‘v%!^V:>',0ffu:F of till' fe- LiTtarv
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
)
)
SENATE 
S. No. 895
*22 JUL26 P6 37
RI'CE!Vi3BV
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA
AN ACT
PROMOTING INTEGRATED URBAN FARMING TO ADDRESS FOOD SECURITY 
CONCERNS AND LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Undoubtedly, food security is among the chief issues that confronts us today. For 
a long time, it appears as though Filipinos have gotten used to the idea that food is a 
matter to be determined by purchasing power; If one can afford to eat, then one can eat. 
However, what we ought to acknowledge is that access to good and healthful food is a 
right that we all share, and if the old ways of providing and securing food are no longer 
as accessible as before, then perhaps it Is time to explore other alternative ways of doing 
so.
No less than the Philippine 1987 Constitution provides, in Article II, Section 15, 
that the State shall protect and promote the right to health of Its people. In addition to 
this, the Philippines has also adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 
along with its seventeen (17) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).1 Along these lines, 
our country has therefore made it its commitment not only to end hunger once and for 
all, but also to promote food security, improve agricultural productivity, and promote food 
production systems that are sustainable and resilient.
1 Retrieved from: www.DhiliDPines.un.ora/en/sdQs. retrieved on 16 July 2022.
1


The question of food availability is also largely a question of space and how to 
manage it. With the limited space in the urban areas of the Philippines, it would appear 
as though the only possible space for food production would be In the farms in the rural 
areas. However, with a little imagination and a lot of political will, managing the urban 
space for the sake of food security can certainly be done. Here is where the aim of this 
bill becomes of paramount importance.
This bill seeks to promote an integrated approach to urban agriculture in order to 
address problems of food security head on. Government agencies, in cooperation with 
the Local Government Units (LGUs), shall engage in community gardening and vertical 
farming. The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development shall also 
ensure that urban agriculture is integrated into urban planning, harmonizing it with the 
Comprehensive Land Use Plans and zoning ordinances, among others. There shall also 
be an integration of urban agriculture Into education, beginning in the elementary level 
up to the tertiary level of both public and private academic institutions.
With this proposal to Integrate agriculture right into the very heart of urban life, 
we are therefore responding to the challenge of urbanity - the challenge not only to 
provide food, but also to better and more wisely manage our spaces, without 
compromising quality of life. Hence, I seek the swift passage of this bill into law, for the 
sake of this generation and the ones that will follow.
RONALD'
DELA ROSA


^niate
o( till' f?f-n rt;-u‘p
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 895
72 JUL26 P6 37
RlXEIVEaffr;
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA
AN ACT
PROMOTING INTEGRATED URBAN FARMING TO ADDRESS FOOD SECURITY 
CONCERNS AND LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in 
Congress assembied:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This law shall be known as the "Integrated Urban
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Agriculture Act."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall promote and protect the
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fundamental right of every person to adequate food and freedom from hunger.
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Recognizing the challenges to food security and ecological balance in urban areas, the
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State shall optimize the use and productivity of urban land resources and spaces to
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support sufficient and sustainable food production. Towards this end, the State shall
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promote the development of modern, cost-effective, space-efficient, and
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environmentally safe agriculture technologies in urban areas to guarantee food
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security, ensure public health and improve the quality of life of urban populations.
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Accordingly, the State shall ensure the integration of principles, strategies, and
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technologies on urban agriculture in urban planning.
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Sec. 3 Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms are
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used and defined:


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(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;
(b) 
"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;
(c) 
"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.
(e) 
"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;
(g) 
"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


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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 Verticai 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 (DHSUD) 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 Agricuiture in Urban Pianning. - The DHSUD shall ensure the 
integration of urban agriculture in urban planning. Towards this end, the DHSUD


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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 (DepEd) 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 (DOST), 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.
Sec. 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.


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10771, subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Finance
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(DOF) and the DHSUD.
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The commitment and performance of LGUs in the implementation of this Act
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shall be included in the criteria for the awarding of the Seal of Good Local
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Governance and the provision of incentives, provided for under Republic Act No.
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11292.
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Sec. 10. National Convergence Program on Urban Agriculture. - There is hereby
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established a National Convergence Program on Urban Agriculture. The Department
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of Agriculture is hereby designated the Secretariat of the Convergence Program. The
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following agencies shall perform duties and responsibilities in order to develop and
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sustain concerted action to promote urban agriculture:
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a) The Department of Agriculture shall provide technical assistance and
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support services to local government units, community-based cooperatives,
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homeowners' associations, neighborhood associations and people's
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organizations to ensure the viability and cost-effectiveness of urban
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agriculture projects;
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b) The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development shall
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ensure the integration of urban agriculture principles, policies, strategies,
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frameworks and standards in the design and development of subdivision,
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condominium and public housing projects, and in the preparation or
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updating of development and investment plans, CLUPs and zoning
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ordinances of LG Us, promulgate rules thereof and monitor their compliance
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therewith. The DHSUD shall provide assistance to homeowners' associations
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to strengthen their capacity to undertake urban agriculture projects in their
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neighborhoods and communities;
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c) The Department of Interior and Local Government shall monitor the
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compliance of LGUs with the provisions of this Act in order to determine
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their qualification for Incentives provided for under Republic Act No. 11292;
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d) The Department of Education (DepEd) shall integrate the principles and
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practice of urban agriculture into primary and secondary education
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curricula, including the establishment of school gardens under the Gulayan


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sa Paaralan Program. DepEd shall ensure the adequate training of teachers
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and the development of appropriate instructional materials for this purpose;
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e) DOST shall conduct research on modem, cost-effective methods and
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technologies to support urban agricultural production, as well as post-
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harvest handling of surplus produce from urban agriculture projects;
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f) Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall provide technical assistance
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in processing and packaging of surplus produce from urban agriculture
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projects and ensure access of local government units, cooperatives,
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homeowners' associations, and people's organizations to markets;
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g) DOF shall administer the grant of incentives under Section 9 of this Act to
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qualified persons based on their compliance to Section 5 of this Act;
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h) Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall ensure adequate
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funding for the functions and programs provided for by under this Act;
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i) The Commission on Higher Education shall develop and implement
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curriculum and related standards and instructional materials in support of
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urban agriculture;
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j) The Cooperative Development Authority shall provide guidance and
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assistance to LCDs in the development of cooperatives within their
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jurisdiction;
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k) The Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor shall undertake social
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preparation activities to encourage participation and empower poor and
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underprivileged communities from the preparation and planning to
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implementation and evaluation of urban development projects; and,
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I) Philippine Information Agency shall undertake a nationwide information
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campaign, utilizing all forms of media, to raise awareness and encourage
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participation of the public in the implementation of this Act.
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Sec. 11. Periodic report to Congress. - The Department of Agriculture and
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partner agencies in the National Convergence Program on Urban Agriculture shall
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submit annual performance reports to Congress.
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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. Impiementing RuiesandReguiations. - 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. Separabiiity Ciause. - 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. Repeaiing Ciause. - All laws, executive orders. Issuances, rules and 
regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed or modified 
accordingly.
Sec. 16. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,