Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _______________
Introduced by ANG PROBINSYANO
Party-List Representative Alfred Delos Santos
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The COVID-19 pandemic and the price increase of crude oil in the global
market has had a one-two punch effect on local food supply and prices. The
pandemic necessitated the abrupt closing down of regional borders without
ample
logistical
planning.
While
it may have curbed the spread of the
COVID-19 virus, it also had an incidental effect of restricting the movement of
food from the rural, agricultural areas of the country to the urban centers. To
further
complicate
this
problem,
the
rising
prices
of
crude
oil
made
transporting agricultural products a very expensive endeavor, considering that
these products oftentimes have to be hauled across long distances, entailing
the use of large amounts of diesel fuel. As is often the case, the cost of
transportation is often passed on to the consumers, thereby driving the prices
of these products up.
One
possible
solution
to
this
problem
is
the promotion of urban
agriculture. Urban agriculture is an industry which produces, processes, and
markets food in response to the daily demands of consumers within a town,
city, or metropolis, applying intensive production methods, using and reusing
natural resources and urban wastes, to yield a diversity of crops and livestock.1
Some observed benefits of urban agriculture include:
●
Urban agriculture has been observed to improve food systems for city
supply.2
2 Veenhuizen, René van. 2006. Cities farming for the future: Urban agriculture for sustainable cities.
Leusden: RUAF Foundation.
1 UN Development Programme. 1996. Urban Agriculture: Food, Jobs, and Sustainable Cities. New York:
UN.
September 2, 2022
8:00 am
4375


●
Urban agriculture brings fresher produce to local markets faster and
with less overhead costs because there are fewer middlemen between the
farmer and the consumer.3
●
Urban agriculture provides livelihood opportunities for residents of urban
areas. There is a global estimate of 200 million people residing in urban
areas producing food for their local market.4
Through urban agriculture, communities will have an accessible source
of agricultural products and/or a way of supplementing agricultural imports.
This practice is already being observed at the level of the local government in
countries such as Singapore, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. In
fact, there are examples to be observed even here in the Philippines, such as in
Cagayan de Oro5 at sa Quezon City.6
Certainly, the produce from these urban farms will be cheaper than
those imported from the rural areas or even from abroad. Through this
initiative, we can ensure fresh, healthy, and budget-friendly food options for
Filipinos everywhere, whatever crisis the Philippines end up facing.
It is for these reasons that the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
ALFRED C. DELOS SANTOS
Representative, Ang Probinsyano Partylist
6 Gerald Potutan, Wilfried Schnitzler, Janet Arnao, L.G. Janubas, Robert Holmer, Nelleke Bakker, Marielle
Dubbeling, Sabien Gundel, Uli Sabel-Koschella, and Henk de Zeeuw. 2000. "Urban agriculture in
Cagayan de Oro: a favourable response of city government and NGOs." In Growing cities, growing food,
urban agriculture on the policy agenda, by N Bakker, M Dubbeling, S Guendel and S Koschella, 413-428.
Feldafing: DSE.
5 Quezon City LGU. 2021. "QC launches model community urban farm in Brgy. Novaliches proper."
Quezon City Website. June 6. Accessed March 25, 2022. https://quezoncity.gov.ph/qc-launches-model-
community-urban-farm-in-brgy-novaliches-proper/.
4 Singh, Shrawan, D.R. Singh, Ayyam Velmurugan, and Iyyappan, Swarnam, T.P. Jaisankar. 2018.
"Coping with Climatic Uncertainties Though Improved Production Technologies in Tropical Island
Conditions." In Biodiversity and Climate Change Adaptation in Tropical Islands, edited by Chandrakasan
Sivaperuman, Ayyam, Singh, Awnindra Kumar Velmurugan and Iyyappan Jaisankar, 623-666. London:
Elsevier.
3 Supra at note 1.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _______________
Introduced by ANG PROBINSYANO
Party-List Representative Alfred Delos Santos
AN ACT
PROMOTING INTEGRATED URBAN AGRICULTURE IN URBAN AREAS
NATIONWIDE TO ADDRESS FOOD SECURITY AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Integrated
Urban Agriculture Act of 2022.”
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.
Toward
this
end,
the
State
shall
promote
the
development
of
modern,
cost-effective,
space-efficient,
and
environmentally-safe
agriculture
technologies
in
urban
areas
to contribute to achieving sustainable food
production and food security, promoting agro-ecology, ensuring public and
mental health, and thus improving the quality of life of urban populations. In
doing so, the State shall prioritize the conservation of the country’s genetic
biodiversity, and endemic and heirloom flora and fauna as a strategy for
climate change adaptation, mitigation, and resiliency.
Accordingly,
the
State
shall
ensure
the
integration
of
principles,
strategies, and technologies on urban agriculture in urban planning, and instill
a love of farming among urban dwellers, most especially the youth.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
a) Agroecology refers to a scientific discipline and set of practices that
studies how different components of the agroecosystem interact and
seeks sustainable farming systems that optimize and stabilize yields. It
4375


