EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 2350
sNDf X
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN
AN ACT
CREATING AN AGRICULTURAL PENSION PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SOCIAL 
SECURITY AND PENSION BENEFITS TO FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Farmers and fisherfolk play an important role in economic development. According 
to the June 2021 Labor Force Survey, 24.3 percent of the country's labor force or 10.56 
million people are employed in the sector.1 In 2020, the agriculture, forestry, and fishing 
sector contributed 10.2 percent to the coxmtry's Gross Domestic Product. At current 
prices, the Gross Value Added of the sector is equivalent to Pl,827.01 billion.2
However, the productivity of the sector and its contribution to national 
development has not translated to higher incomes and better quality of life for farmers 
and fisherfolk. Preliminary estimates of the Philippine Statistics Authority show that 
agriculture workers posted the highest poverty incidence among the basic sectors in 2018. 
Farmers registered the highest poverty incidence at 31.6 percent while fisherfolk was at 
26.2%. They also registered the highest poverty incidence in 2015.3
In contrast with the wages offered in other sectors, agriculture continued to offer 
lower pay, based on the August 2021 rates published by the Deparfanent of Labor and 
Employment's National Wages and Productivity Commission. Workers in the agriculture 
sector receive minimum wages of P500 or less daily while those who work in non­
agriculture sectors receive minimum wages of up to P537 daily.4 Nationwide, the nominal 
wage rate of agricultural workers in 2019 averaged P331.10 per day.5
1 
PSA. June 2021 Labor Force Survey. Available at https;//psa.gov.ph/content/unempIoyment-rate-june-2021- 
estimated-77-percent Accessed on 9 August 2021.
2 
PSA. Agricultural Indicators System: Economic Growth Rate in Agriculture. Published in June 2021. Available at 
https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/l_Full%20Report%20Economk;%20Growth%20Agriculture%202016- 
2020%20as%20of%2015%20June_v2_signed.pdf. Accessed on 9 August 2021.
3 
PSA. Farmers, Fisherplks, Individuals Residing in Rural Arens and Otildren Posted the Highest Poverty Incidences Among 
the Basic Sectors in 2018. Published on 03 June 2020. Available at https://psa.gov.ph/poverty-press- 
releases/nid/162541. Accessed on 13 August 2021.
4 
DOLE-NWPC. Sumttmry of Current Regiotml Daily Minimum Wage Rales by Region, Non-Agriculture and Agriculture. 
Published in August 2021. Available at https://nwpc.dole.gov.ph/stats/summary-of-current-regional-daily- 
minimum-wage-rates-by-region-non-agriculture-and-agriculture/. Accessed on 13 August 2021.
5 
PSA. Trends in Agricultural Wage Rales (2017-2019). Published in August 2020. Available at 
https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/Report_2019%20Trends%20in%20Agri%20Wage%20Rates_signed.pdf. 
Accessed on 10 August 2021.


