R.0epublic 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
When Filipino children are asked what they want to do when they grow
up, “farming” is a rare answer. The average age of a Filipino farmer nowadays
is 571 to 602 years old, which shows that farming as a profession has already
skipped at least one generation. As these advance-age farmers move to
retirement, the capacity of the country to produce its own food will slowly
dwindle. This situation will have far-reaching repercussions not just to food
supply but also to the national economy.
In order to solve this problem, the State must endeavor to revive interest in
farming among the youth, at the earliest point possible. As the Constitution
provides:
“The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building
and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual,
intellectual, and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth
patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in
public and civic affairs.” (Article II, Section 13)
To this end, the present bill presents proactive solutions such as In-School
Farm Programs, National School Feeding Program, and Farm Visits Program.
These programs aim to introduce the potential of the agriculture sector to the
minds of the youth by providing them firsthand knowledge and experience of
how agriculture serves as the backbone of Filipino society. This will give them
renewed interest in the agricultural sector.
Through
this
bill,
we
aim
to
create
an
immersive
and
enabling
environment for the youth to be able to explore the innovative possibilities of
2 http://ap.fftc.agnet.org/ap_db.php?id=448
1https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/191635/declining-farmer-population
July 29, 2022
1:04 pm
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what the agriculture sector has in store for them; a future not only for
themselves but also for their communities and the whole of the Filipino society.
In view of the foregoing, the passing of this bill is utmostly requested.
ALFRED C. DELOS SANTOS
Representative, Ang Probinsyano Partylist


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 ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF
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 “Farm to School
Program Act of 2022.”
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of
the
State to protect the right to health of the people and take appropriate
action to promote their health and proper nutrition. The State also recognizes
the importance of agricultural productivity and the valuable contribution of
local and farm producers in economic development, thus, it shall implement
programs to support and strengthen local agricultural industries.
Towards this end, the government shall establish a comprehensive and
integrated
program
that
connects
schools,
children,
farmers
and
food
entrepreneurs to local communities to promote nutrition, facilitate agricultural
productivity, stimulate the local economy and provide cross-sectoral benefits in
areas of public health, economy, education, and the environment to achieve the
following objectives:
a) Ensure that proper health and nutrition information is given to school
children throughout their childhood years;
b)
Improve child nutrition by focusing on creating a healthy food
environment in schools and early care educational institutions;
c) Support and influence children’s development towards healthy eating
habits through proper education on good food sources and teach them
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how to make informed food choices, such as preferences for fruits and
vegetables;
d)
Establish
and
maintain
school
gardens
as
accessible
and
readily-available sources of healthy and nutritious vegetables and food
for school children;
e) Ensure access of students to healthy and nutritious food through
supplementary
school-based
feeding
programs
to
mitigate
malnourishment among school children; and
f) Enhance the general well-being of the community by encouraging
schools,
their
students
and
their
families
to
purchase
from
local
producers of healthy and nutritious foods at the same time stimulating
local economies and providing economic development opportunities to
local food producers and laborers, distributors, processors and others
who support the local food system.
SECTION 3. Farm to School Program. — To carry the out the policy
mentioned under Section 2 of this Act, there shall be established a Farm to
School
Program
through
which
primary
and
secondary
schools
provide
education to school children on food and nutrition, health and agriculture and
undertake activities to ensure the availability of and accessibility to safe,
healthy, nutritious and locally produced agricultural food products in school.
The Farm to School Program shall have the following components:
a) In-School Farm Program;
b) National School Feeding Program; and
c) Farm Visits Program.
For the purpose of this Act, “farm to school program” refers to an
alternative approach of enriching the connection that school communities have
with fresh and healthy agricultural food and their local producers by educating
and undertaking experiential learning activities with the goal of improving the
nutrition and food purchasing practices of children and at the same time
strengthening the local economy. It includes health and nutrition promotion
through integrated academic lessons on vegetable production, farming, and
animal rearing as well as hands-on and practical application through in-school
projects
and
out-of-school
excursions,
provision
for
supplementary
nourishment for school children, sectoral collaboration and partnership with
community organizations.
SECTION 4. In-School Farm Program. — As one major component of
Farm to School Program, the Department of Education (DepEd) shall establish
and maintain an in-school farm or garden in every primary and secondary
school and implement an In-School Farm Program to:


a) Establish and promote vegetable production in public elementary and
secondary schools;
b) Serve as a hands-on educational laboratory in teaching agriculture
and agricultural concepts; and
c) Raise the awareness of school children on the nutritional and health
value of agricultural food products and instill the importance of good
health, proper nutrition, and hard work.
The DepEd shall be the lead agency in the implementation of the
in-school farm program and shall formulate guidelines in the implementation
of the program. The DepEd shall structure a timetable to ensure that primary
and secondary schools have their own garden for healthy fruits and vegetables.
In line with this, the DepEd shall closely coordinate with the Department
of Agriculture, the National Nutrition Council, the Department of the Interior
and Local Government (DILG) and local government units (LGUs) for the
construction
and
funding
requirements
necessary
in
the
proper
implementation of the program.
SECTION 5. Role of the Department of Agriculture. — The Department of
Agriculture shall identify and accredit farmer organizations and cooperatives
who may supply the provisions for gardening. It shall also provide technology
and technical assistance and conduct training and seminars to teach students,
teachers, and parents about school gardening.
SECTION 6. Role of the National Nutrition Council. — The National
Nutrition Council shall provide a list of preferred vegetables that help address
malnutrition problems in schools that prioritize planting.
SECTION 7. Role of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
— The Department Interior and Local Government and the local government
units shall assist the schools by providing idle government lands and land
resources to be used in the in-school farm program.
SECTION 8. Inclusion of Vegetable Production in Academic Curriculum. —
Subjects and lessons in vegetable production shall be included in the academic
curriculum for primary and secondary level students of both public and private
schools to develop the skills and knowledge in vegetable production and
promote agricultural literacy.
SECTION 9. Product Utilization. — Products from the in-school farm
programs shall be primarily used for the national school feeding program.
Surplus vegetables may be sold to generate income for the purchase of other
food supplies for the national school feeding program or additional resources
for the improvement of the school gardens.


SECTION 10. National School Feeding Program (NSFP). — The National
School Feeding Program is hereby established as an alternative approach to
providing free supplementary meals to students. The DepEd shall design a
program menu using the product from the in-school farm program and other
healthy foods sold by local producers.
In coordination with the DepEd, the following national government
agencies are tasked to make available such resources as may be necessary to
ensure the successful implementation of the NSFP:
a) The DA and the National Food Authority shall tap farmers associations
and cooperatives in the locality for possible sources of food supplies and
shall share with the DepEd any available resources and facilities that
may be used for the NSFP;
b) The DILG shall enlist the support of LGUs as DepEd partners in the
operation of the NSFP, including the possibility of utilizing the services of
barangay nutrition scholars and barangay health workers; and
c) The National Nutrition Council, in coordination with the Food and
Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), shall provide the menu consisting of
a combination of foods that meet the recommended energy and nutrient
intake of children and use locally produced food and food products as far
as possible.
SECTION 11. Priority LGUs. — In case of shortage of funds, priority in
the implementation of the NSFP shall be given to municipalities and cities
which are determined by the National Nutrition Council or by any competent
government agency to have high malnutrition rates.
SECTION 12. Participation of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs). — The
DepEd shall promote the involvement of parents through the PTAs in the
planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the school feeding
program.
SECTION
13.
Procurement,
Storage,
and Handling System.
— The
procurement, storage, and handling of appropriate food supplies by the DepEd
shall be upon the recommendation of the National Nutrition Council, the FNRI,
and other appropriate government agencies.
In the procurement process, priority shall be given to the utilization of
locally produced food supplies, as well as the products of the in-school farm
program and the products of community gardens as part of convergence efforts
to increase food supplies at the local level.


The
DepEd
shall
issue
the
guidelines
necessary
for
the
effective
implementation of the procurement, storage, and handling system.
SECTION 14. Farm Visits Program. — The DepEd shall require that at
least 25% of educational tours and field trips to be conducted by public and
private primary and secondary schools every academic year shall be devoted to
local farms and factories of local food producers or in those places involved in
the planting, growing, harvesting, processing, packaging or distribution of food
products from agriculture, aquaculture, and fisheries; this also includes those
involved in the raising, rearing or of animals and livestock including pork, beef,
poultry, and other farm animals.
This further includes Farm Tourism Camps, as defined in RA 10816,
which refer to any farm area that allows visitors and tourists to visit, get
involved in farm activities, and to enjoy and learn rural lifestyle.
SECTION 15. Monitoring and Evaluation System. — The DepEd shall
establish
a
monitoring
and
evaluation
system
for
the
nationwide
implementation of the Farm To School Program, which shall incorporate
periodic reports from the schools’ division and regional offices. The report
provides, among others, the needed information that may determine whether
or not the program has achieved its objectives, including the identification of
issues
and
constraints
as
well
as
the
corresponding
appropriate
recommendations.
SECTION 16. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriation
of the DepEd. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for its continued
implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SECTION 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90)
days from the approval of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall, in
coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture and consultation with the heads
of government agencies, formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the
effective implementation of this Act.
SECTION 18. 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.
SECTION 19. 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 20. 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,