Introduced by REPRESENTATIVES EDDIEBONG G. PLAZA and 
ALFEL M. BASCUG 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The uplands are home to many indigenous tribes, and it hold our country’s 
remaining forests and mineral resources. As early as 2000, an estimated 20 million 
Filipinos, approximately 26% of the population, lived in the uplands, with over eight 
million hectares of which are under some kind of cultivation (Guiang in Tacio, 2000). 
Despite the rich natural resources, the uplands remain to have the highest poverty 
incidence, largely due to low productivity. In effect, upland farmers struggle to survive. 
This situation leaves our remaining forest vulnerable to unregulated exploitation and 
exposes our upland communities to risks, including involvement in insurgency and 
other illegal activities.  
A clear policy and effective implementation strategy for upland development 
can address these pressing issues; protect the environment, fight poverty and 
eliminate crimes and insurgency. In 2013, Agusan del Sur launched the Upland 
Sustainable Agri-Forestry Development (USAD) Program, which significantly 
contributed to the province’s poverty reduction. Between 2015 to 2018, provincial 
poverty dropped from 45% to 32.4%. Today, USAD manages nearly 5,000 hectares of 
upland farms with high value crops, providing an alternative livelihood for thousands 
of upland families. Each year, USAD continues to expand its reach, greening 
thousands of hectares of denuded uplands and strengthening the province’s 
agricultural economy.  
More than just growing crops, USAD focuses on “growing people” by 
empowering individuals and communities for greater productivity and sustainability. 
With a clear implementation framework rooted in transparency and accountability, 
both program beneficiaries and government workers have cultivated a deep pride in 
their work, fostering transformation across upland communities.  
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
  ALFEL M. BASCUG 
 EDDIEBONG G. PLAZA 
1ST District, Agusan del Sur 
2nd District, Agusan del Sur 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  1384 
July 7, 2025
10:24 am


TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
       HOUSE BILL NO.  1384 
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVES EDDIEBONG G. PLAZA and 
ALFEL M. BASCUG 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE UPLAND SUSTAINABLE AGRI-FORESTRY 
DEVELOPMENT (USAD) PROGRAM IN UPLAND AGRICULTURAL 
LANDS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in the 
Congress assembled:  
ARTICLE I 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “USAD Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – Consistent with the policy of the State to free 
the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, a rising 
standard of living and an improved quality of life, the State shall adopt a 
comprehensive and holistic approach in poverty alleviation wherein every Filipino is 
able to meet the basic needs of food, nutrition, environmental sanitation, shelter, 
education, and income security.  
It is also the policy of the State to protect and promote the right of the people to 
a balanced and healthful ecology. The State shall implement projects and programs 
geared toward economic growth and sustained national development in harmony with 
environmental conservation and ecological balance.  
SECTION 3. Purpose and Objectives. – It is the purpose and objective of this Act 
to reduce poverty incidence in the uplands and specifically aims to: 
a. Employ a convergence approach in alleviating poverty in the most
marginalized sectors in the country- the upland and indigenous
communities;
b. Create and increase economic opportunities for upland communities
especially for those who make a living out of farming;
c. Protect and conserve the natural resources by providing alternative sources
of livelihood for people in upland communities;
d. Involve the indigenous people communities into mainstream through
comprehensive development programs;
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 


e. Empower the individuals and communities for sustainability through 
holistic development approach that addresses the multi-dimensionality of 
poverty; 
f. Optimize agricultural productivity on idle lands owned by marginalized 
landowners.  
 
SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. – Whenever used in this Act, the following 
terms shall mean: 
 
a. Agricultural land – refers to land devoted principally to the raising of crops 
such as rice, corn, sugar cane, tobacco, coconut, etc., or to pasturing, 
dairying, inland fishery, salt-making and others, including forest lands1; 
 
b. Convergence approach – refers to multi-stakeholders and multi-agency 
cooperation in sprouting sustainable economic development; 
 
c. Custodian – refers to the designated authority and/or accountable person 
over the non-livelihood infrastructures; 
 
d. Enrollees – refer to upland dwellers which are identified as recipients of the 
USAD Program; 
 
e. Home and Backyard Small Business – refers to small income-generating 
being run from someone’s home or backyard which may include, but not 
limited, to baking, pastry-making etc., handicrafts such as but not limited to 
weaving, knitting, dressmaking, and tailoring, and others; 
 