applies ecological concepts and principles to manage the interactions
among plants, animals, humans, and the environment for food security
and nutrition;
b) 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 edible plants such as herbs,
vegetables, fruits, or ornamentals, as a form of sustainable land use for
economic and societal development;
c) Food Forest Gardening refers to multi-layered crop farming or low
maintenance and sustainable method of food production that is based on
woodland
ecosystems, incorporating fruit and trees, shrubs, herbs,
vines, and perennial vegetables, which yields are directly useful to
humans. It also refers to a system of agroforestry that creates a diverse,
productive, healthy, ecologically sound and sustainable system of land
use;
d) Food security refers to a situation wherein all people have access to
sufficient, safe, and nutritious food at all times, to maintain a healthy
and active life;
e) Food
system
refers
to
a
complex
web
of
activities
involving
the
production, processing, transport, and consumption of food. Issues
concerning the food system include the governance and economics of
food production, its sustainability, the degree of food wastage, how food
production affects the natural environment, and the impact of food on
individual and population health;
f)
Good
Agriculture
Practices
refer
to
the
practices
that
address
environmental,
economic,
and
social
sustainability
for
on-farm
processes, and which result in safe and quality food and non-food
agricultural products;
g) 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
land refers to lands owned by any government entity that have been idle
and have not been in use for the purpose for which they have been
reserved for the past ten (10) years;
h) Indoor farming refers to controlled environment agriculture which aims
to
optimize
plant
growth
to
house
vertical
farming
techniques
in
greenhouses, warehouses, abandoned buildings, shipping containers,
tunnels,
skyscrapers,
and
modern
buildings using soilless farming
techniques such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics;


i)
Integrated urban agriculture refers to the development paradigm that
encompasses principles, management technologies, and policies relating
to the practice and application of agricultural and fisheries production of
food and goods in urban areas;
j)
Peri-urban areas refer to areas where urban and rural features and
processes meet, interact, and intertwine, usually located between the city
and the countryside. Peri-urban areas are semi-dense clusters with a
density of at least three hundred (300) inhabitants per square kilometer
and a population of five thousand (5,000) or more but are neither
contiguous with nor within two (2) kilometers of an urban area;
k) Protected agriculture refers to the use of technologies that enclose
crops to harvest higher yields, safer, cleaner, and of better quality even
out of season by modifying the natural environment and protecting crops
against the elements which include high temperature, excessive rainfall,
humidity, wind, birds, insects, etc.;
l)
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;
m) Soilless agriculture refers to the method of growing plants that do not
rely
on
the
soil
as
a
source
of
nutrients
and
water,
including
hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics;
n) Urban areas refer to a classification as may be made by the Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA) which under PSA Resolution No. 1, series of
2017-098, covers any of the following:
i)
If a barangay has a population size of five thousand (5,000) or
more;
ii)
If a barangay has at least one establishment with a minimum of
one hundred (100) employees;
iii)
If a barangay has five (5) or more establishments with a minimum
of zero (0) employees, and five (5) or more facilities within the
two-kilometer radius from the barangay hall;
o) Urban planning refers to the 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;
p) 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; and
q) Vertical farming refers to the methods or practices of increasing the
number of plants grown in an area by growing crops in vertically stacked
layers, such as generally done in greenhouses, warehouses, abandoned
buildings,
shipping
containers,
tunnels,
skyscrapers,
and
modern
buildings
using
soilless
farming
techniques
such
as
hydroponics,
aquaponics, or aeroponics.
SEC. 4. Coverage. - This Act shall cover idle or abandoned government or
private lands, buildings, shipping containers, subdivisions or villages, public
housing, open spaces in all urban, peri-urban, and urbanizable areas in the
country, and all available land resources and buildings in schools, state or
private universities and colleges, military camps suitable for growing crops and
raising poultry, livestock, and aquaculture; Provided that the utilization of idle
lands for urban agriculture purposes shall not be used as grounds for the
eviction of informal settler families occupying the lands; Provided further that
the raising of poultry and livestock shall be limited to urbanizable areas and all
livestock
raising
shall
be
subject
to
health
and
safety
standards
and
regulations
issued
by
the
Department
of
Health
(DOH),
Department
of
Environment
and
Natural
Resources
(DENR),
Department
of
Human
Settlements and Urban Developments (DHSUD) and other relevant government
agencies.
SEC. 5. Urban Farming. - Local governments units (LGUs) shall identify
and develop idle government and private lands and buildings without prejudice
to the rights of owners of private lands, buildings, and open spaces, within
their jurisdiction, for full or partial conversion solely to community gardens,
food forest gardens, indoor farms, and/or vertical farms to support food
security and community nutrition: Provided that food forest gardens and urban
farms adopting agro-ecological principles shall be the priority form of urban
agriculture wherever applicable and feasible: Provided further that spaces
allocated for urban agriculture and aquaculture and aquaculture shall not be
prime lots.
All LGUs, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and
the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), shall capacitate neighborhood
associations
and
people’s
organizations,
facilitate
the
organization
and
registration of community-based cooperatives, undertake community gardening
and establish community farmers’ markets.
SEC.
6.
Role of
the Department
of
Human Settlement
and Urban
Development. - The Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development
(DHSUD) shall ensure that the design and development of the subdivision,
condominium, and public housing projects have provisions for adequate spaces