Due, in part, to the low income of farmers, less and less younger Filipinos go into 
farming. A recent study published in the Philippine Journal of Science confirmed the 
ageing population of farmers. The average age of farmers today is 53 years old. Most 
farmers have been engaged in farming for an average of 25 years. According to the same 
study, 65 percent of farmers believe that their children will not have a bright future if 
they become rice farmers.6 Mcmg Romeo, a farmer from Nueva Edja, is among the 
millions of farmers who have been working in the sector for decades. At 73 years old, he 
remains poor despite working in the farm for six decades since he was 12 years old.
This proposed measure seeks to recognize the fundamental role and give proper 
value to the contributions of farmers and fisherfolk, such as Mang Romeo, in our daily 
survival, in ensuring food security, and in the overall national development. The 
undersigned sees the urgent need to protect and promote their welfare through measures 
that would reduce their socio-economic risks and vulnerabilities. A comprehensive 
pension and social security program is hereby sought to be created for the benefit of 
agriculture workers. The State must strive to ensure a better quality of life and provide a 
substantial and reliable source of retirement benefits and social security to the very 
people who feed the nation.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
FRANCIS N.
GILINAN
Palis, F. (2020). Aging Filipino Rice Fanners and their Aspirations for their Children. Philippine ]oumal of Science, 
149(2). https://philjounudsd.dost.gov.ph/lmages/pdf/pjs_pdf/voll49no2/aging_filipino_rice_farmcrs_.pdf. 
Accessed on 13 August 2021.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES )
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2350
202im
DATC
4r‘ not
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN
AN ACT
CREATING AN AGRICULTURAL PENSION PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SOOAL 
SECURITY AND PENSION BENEFITS TO FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Pensyonadong Magsasdka
2 
at Mangingisda Act".
3 
SEC. 2, Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to:
4 
a) Revitalize the agriculture industry towards sustainability and create the
5 
necessary conditions to end hunger, achieve food security, and improve the
6 
general health and nutrition of Filipinos;
7 
b) Recognize the fundamental role and give proper value to the contributions of
8 
farmers and fisherfolk in our daily survival, national development, and in
9 
ensuring long-nm food security;
10 
c) Protect and promote the welfare of farmers and fisherfolk by putting in place
11 
measures that would reduce their socio-economic risks and vulnerabilities,
12 
thereby improving their quality of life; and
13 
d) Establish and institutionalize a comprehensive pension and social security
14 
program for the benefit of agricultural workers.
15 
SEC. 3. The Farmers and Fisherfolk Social Security and Pension Program. - There
16 
is hereby established the "Farmers and Fisherfolk Social Security and Pension Program,"


1 
herein referred to as the Program, which shall provide agricultural workers a substantial
2 
and reliable source of income security and secured retirement in their old age.
3 
The Program shall consist of the comprehensive set of objectives, targets, and
4 
holistic approach in the provision of sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, death, and
5 
funeral benefits to farmers and fisherfolk.
6 
It shall be integrated and made consistent with the package benefits imder the Social
7 
Security System (SSS) and relevant programs of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and
8 
the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).
9 
SEC. 4. Implementing Agencies. - The PCIC, an attached agency of the DA, and the
10 
SSS shall be the primary implementing agencies of the provisions of this Act.
11 
To fulfill the goals of this Act, they shall perform the following duties and functions:
a) 
The SSS and PCIC shall tap the expertise of other relevant govermnent offices 
in the formulation of the objectives, targets, and approaches under the 
Program.
b) 
The PCIC shall manage the registration system of eligible agricultural workers 
imder the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and 
maintain the required operational reports.
c) 
The SSS shall manage the funds allocated and the social security and pension 
scheme of the Program and maintain the required actuarial and financial 
reports.
d) 
The PCIC and the SSS shall perform other duties and functions necessary in 
the efficient and effective implementation of this Act.
The PCIC and the SSS shall collaborate with and secure the technical assistance of
24 
the DA in aU stages of implementation of this Act. The DA shall ensure that the objectives
25 
of the Program are met and shall evaluate and monitor the Program's contribution to the
26 
productivity of the agricultural sector and the improvement of the quality of life of
27 
farmers and fisherfolk.
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21
22
23


1 
SEC. 5. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the initial
2 
implementation of this Act shall be drawn from the savings of the national government.
3 
Thereafter, the funds necessary for the continuous implementation of the program shall
4 
be sourced from ten percent (10%) of the total annual duties collected from the
5 
importation of agricultural products. The supplemental amount necessary for its
6 
implementation shall be included in the annual appropriations of the DA.
7 
SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the
8 
date of effectivity of this Act, the PCIC shall, in consultation with the DA, SSS, the
9 
Department of Budget and Management, and the Department of Finance, formulate the
10 
rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.
11 
SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
12 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in full
13 
force and effect.
14 
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive and administrative orders, rules,
15 
and regulations inconsistent with the foregoing provisions are hereby repealed or
16 
modified accordingly.
17 
SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
18 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,