f. Social Preparation – the conduct of preliminary social analysis of the 
community where organizer, engage in institution preparations, area 
selection and social investigation/integration.2 It also refers to series of pre-
implementation activities involving individuals and communities intended 
for the proper and effective discharge or execution of the USAD Program 
such as but not limited to: 
 
i. 
Educating and informing the enrollees and their respective 
communities on the poverty situation and other relevant data that 
will contextualize their participation in the program;  
 
ii. 
The conduct of Participatory Assessment (PRA) and evaluation, if 
any, of Barangay Development Plan; and 
 
iii. 
The assessment of the absorptive capacity of the communities and 
enrollees based on the availability of labor and/or land.  
 
 
1 PD 464, Sec. 3 © 
2 DSWD. MC 06, S. 2014 


g. Participatory Rapid Assessment (PRA) – an interactive data collection 
process conducted at a community level or with a specific community group 
of interest. PRA is applied at the design, early implementation, and 
evaluation phases of a project cycle.  
 
h. Upland – refers to areas comprising: (1) marginal lands with slopes of 18% 
or higher, (2) lands within mountainous zones, and (3) lands within terrain 
classified as hilly to mountainous.  
 
i. Upland Sustainable Agri-Forestry Development – refers to a comprehensive 
development framework aimed at alleviating poverty in the upland 
communities by way of convergence approach providing livelihood 
programs, non-livelihood and infrastructure projects and conducting 
continuous education and trainings relative thereto.  
 
SECTION 5. Scope and Coverage. – This Act shall apply and cover provinces, 
cities, and municipalities with upland communities.  
 
 
ARTICLE II 
Structure, Composition, Operation of the USAD Program 
 
SECTION 6. Creation of USAD Coordinating Unit. – It is hereby created an 
USAD Coordinating Unit in every province, city, and municipality which shall be under 
the direct supervision of the Local Chief Executive. It shall organize and assign USAD 
Coordinating and teams for the effective implementation of the USAD Program. The 
Provincial USAD Coordinating Unit shall serve as a lead unit to municipal 
counterparts, the Municipal USAD Coordinating Unit.  
 
SECTION 7. Composition of USAD Coordinating Unit. – The USAD 
Coordinating Unit shall be composed of a Program Coordinator, USAD Teams and its 
respective team members.  
 
SECTION 8. Functions. – The function of the USAD Coordinating Unit are as 
follows: 
 
a. USAD Program Coordinator. – The Program Coordinator shall be the head 
of the Provincial/Municipal/City USAD Programs Unit who shall be 
mandated to prepare and capacitate individuals and communities for the 
productive and beneficial absorption of government’s development 
programs. He/She shall coordinate with the Program Management Team 
and the Implementing Offices for the programs, projects, and activities for 
an integrated intervention approach on any given target community for 
development. He/She shall perform the following functions:  
 
1. Requires implementing offices for the submission of detailed work 
and financial plan for USAD areas along with initial impact 
assessments report; 


 
2. Requires updates on al programs, projects and activities under USAD 
Programs and recommends measures based on the implementation 
procedure from the Implementing Offices;  
 
3. For municipal USAD, coordinates with the Municipal Local Chief 
Executive, municipal or the barangay focal person if deemed 
necessary; 
 
4. Coordinates with other national agencies relative to USAD 
convergence programs; 
 
5. Participates in the planning process to any programs and projects 
development particularly in the reduction of poverty condition of the 
province; 
 
6. Supervises the USAD teams;  
 
7. Coordinates with the program management team to ensure success 
of the program and/or projects; 
 
8. Conducts meeting with Program Team Leaders; 
 
9. Conducts validation of submitted reports and presents progress 
report 
to 
the 
province/city/municipal 
government 
in 
the 
implementation process under the USAD Program;  
 
10. Provides updates for the Provincial Governor/City/Municipal Mayor 
and make recommendations for constant improvement in the 
implementation process under the USAD Program; and  
 
11. Performs any functions as required by the Provincial Governor/ City/ 
Municipal Mayors relative to the implementation of USAD 
Programs;  
 
b. USAD Team. – For provincial USAD Unit, one (1) USAD Team shall be 
assigned for every municipality or components city enrolled to USAD. Each 
USAD Team shall be composed of a team leader and its respective members. 
The functions of a team leader are as follows:  
 