for community gardens, food forest gardens, greenhouse agriculture, roof
gardens, indoor farms, and vertical farms. Toward this end, the DHSUD, in
coordination
with
the
DA,
shall
capacitate
homeowners’
associations
to
undertake community gardening and vertical farming.
SEC. 7. Role of the Department of Agriculture. - The DA shall provide the
necessary technical assistance and support services, including the provision of
seeds and seedlings and gardening tools, access to loans from government
financial institutions, and training workshops that shall capacitate various
stakeholders. It may assist in the design, establishment, promotion, and
regulation of indoor and vertical farming machinery and facilities to ensure the
full productivity of community gardens, school gardens, food forest gardens,
greenhouse farms, roof gardens, and indoor and vertical farms. The DA shall
ensure
that
the
technical
assistance
it
provides
is
consistent
with
the
Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PHILGAP) or a set of standards and
regulations ensuring food quality and safety, facilitation of market access, the
establishment
of
community
farmers’
markets,
and
reduction
in
non-compliance
with
issuances
regarding
permitted
pesticides and other
contamination hazards, as provided under Republic Act No. 10611, otherwise
known as the “Food Safety Act of 2013”, and relevant laws.
The DA, in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology
(DOST), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the
Department of Energy (DOE), and the Department of Public Works and
Highways
(DPWH)
shall
also
undertake
the
establishment
of
rainwater
harvesting Facilities in compliance with Republic Act No. 6716 entitled “An Act
Providing
for
the
Construction
of
Water
Wells,
Rainwater
Collectors,
Development of Springs, and Rehabilitation of Existing Water Wells in All
Barangays in the Philippines”, renewable energy systems and solid waste
management
systems,
including
waste-to-energy
facilities,
to
provide
a
sustainable supply of water, energy, and compose to community gardens, food
forest gardens, and urban farmers.
SEC. 8. Role of Local Government Units.- All 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,
including
the
hiring
of
agriculturists
and
agricultural and biosystem engineers to carry out urban agriculture programs.
Likewise, LGUs, with the assistance of the DA, Department of Interior
and
Local
Government
(DILG),
and
the
Department
of
Information and
Communications Technology (DICT), shall establish and maintain a digital
information system to facilitate the efficient collection, management, and
analysis of urban food systems, agriculture and nutrition data, as well as the
monitoring and evaluation of LGU performance vis-a-vis the food system,


