Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 7024

INTRODUCED BY REP. JOSE “BONG” J. TEVES, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

One of the goals of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is to achieve a food-secure
Philippines under his administration in order to curb hunger and malnutrition among the
Filipinos. In order to help achieve that goal, the government should strengthen our agriculture
industry by providing assistance to our farmers to increase their production. This will lessen or
free our country from importing agricultural goods from other countries

Also, though the subsistence farmers and fisherfolks belong to significant sector of our
economy, they remained one of the poorest group in terms of economic growth and stability.
Thus, this proposed measure provides retirement benefits and other assistances to our

subsistence farmers and fisherfolks in order to boost their production of agricultural crops.

This measure is in consonance with the Section 9, Article II of the 1987 Constitution
which provides that the State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the
prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies
that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and
an improved quality of life for all.


In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly saught.

HON. JOS J. TEVES, JR.
Representative, TGP Party-List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House’ Bili No._7024

INTRODUCED BY REP. JOSE “BONG” J. TEVES, JR.

AN ACT CREATING FOR THE RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND OTHER
ASSISTANCE FOR SUBSISTENCE FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK, AND
APPROPRIATING THE FUNDS

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 “Subsistence Farmer and
Fisherfolk Pension Act.”

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Code, the following terms and

phrases shall mean as follows:

1) Farmer - a person whose occupation is to tilt, toil, graze, raise, plant, water, fertilize,
manage, propagate, burn, recycle, prepare and accustom the land, pond or any
territory for purposes of growing plants and animals, harvesting thereof, and earning
from the said aforementioned acts or in relation thereof, and such earnings thereof is
capable of pecuniary estimation. This encompasses fish farming (pond farming),
ranch, growing of livestock for human consumption, hydroponic planting, among

others, and excludes virtual and intangible accumulation of assets, and those matters


in relation to shares of stocks or shares and other financial instruments whether or
not trading to a registered exchange.

2) Fisherfolk — a person who catches fish for a living or for sport.

3) Subsistence farmers — farmers that utilize nearly all of the crops or livestock raised
to maintain the farmer and the farmer’s family, leaving little, if any, surplus for sale
or trade.

4) Subsistence fisherfolk — fisherfolk that utilize all catches of fish, sea products and
related goods to maintain the fisherfolk and the fisherfolk’s family, leaving little, if
any, surplus for sale or trade.

SECTION 3. Coverage and Conditions. ~ This Act shall apply only to the following
subsistence farmers and fisherfolk with the following qualifications:

a) At least sixty (60) years old;

b) Duly registered with the Department of Agriculture as a subsistence farmer or
subsistence fisherfolk;

c) Farmers who own no farmlands;

d) Fisherfolk who own no more than one (1) banca;

e) Practices no other profession;

) Not gainfully employed with any employer;

2) Not an awardee of any agrarian reform lands;

h) Not a recipient of any government annuity, grant or endowment at the time of
claiming of the retirement, death or survivorship benefits;

i) Must submit at least three (3) sworn statements or affidavits of neighbors within the
same barangay stating that the applicant for the retirement, death, or survivorship
benefits is in fact a bona fide subsistence farmer or subsistence fisherfolk;

j) Must have been registered as an actual farmer or fisherfolk for at least fifteen (15)
years, provided that owners or operators of farm lots who are not actually involved
in the land preparation, planting, tilling or harvesting shall not be ineligible; and

k) Not a member of any ancestral tribe, terrorist group, or rebellious organization, and
should not have any pending criminal or administrative cases at the time of claiming
the benefits.


SECTION 4. Year-Round Application Period. — Subsistence farmers and
subsistence fisherfolk meeting the above-mentioned qualifications shall file their applications
with the Department of Agriculture and shall identify and set up application desks in far-flung
municipalities to increase access. The DA shall also deploy personnel to fishing and farming
communities to ensure the dissemination of information and facilitate the application process.

Applications shall be received all year round.

SECTION 5. Retirement Benefits. — The qualified subsistence farmer or subsistence
fisherfolk shall be entitled to a monthly pension of two thousand pesos (Php 2,000.00) starting
from the time of approval of the application for retirement. This amount shall be adjusted every
five (5) years pursuant to the recommendation of the National Economic Development
Authority (NEDA) subject to approval by the President.

SECTION 6. Death Benefits. — A qualified subsistence farmer or subsistence
fisherfolk shall be entitled to five thousand pesos (Php 5,000.00) death benefits to be received
by the heirs. This amount shall be adjusted every five (5) years pursuant to the recommendation
of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and must be approved by the
President. This death benefit can be availed of the registered subsistence farmer or subsistence
fisherfolk even before reaching the age of sixty (60) years old.

SECTION 7. Gender Equality and Sensitivity. — This Act is not only limited to
male subsistence farmers or subsistence fisherfolk. The female gender who qualifies must
therefore register as such. Married couples may both register in order to avail of the retirement,
death, and survivorship benefits.

SECTION 8. Survivorship Benefits. The widow or widower who was married to
the qualified subsistence farmer or subsistence fisherfolk shall be entitled to 50% of the
monthly retirement benefits until the death thereof, and the children if any shall be entitled to
the remaining 50% to be divided among themselves, if the age is eighteen (18) years and below,
otherwise no other surviving children shall be entitled to the said benefit.

SECTION 9. Other Assistances. ~ The Department of Agriculture shall ensure its
continuous support to the families of concerned farmers and fisherfolks by helping them to


have easy access to inputs of production such as seeds, fertilizer, post-production facilities, and
other needs connected to agriculture.

SECTION 10. Additional Positions and Personnel for the DA. — For purposes of
this Act, the DA shall, in accordance with pertinent civil service rules, create positions and
enlist additional personnel to ensure the proper and appropriate implementation of the program
under this Act.

SECTION 11. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the effective
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations for the DA.
‘Thereafter, such amounts as necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in
the General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). — The DA, in
coordination with relevant government agencies, shall issue rules, regulations, and guidelines
necessary to carry out the implementation and purposes of this Act within six (6) months from
the date of effectivity.

SECTION 13. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act shall be declared
unconstitutional or invalid, such declaration shall not invalidate other parts thereof which shall
remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 14. 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 15. 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,