NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
'i
of tljf jfe: liTtnr^
*22 NOV-3 P5 ^4
SENATE
S. No. 1458
RECEIVED BV;
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ADDRESSING FOOD SECURITY CONCERNS THROUGH INTEGRATING 
INSTRUCTIONAL GARDENS IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL 
CURRICULA AND PROMOTING THE USE OF URBAN AGRICULTURE, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In a non-commissioned survey conducted by the Social Weather Station for the 
Second Quarter of 2022, 11.6 percent of Filipino families, or an estimated 2.9 million 
families experienced hunger at least once in the past three months and with noted 
increase in Metro Manila and Visayas. Hence, to further ensure food security, this 
measure aims to promote urban agriculture.
Urban farming, as enshrined in this bill, is the practice of cultivating, processing 
and distributing food in or around a village, town or city which could also involve 
animal agriculture, aquaculture and agroforestry, among others. It is one way to 
promote food security as it will provide citizens easy access to several agricultural 
products right within their cities and/or communities. Urban agriculture and vertical 
farming shall be integrated in the academic curriculum, i.e. focusing on its practical 
applications, for basic and secondary level students of both public and private 
education institutions offering courses on Agriculture, Practical Arts, Home Economics 
and/or other subjects related to agriculture.
It is the hope of this measure that the Philippines benefit from this form of 
agriculture in the same way that other countries that implement urban farming have. 
The establishment of instructional gardens in educational institutions can be an 
effective tool for hunger mitigation and serve as an effective teaching tool to learn the 
basics of agriculture.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
RAMON


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No.
#niau'
o( llic fec( xt.HT
72 NOV-3 P5-44
RECEIVtD BY:
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ADDRESSING FOOD SECURITY CONCERNS THROUGH INTEGRATING 
INSTRUCTIONAL GARDENS IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL 
CURRICULA AND PROMOTING THE USE OF URBAN AGRICULTURE, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
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 "Instructional Garden
2 
and Urban Agriculture Act of2022'.
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to promote
4 
food security, food quality, improved health, fight hunger and malnutrition, promote
5 
poverty alleviation, improved quality of environment through greening, reduction in
6 
pollution, and creation of savings in household expenditures. Towards this end, key
7 
reforms for the development of appropriate, cost-effective, and environmentally safe
8 
agricultural practices are hereby encouraged in order to ensure the food security of
9 
the country.
10 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms
11 
shall be defined as follows:
12 
(a) Instructional Gardens refer to a program of instruction in all elementary
13 
and secondary schools, where knowledge and skills, not only in urban
14 
agricuiture and vertical farming, but in agricuitural food production in
15 
general, are imparted to school children through relevant theories and
16 
actual engagement in agricultural cultivation and production. These


1 
theories and actual production shall revolve around the concepts of
2 
composting, waste management techniques, heaithy and nutritious farm
3 
produce, sustainable farm practices, among others.
4 
(b) Urban Agriculture refers to the practice of cultivating, processing and
5 
distributing food in or around a village, town or city. Urban agriculture
6 
also involves animal husbandry, 
aquaculture, agroforestry, and
7 
horticulture.
8 
(c) Vertical Farming refers to the method of farming that is brought to urban
9 
space by employing the concepts of indoor agriculture in skyscrapers
10 
and other modern buildings.
11 
Sec. 4. Promotion of and Comprehensive Research on Urban Agriculture and
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Vertical Farming. — For purposes of this Act, the respective Secretaries of the
13 
Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Education (DepEd) are hereby
14 
mandated to promote the use of urban agriculture and vertical farming in the country's
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urban areas and in other areas in the country where such farming methods are suited,
16 
as an intervention mechanism for further addressing food security concerns of the
17 
country.
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Idle and/or abandoned government lots and buildings owned by either the
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national government or local governments, or available land resources in state
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universities and colleges, shall be considered for growing crops, raising livestock, and
21 
producing food using the said methods.
22 
Sec. 5. Institutionalization of Instructional Gardens in School Curricula. -
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Instructional Gardens program shall be integrated in the academic curricula for
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elementary and secondary level students of both public and private academic
25 
institutions, particularly in subjects in Agriculture, Practical Arts, Home Economics,
26 
and/or other related subjects.
27 
The DepEd, in coordination with the DA, shall promulgate the necessary rules
28 
and regulations for the implementation of this Section within three (3) months from
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the effectivity of this Act.
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Sec. 6. Local Government Units'Participation. - Local government units (LGUs)
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shall formulate a policy on the practice of urban agriculture and vertical farming,
32 
utilizing unused spaces and idle lands. This shall require the enactment of local


1 
legislation institutionalizing urban agriculture and vertical farming, utilizing unused
2 
spaces and idle lands. This shall require the enactment of local legislation
3 
institutionalizing urban agriculture in all levels of the LGU. The LGUs shall also grant
4 
necessary incentives to their constituents who actively participate in urban farming
5 
activities.
6 
Sec. 7. Tax Incentives. - All allocations of grants, endowments, donations, or
7 
contributions and technical assistance provided by private individuals or corporations
8 
to schools for the promotion and impiementation of Institutionai Gardens in the school
9 
curricula, as certified by the DepEd, shall be exempt from taxes and duties.
10 
Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within three (3) months
11 
from the effectivity of this Act, the DepEd and the DA shall promulgate the necessary
12 
IRR to implement the provisions of this Act
13 
Sec. 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
14 
this Act shall be included and incorporated in the annual general appropriations of
15 
DepEd.
16 
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
17 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
18 
affected shall remain in full force and effect.
19 
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
20 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary
21 
to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or
22 
amended accordingly.
23 
Sec. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
24 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
25 
circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,