate urban agricultural development in their respective
Annual Development Plans, Annual Investment Plans, Physical Framework Plans, and
Development Master Plans.

SEC. 7. Urban Agriculture Education. ~ Urban agriculture shall be integrated in the
academic curriculum for elementary, secondary and tertiary level students of both public and
private academic institutions offering courses in Agriculture, Practical Arts, Home Economics
and/or other subjects related to agriculture. A course curriculum on gardening shall be
developed and included in the regular curriculum of elementary and secondary education.
Instructional materials shall likewise be developed.

The Department of Education shall strengthen the implementation of Gulayan sa Paaralan
Program in elementary and secondary schools, establishing school gardens to ensure
continuous supply of vegetables for school feeding, in accordance with Republic Act No.
11037.

For universities and colleges, urban agriculture shall form part of the required period of time
spent by students in the National Service Training Program or the Citizens’ Military Training.
A plan for the utilization or maximization of space occupied by schools shall be formulated
specifically for urban agriculture purposes.

SEC. 8. Research and Development. ~ The DA and the Department of Science and
Technology, as well as relevant state universities, government research and development
institutions, and the private sector, shall intensify research on methods and technologies to
support urban agriculture, including the development and operation of demonstration urban
community gardens and vertical farms.

C. 9. Incentives for Real Estate Developers and Local Government Units. —
Compliance by subdivision and condominium developers and/or owners with Section 5 of this
Act may qualify them for incentives provided for under Republic Act No. 10771, subject to
rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Finance and the DHSUD.

The commitment and performance of LGUs in the implementation of this Act shall be included
in the criteria for the awarding of the Seal of Good Local Governance and the provision of
incentives, provided for under Republic Act No. 11292.

SEC. 10. Inter-Agency Coordination. — There is hereby established a National
Convergence Program on Urban Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture is hereby
designated the Secretariat of the Convergence Program. The following agencies shall perform
duties and responsibilities in order to develop and sustain concerted action to promote urban
agriculture:

a) The Department of Agriculture shall provide technical assistance and support services
to local government units, community-based cooperatives, homeowners’ associations,


b)

°)

d)

f)

8)

h)

i)

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k)

neighborhood associations and people’s organizations to ensure the viability and cost-
effectiveness of urban agriculture projects:

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development shall ensure the
integration of urban agriculture principles, policies, strategies, frameworks and
standards in the design and development of subdivision, condominium and public
housing projects, and in the preparation or updating of development and investment
plans, CLUPs and zoning ordinances of LGUs, promulgate rules thereof and monitor
their compliance therewith. The DHSUD shall provide assistance to homeowners’
associations to strengthen their capacity to undertake urban agriculture projects in
their neighborhoods and communities;

The Department of Interior and Local Government shall monitor the compliance of
LGUs with the provisions of this Act in order to determine their qualification for
incentives provided for under Republic Act No. 11292;

The Department of Education (DepEd) shall integrate the principles and practice of
urban agriculture into primary and secondary education curricula, including the
establishment of school gardens under the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program. DepEd shall
ensure the adequate training of teachers and the development of appropriate
instructional materials for this purpose;

Department of Science and Technology shall conduct research on modern, cost-
effective methods and technologies to support urban agricultural production, as well
as post-harvest handling of surplus produce from urban agriculture projects;

Department of Trade and Industry shall provide technical assistance in processing and
packaging of surplus produce from urban agriculture projects and ensure access of
local government units, cooperatives, homeowners’ associations, and people’s
organizations to markets;

Department of Finance shall administer the grant of incentives under Section 9 of this
Act to qualified persons based on their compliance to Section 5 of this Act;

Department of Budget and Management shall ensure adequate funding for the
functions and programs provided for by under this Act;

The Commission on Higher Education shall develop and implement curriculum and
related standards and instructional materials in support of urban agriculture:

The Cooperative Development Authority shall provide guidance and assistance to
LGUs in the development of cooperatives within their jurisdiction;

The Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor shall undertake social preparation
activities to encourage participation and empower poor and underprivileged
‘communities from the preparation and planning to implementation and evaluation of
urban development projects; and,


1) Philippine Information Agency shall undertake a nationwide information campaign,
utilizing all forms of media, to raise awareness and encourage participation of the
public in the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 11. Periodic report to Congress. — The Department of Agriculture and partner
agencies in the National Convergence Program on Urban Agriculture shall submit annual
performance reports to Congress.

SEC. 12. Appropriations. — The funds necessary to carry out the initial implementation
of this Act shall be charged against the respective budget of concerned agencies for the current
year. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within six (6) months from the
effectivity of this Act, the agencies under the National Convergence Program on Urban
Agriculture shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations to implement
the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 14. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act is held
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected shall
continue to remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, issuances, rules and
regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 16. Effeetivity.
in a newspaper of general c

This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
‘ulation.

Approved,