1. Prepares action plan; 
 
2. Leads in the conduct of the USAD activities in the field; 
 
3. Conducts monitoring and submit reports on the progress of the 
implementation of the programs, projects, and activities; 
 


4. Coordinates with the City/Municipal/Barangay Local Government 
Unit and USAD focal person for the efficient implementation of the 
programs, projects and activities; 
 
5. Attends regular meetings and update the program coordinator on the 
progress of USAD programs in their respective area of assignments; 
 
6. Submit to the program coordinator a written report on the validated 
report from the field.  
 
The team members shall perform the following functions:  
 
1. Conduct social preparation and capacity development of enrollees 
and communities;  
 
2. Participate in the team planning process in the conduct of field 
implementation, monitoring and reporting of programs, projects and 
activities in their respective area of assignments; 
 
3. Conduct close monitoring and reporting on every stage of the 
implementation processes;  
 
4. Provide updated information to guide the implementing office for a 
timely intervention and/or technical assistance to USAD Program 
enrollees; and 
 
5. Submit to the team leader validated reports from the field.  
 
 
SECTION 9. Implementing Offices. – The Implementing Offices shall propose, 
formulate, and implement programs, projects and activities (PPAs) on the target and 
identified areas having high poverty incidence. It shall be composed of the following 
offices: 
Provincial/City/Municipal 
Agriculture 
Office 
(PAO/CAO/MAO), 
Provincial/City/Municipal 
Veterinary 
Office 
(PVO/CVO/MVO), 
Provincial/City/Municipal 
Social 
Welfare 
and 
Development 
Office 
(PSWDO/CSWDO/MSWDO), 
Provincial/City/Municipal 
Engineering 
Office 
(PEO/CEO/MEO), Provincial/City/Municipal Health Office (PHO/CHO/MHO), 
Provincial/City/Municipal 
Environment 
and 
Natural 
Resources 
Offices 
(PENRO/CENRO/MENRO), Provincial/City/Municipal Employment Services Offices 
(PESO/CESO/MESO). It is hereby mandated to perform the following functions:  
 
1. Implement and manage their respective programs or projects 
identified under USAD;  
 
2. Provide technical support to the USAD Program especially to the 
USAD Teams in the field in assisting enrollees to ensure success of 
the Program; 


 
3. Prepare and provide necessary data to the program coordinator 
which will be used by the USAD Teams in monitoring and validating; 
 
4. Prepare and provide progress report in each implementation phase 
and final report at the end of each fiscal year; and  
 
5. Participate in the USAD general meetings.  
 
SECTION 10. Management Team. – It is hereby created a Program Management 
Team (PMT) who shall serve as the overseer of the USAD Program Units’ activities. 
The Program Management Team shall comprise with the Heads of Offices of the 
following offices: Bids and Awards Offices (BAC), Provincial/City/Municipal General 
Services Office (PGSO/CGSO/MGSO), Provincial/City/Municipal Accounting Office 
(PadMO/CadMO/MadMO), 
Provincial/City/Municipal 
Human 
Resource 
and 
Management Office (PHRMO/CHRMO/MHRMO), Internal Audit Offices (IAOs), 
Information Management Offices (IMOs), Provincial/City/Municipal Treasury Office 
(PTO/CTO?MTO), and a representative of the municipal and barangay councils. The 
Municipal Management Team shall also be created which shall closely coordinate with 
the PMT.  
 
 
It shall be mandatory that the PMT is represented in every progress report 
presentation. The PMT shall hold meetings as often as necessary which shall be 
attended by the members sitting in ex-officio capacity. 
 
 
It shall, thereafter, provide policy support, review and recommend courses of 
action and policies, provide feedback to policy makers, project developers, examine 
the objectives of the proposed programs, evaluate the progress and achievement 
reports and report and perform other functions deemed necessary to aid the program 
coordinator in ensuring the success of the programs and projects.  
 
SECTION 11. Municipal/City USAD Units. – The Municipal/City Government 
shall organize a Municipal/City USAD Unit which shall work under close coordination 
with the Provincial USAD Program Unit. Its programs and projects shall be consistent 
with those of the Provincial USAD Unit.  
 