agriculture and nutrition targets, to inform local planning, policy-making and
programming bodies, and to ensure open public access to data.
SEC. 9. Urban Agriculture and Aquaculture in Urban Planning. - The
DHSUD, in coordination with the DA, shall ensure the integration of concepts
and principles of urban agriculture and its relationship to other processes in
the food system in urban planning. Accordingly, the DHSUD and DA shall
promote sustainable, smart, and organic food production systems that harness
new
technologies
and
methods
in
soil,
nutrient,
water,
and
energy
management, such as composting, rainwater harvesting, and utilization of
renewable energy. The DHSUD shall also ensure the rational use of land
resources in urban planning to promote a sustainable peri-urban interface, as
well as for the spatial requirements of supply chain management and logistics
to strengthen urban-rural foodshed linkages.
Towards these ends, the DHSUD shall promulgate guidelines for the
harmonization of the comprehensive land use plans and zoning ordinances of
LGUs with urban agriculture policies, frameworks, strategies, and standards.
SEC.
10.
Urban Agriculture/Aquaculture in Basic
Education.
- The
Department of Education (DepEd), with the technical assistance of the DA,
shall integrate urban agriculture into 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 other subjects related to agriculture. A course curriculum on gardening
shall
be
developed
and
then
integrate
into
the regular elementary and
secondary
education.
Instructional
materials
shall
likewise
be
developed
utilizing advanced techniques of crop and food animal production, urban
agriculture and farming, and cultivating awareness and appreciation of genetic
biodiversity, heirloom, endemic flora and fauna, and agroecological principles.
The
DepEd,
with
the
assistance
of
the
DA,
shall
strengthen
the
implementation
of
its
Gulayan sa Paaralan Program
in elementary and
secondary schools. The establishment of school gardens shall be encouraged to
ensure a continuous supply of vegetables for school feeding, in accordance with
Republic Act No. 11037, otherwise known as the “Masustansyang Pagkain Para
sa Batang Pilipino Act.”
SEC.
11.
Urban
Agriculture/Aquaculture
in
Higher
Education.
The
Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education
(CHED),
with
the
technical
assistance
of the DA, shall integrate urban
agriculture into the academic curriculum for tertiary level students of both
public and private academic institutions by making it part of the required
period of time spent by students in the National Service Training Program.


Furthermore, a plan for utilization or maximization of space occupied by
schools shall be formulated specifically for urban agriculture purposes.
SEC. 12. Urban Agriculture Awareness Campaign. - The DILG, National
Nutrition Council, and LGUs are mandated to formulate policies on urban
farming in consonance with the provisions of this Act and be at the forefront of
community-based education and awareness campaigns. For this purpose,
LGUs shall mobilize existing structure and local bodies such as the provincial,
city, and municipal agriculture offices, the provincial city, municipal and
barangay agriculture and fishery councils, the provincial, city, municipal, and
barangay federation of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and the youth sector
represented in any local special body under the LGU.
The
Department
of
Social
Welfare
and
Development
(DSWD)
shall
integrate
urban
agriculture
and
community
nutrition
in
the
seminar
workshops and training programs to educate qualified household beneficiaries
of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
SEC. 13. Research and Development. - The DA and 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
sustainable demonstration urban community gardens, food forest gardens,
greenhouses, and indoor, roof, and vertical farms.
SEC. 14. Incentives. - Compliance by subdivision and condominium
developers and owners with Section 5 of this Act may qualify them for
incentives provided for under Republic Act No. 10771, otherwise known as the
Philippine Green Jobs Act of 2016, subject to the rules and regulations
promulgated by the Department of Finance and the DHSUD.
SEC. 15. Inter-Agency Coordination. - There is hereby established a
National Convergence Program on Urban Agriculture and Aquaculture. The DA
is hereby designated as the Lead Implementing Agency and 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 DA shall provide technical assistance and support services to
LGUs, community-based cooperatives, homeowners’ associations,
neighborhood associations, and people’s organizations to ensure
the viability and cost-effectiveness of urban agriculture projects
and through its Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering,
shall provide the design, specifications, establishment strategies,
promotion, regulation and technical assistance in the fabrication of


