SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'14 
JAN 28 P 5 :07 
SENATE 
S.B. No.2095 
Introduced By Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The use of modern methods of farming and animal husbandry, such as urban 
agriculture and vertical farming, to improve agricultural production is important to 
address every person's right to adequate food and to protection from hunger. 
Urban agriculture is the production, processing and marketing of food within a 
town, city or metropolis, with the application of intensive production methods, such as 
the use and re-use of urban resources and wastes, to yield a diversity of crops and 
livestock. 
Vertical farming is the construction of skyscrapers or the use of abandoned 
buildings for the sole purpose of cultivating and farming produce and livestock with 
the use of various farming methods and technologies such as hydroponics, aeroponics, 
aquaponics and phytoremediation. 
If traditional farming practices continue as presently being practiced, there will 
not be enough land to sustain the production of food required to meet the demand for 
food supplies. Take for example the reliance of over 3 billion people around the world 
on rice as a major food staple. The Philippines struggles to maintain and in fact to 
increase rice production in order to meet domestic demand as well as to compete in the 
international market. However, the allocation of land for rice production rivals the 
need to devote land for housing and industrial development. Urban agriculture and 
vertical farming is a solution suggested by experts all over the globe. 
This measure proposes to institutionalize, strengthen and promote urban 
agriculture and vertical farming in order to meet food sufficiency targets, create 
agricultural jobs despite the rapid industrialization of many areas and the development 
of innovative agricultural techniques apt for the present time. 
Hence, the undersigned sponsor urges the passage of this measure. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
'14 
JAN 28 P5 :07 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
s.B.No2095 
Introduced By Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
PROMOTING THE USE OF URBAN AGRICULTURE AND VERTICAL FARMING 
IN THE COUNTRY'S METROPOLITAN AREAS TO ADDRESS FOOD SECURITY 
CONCERNS AND REGENERATE ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Urban Agriculture 
2 
and Vertical Farming Act 0/2014". 
3 
4 
SEC. 2. Declaration 0/ Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect the right of 
5 
every person to adequate food supply and to promote the achievement of self-
6 
sufficiency in food production. Towards this end, key reforms for the development of 
7 
modern, appropriate, cost-effective and environmentally safe agricultural technologies 
8 
are hereby encouraged in order to ensure the food security of the country. 
9 
10 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall 
11 
be understood to refer to the following: 
12 
(a) "Urban agriculture" shall refer to the practice of cultivating, processing and 
13 
distributing of food in or around a village, town or city. Urban .agriculture 
14 
also involves animal husbandry, aquaculhlre, agro-forestry and horticulture. 
15 
(b) "Vertical farming" shall refer to the method of farming that is brought to the 
16 
urban space by employing the concepts of indoor agriculture in skyscrapers 
17 
and other modern buildings. 
1 


1 
SEC. 4. Comprehensive Research on Urban Agriculture and Vertical Farming. -
2 
For purposes of this Act, the respective Secretaries of the Department of Agriculture 
3 
(DA) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) are hereby mandated to 
4 
promote the use of urban agriculture and vertical farming in the country's metropolitan 
5 
areas as an instrument to address food security concerns and regenerate ecosystem 
6 
functions in the Philippines. 
7 
Idle and/ or abandoned government lots and buildings owned by either the 
8 
national governments or local governments or available land resources in state 
9 
universities and colleges shall be considered for growing crops, raising livestock and 
10 
producing food using the said methods. 
11 
The DA and DOST shall support and launch research activities to expand the 
12 
knowledge and understanding of urban agriculture and vertical farming to be used in 
13 
food prodUction. A renewed investment into advanced technology research in order to 
14 
adopt state-of-the-art technologies to promote agricultural production in our high 
15 
value-added crops and vegetables shall be launched pursuant thereto. 
16 
17 
SEC. 5. Inclusion of Urban Agriculture and Vertical Farming in Agricultural 
18 
Training. - Urban agriculture and vertical farming as used in agricultural production 
19 
shall be integrated in the academic curriculum for secondary and tertiary level students 
20 
of both public and private academic institutions for studying courses on Agriculture, 
21 
Practical Arts, Home Economics and/ or other subjects related to agriculture. 
22 
The Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the Commission on 
23 
Higher Education (CHED), shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the 
24 
implementation of this Section within six (6) months from the date of effectivity of this 
25 
Act. 
26 
27 
SEC. 6. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
28 
Act shall be included and incorporated in the annual general appropriations of the 
29 
Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology, Department of 
30 
Education and Commission on Higher Education. 
31 
32 
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within six (6) months from the 
33 
date of effectivity of this Act, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of 
34 
Science and Technology shall promulgate such implementing rules and regulations 
35 
necessary for the proper implementation of this Act. 
2 


1 
2 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act shall be 
3 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall 
4 
remain in full force and effect. 
S 
6 
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances, rules 
7 
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
8 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
9 
10 
SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
11 
publication in at two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
3