SECTION 12. Personnel, Members and Staff. – Only non-ex-officio personnel, 
members, and staff of the USAD Program Units, Program Management Team, and the 
Program Implementing Office shall be entitled to remunerations to be determined by 
the concerned local government units taking into account their actual duties and 
responsibilities. It may be increased as per yearly reviews on the merits based on their 
productivity.  
 
 
ARTICLE III 
Project Establishment Phase 
 
SECTION 13. Selection of Barangays. – Barangays shall be selected and ranked 
according to their poverty incidence based on the results of Community-Based 


Monitoring System. Among those selected barangays, priority shall be given to those 
with the existing Barangay Development Plan.  
 
SECTION 14. Non-livelihood and Livelihood Projects. – The Program shall 
serve as an avenue for infrastructure, social and non-livelihood projects and livelihood 
programs for upland residents towards comprehensive intervention and holistic 
development framework.  
 
a. Non-livelihood and Infrastructure Projects. – Non-livelihood projects shall 
cover health, education, cultural and sports programs. Infrastructure 
projects shall include barangay health units, day care centers, sanitation and 
water facilities.  
 
b. Livelihood Projects. The USAD Program Unit shall determine the priority 
commodities and other support crops, home, and backyard small business, 
fishery, livestock and poultry suitable for the livelihood projects.  
 
c. Documentary Requirements. – The Implementing Offices shall issue the 
guidelines for the projects and project proposal. Non-compliance to the 
guidelines may result to automatic rejection without prejudice to its reversal 
upon compliance of the guidelines within the prescribed schedule.  
 
SECTION 15. Selection of Enrollees. – Selection of enrollees shall be made for 
the livelihood projects only. The prospective enrollee shall come from the list of 
households with income below poverty threshold provided that they are able to meet 
the requirements of the project such as labor, time, and/or land.  
 
 
All prospective enrollees must present a barangay certification attesting that 
he/she is a resident of the barangay at least six (6) months prior to the application to 
the Program validated through the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS). 
Enrollees not listed in CBMS must register with the system prior to acceptance to the 
Program. The Implementing Office may also require additional requirements as may 
be necessary in the enrollment of the Program.  
 
 
For agricultural development programs and projects, the Implementing Office 
shall require a confirmation and validation from the Register of Deeds as to land 
status.  
 
SECTION 16. Duties and Responsibilities of Enrollees. – Upon agreeing with 
the terms and conditions of the Program, the enrollees shall comply with all 
requirements of the USAD’s projects, programs and activities which include but not 
limited to:  
 
a. Attending capacity development trainings; 
b. Strictly observe guidelines and modules provided by the technical staff or 
expert resource person of the Implementing Office;  
c. Provide timely and necessary feedback and/or report to the USAD Team on 
the progress of the projects under their care.  
 


SECTION 17. Procurement of Materials. – The procurement of materials shall 
be prioritized and in accordance with existing procurement laws. The procurement 
process shall likewise take into consideration the farms’ schedule, timely field 
implementation to avoid delays as much as possible.  
 
SECTION 18. Social Preparation and Capacity Development of Enrollees. 
– The USAD Provincial, City, and Municipal Team in coordination with the 
Implementing Offices shall conduct Participatory Rapid Appraisal (PRA) to identify 
community needs, assist in the crafting of a Barangay Development Plan if in case such 
is not updated and hold program orientation to barangay councils, enrollees and any 
interested member/s of the community.  
 
 
The USAD Coordinating Unit shall also assist in the organization of the 
enrollees who shall have a set of officers, approved policy and/or by-laws. This 
organization shall be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  
 
 
In case of an existing registered organization, the Implementing Office shall 
review the organization's constitutions and by-laws to determine its compatibility with 
the project’s objectives. Non-member enrollees shall be enlisted with the organization. 
 
 
It shall be mandatory to conduct capacity development training which shall ne 
attended by the enrollees who shall be assessed after. Appropriate assessment tools 
shall be developed for that purpose.  
 