production models of indoor farming, vertical farming, and other
urban agriculture machinery, equipment, and facilities;
b) The DHSUD shall encourage the integration of urban agriculture
principles, policies, strategies, frameworks, and standards in the
design
and
development
of
subdivisions
and
condominium
projects. The DHSUD shall ensure such integration in public
housing
projects
and
in
the
preparation
or
updating
of
development and investment plans, CLUPs, and zoning ordinances
of LGUs. The DHSUD shall also promulgate the necessary rules
and monitor compliance therewith. The DHSUD shall provide
assistance
to
homeowners’
associations
to
strengthen
their
capacity to undertake urban agriculture or aquaculture projects in
their neighborhoods and communities;
c) The
DILG
shall
monitor
the
compliance
of
LGUs
with
the
provisions of this Act in order to determine their qualification for
the incentives provided under Republic Act No. 11292;
d) The DepEd shall integrate the principles and practice of urban
agriculture
using
advanced
crop
production
techniques
like
soilless agriculture, indoor farming, or vertical farming to include
modern methods of irrigation and automated systems into the
primary
and
secondary
education
curricula,
including
the
establishment of school gardens under the Gulayan sa Paaralan
Program.
The
DepEd
shall
ensure adequate capacity-building
programs
such
as
training-workshop,
hands-on
training,
or
immersion
program
for
teachers
and
the
development
of
appropriate instructional materials such as educational videos and
manuals for this purpose;
e) The
DOST
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;
f)
The DTI shall provide technical assistance in processing and
packaging
of
surplus
produce
from
urban
agriculture
and
aquaculture projects and ensure access of local government units,
cooperatives, homeowners’ associations, and people’s organizations
to markets;
g) The DOF shall administer the grant of incentives under Section 14
of this Act to qualified persons based on their compliance with
Section 5 of this Act;


h) The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall ensure
adequate funding for the functions and programs provided for by
under this Act;
i)
The
CHED
shall
develop
and
implement
a
curriculum
on
capacity-building programs such as training-workshop, hands-on
training
or
immersion
program,
and
related
standards
and
instructional materials in support of urban agriculture;
j)
The DPWH in compliance with RA 6716 is mandated to undertake
the construction of water wells, rainwater collectors, development
of
springs,
and
rehabilitation
of
existing
water
wells
in
all
barangays
in
the
Philippines,
taking
into
consideration
the
population, hydrologic conditions, costs of project development,
and operations, financial and economic factors and institutional
arrangements;
k) The
National
Nutrition
Council
and
the
Food
and
Nutrition
Research Institute shall assist the DepEd in identifying the crops
to be cultivated on schools farms and in preparing nutritious food,
pursuant to standardized menus to ensure child nutrition provided
for under Republic Act No. 11037, and in developing the modules
on nutrition;
l)
The CDA shall provide guidance and assistance to LGUs in the
development of cooperatives within their jurisdiction;
m) 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,
n) The Philippine Information Agency shall undertake a nationwide
information
campaign,
utilizing
all
forms
of
media,
to
raise
awareness and encourage the participation of the public in the
implementation
of
this
Act,
in
close
coordination with other
cultural agencies such as the National Commission for Culture
and
Arts
(NCAA)
and
the
Film
Development
Council
of
the
Philippines (FDCP).
The Council for the Welfare of Children shall integrate urban agriculture
in the formulation of programs and measures providing dynamic leadership in
ensuring a child-friendly and child-sensitive society.


The National Youth Commission, as the Philippine government’s sole
policy-making body on youth affairs and consistent with its role in coordinating
and implementing programs designed to help the youth become more aware of
the
issues
surrounding
them,
shall
include
an
appreciation
of
urban
agriculture.
SEC. 16. Performance Report to Congress. - The DA and partner agencies
in the National Convergence Program on Urban Agriculture and Aquaculture
shall submit annual performance reports to Congress.
SEC.
17.
Appropriations.
-
The
budget
necessary
for
the
initial
implementation
of
this
Act
shall
be
charged
against the current year’s
appropriation for the concerned agencies. Thereafter, such amount as may be
necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 18. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within one hundred and
twenty
(120)
days
from
the
effectivity
of
this
Act,
the
Department
of
Agriculture, in consultation with the concerned LGUs, and other relevant
stakeholders from government agencies shall issue the necessary rules and
regulations to Implement the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 19. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part of this Act is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions or parts unaffected shall
remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 20. 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.
SEC. 21. 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,