SECTION 19. Establishment of Livelihood Projects. – For agricultural farm 
projects, the following activities shall be undertaken:  
 
1. The concerned agricultural extension worker and agriculturist shall assist 
the enrollees in getting a soil sample from their respective farm site for 
laboratory analysis to determine its suitability for farming and appropriate 
crops; 
 
2. Lay-outing of the farm and geo-tagging; 
 
3. The timely delivery of planting materials, seedlings, and other necessary 
material inputs shall also be made to the concerned enrollees by the 
Implementing Offices along with the USAD Teams. The guideline for the 
proper distribution shall be strictly observed; and  
 
4. The USAD team along with the Implementing Offices and its technical staff 
monitor and assist enrollees, if needed, in the implementation activities 
such as but not limited to land preparation, planting, trimming, and 
application of fertilizer.  
 
Technical assistance shall be made available to enrollees from their 
corresponding Implementing Office all throughout the process from land preparation, 
planting, harvesting, farm maintenance, value-adding, processing, marketing, and 
financial management.  
 
 


 
For non-agricultural and projects, the Implementing Offices along with the 
USAD Teams shall conduct ocular inspections of the sites to assess its suitability to the 
intended project, program and activities. The same shall deliver to the enrollees all 
material inputs and the kits needed for the approved projects, programs, and activities.  
 
SECTION 20. Establishment of Non-livelihood and Infrastructure 
Projects. – The assigned custodian shall submit quarterly maintenance report to the 
USAD unit who shall coordinate with the Implementing Office for timely and 
necessary assistance and feedback. The delivery of the projects shall be done in 
accordance with the approved implementation procedure.  
 
 
The Implementing Office shall likewise supervise the project’s delivery and 
installation. It shall also conduct capacity development training for the assigned 
custodian while the projects are still in progress and involved the same in the 
formulation of the maintenance plan.  
 
 
The assigned custodian shall submit a quarterly maintenance report to 
concerned Implementing Offices on which the latter shall provide necessary assistance 
and feedback.  
 
SECTION 21.  Project Maintenance Phase. – The Reports submitted by the 
enrollees to the USAD Team shall be validated and verified by the Implementing Office 
in the field after which a meeting shall be called wherein the Implementing Office shall 
make necessary recommendations and take the necessary actions concerning the 
report. The USAD Team shall ensure that recommendations are properly carried out 
in the field.  
 
 
It shall be mandatory for the Implementing Offices in coordination with the 
USAD Unit to conduct continuing training and education of the enrollees taking into 
consideration issues and concerns in the field.  
 
SECTION 22. Project Marketing Phase. – The Implementing Office shall 
conduct an inventory of areas with agriculture production and organize the enrollees 
into associations in preparation for the marketing phase. Capacity building on value-
adding commodities and market matching for possible buyers shall also be made.  
 
SECTION 23. Graduation of Enrollees. – An enrollee is deemed to have 
graduated from the program if his/her household earned an income above the 
prevailing poverty threshold as reflected by their respective Progress Report Card 
created for that purpose.  
 
 
The graduated enrollee is hereby granted the option to continually attend the 
training and education conducted under the USAD Program.  
 
SECTION 24. Reportorial Requirements. – It shall be mandatory for every 
USAD Team to submit monthly progress reports to the Program Coordinator. The 
latter shall provide updates to the Provincial Governor/City/Municipal Mayor 
accordingly.  
 
 
A mid-year assessment report shall be conducted by the USAD Program Unit 
taking into consideration the progress of the projects, programs, activities in each 


barangay, the general status of the USAD Program and other issues and concerns in 
the implementation phase.  
 
 
The annual report shall cover the barangay status prior to the implementation 
of the projects vis-à-vis progress of the USAD projects and its impact on the 
communities. 
 
SECTION 25. Development Program Harmonization. – All national line 
agencies, civil society organizations and other institutions that implement socio-
economic development programs shall harmonize and align policies, plans and 
programs for a sustainable USAD implementation.  
 
 
ARTICLE III 
Miscellaneous Provisions 
 
SECTION 26. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the provision 
of this Act shall be charged against the General Appropriations Act.  
 
SECTION 27. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days 
after the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Interior and Local Government 
(DILG) in coordination with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian 
Reform (DAR), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Environment and 
Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), 
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Technical Educational Skills 
Development Authority (TESDA) shall formulate the rules and regulations to fully 
implement the provisions of this Act.  
 
SECTION 28. Separability Clause. – If for any reason, any part or provision of 
this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not 
affected shall remain in full and effect. 
 
SECTION 29. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders 
and rules and regulations contrary or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.  
 
SECTION 30. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
 
Approved,