< fEENTI-I CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SEN~W3i' 
S. No. _=-==-:::-= 
'11 
JAN 12 P 2 :13 
" 
RECEIVED BY, 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY Nf)TE 
"Food deserts" are areas with limited access to affordable and nutritious food. In many 
Philippine cities and rural areas, economic, demographic and land use changes over the past 
several years have created communities where supermarkets are non-existent and where poor 
quality food, limited choices, and lack of affordably food impact large segments of the 
population. 
This bill proposes to create an office under the Department of Agriculture focused on 
strengthening Philippine agriculture by diversifying food production - moving from reliance on 
globally consolidated and industrial food chains to a system that includes local production.! 
The objective of the bill is to pursue better coordination to empower communities to 
eliminate food deserts, purchase and produce food locally, create sustainable food systems, and 
connect better the existing programs that can and should be used to alleviate pockets of hunger 
and severe food insecurity, 2 
1 
. 
http://www.maryknol!ogc.org/newsnotes/35.3/greening urban food deserts.html 
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http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=hI11-4971 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
~pnlltr 
(1)1(", .f ti!. ~",pbr~ 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATf; 
S. No. 
~ti31 
'11 
JAN 12 P 2 :13 
. . 
. RECEIVED BY: 
Introduced by Senator Mmam Defensor Santiago 
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1 
AN ACT 
f. 
ESTABLISHING A NEW OFFICE UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO 
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INCREASE THE EMPHASIS ON URBAN AGRICULTURAL ISSUES, EFFECTIVELY 
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ENCOURAGE LOCAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND INCREASE THE 
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AVAILABILITY OF FRESH FOOD IN URBAN AREAS, PARTICULARLY 
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UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCING I-lUNGER, POOR NUTRITION, 
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OBESITY, AND FOOD INSECURITY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This law shall be known as the "Greening Food Deserts Act". 
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SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
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(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
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Secretary, has: 
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(1) 
(2) 
(3) 
(4) 
"Department" refers to the Department of Agriculture. 
"Secretary" refers to the Secretary of Agriculture. 
"Underserved community" refers to a community that, as determined by the 
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limited access to affordable, healthy foods·, including fresh fruits and vegetables; 
a high incidence of a diet-related disease (including obesity) as compared to the 
national average; 
a high rate of hunger or food insecurity; or , 
severe or persistent poverty. 
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SECTION 3. Creation of a New Office. - The Secretary shall establish within the 
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Department an office for the purpose of coordinating activities tluoughout the Department 
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related to urban agriculture and nutrition. 
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The Office shall be responsible for coordinating Department activities and conducting 
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oversight in the following mission areas: 


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(a) 
Ensuring that Department authorities are used to effectively encourage 
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agricultural production in underserved communities to combat hunger, poor nutrition, obesity, 
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and food insecurity. 
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(b) 
Ensuring that Department autborities are used to empower communities, 
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especially communities with a large percentage of low-income residents, to eliminate shortage of 
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affordable, fresh food products, increase the local prbduction and sale of food, and create 
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sustainable food systems. 
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(c) 
Developing a unified strategy to link the agricultural production and nutrition 
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programs administered by the Department as a tool for economic development in underserved 
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communities in a manner that addresses local conditions and engages local residents through 
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agricultural economic development. 
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(d) 
Conducting systematic and regular reviews of Department authorities and making 
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policy recommendations to Congress and the Secretary on new authorities or regulation changes 
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to assist underserved communities to combat hunger, poor nutrition, obesity, and food insecurity. 
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(e) 
Ensuring that the programs established by this Act are implemented in a manner 
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consistent with the goal of eliminating underserved communities. 
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SECTION 4. Natural Resource Conservation Ser.vice Technical Assistance in Support of 
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Backyard Conservation and Community Gardening Programs. -
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(a) 
Authority to Provide Assistance. -
The Secretary shall provide technical 
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assistance in support of backyard conservation and community gardening programs involving 
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small-scale subsistence and personal-use agriculture for the purpose of achieving expanded and 
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improved production; and implementing conservation methods related to small-scale and 
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personal-use production. 
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(b) 
Use of Botanical Gardens. - To provide technical assistance under this Act, the 
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Secretary shall seek to certifY botanical gardens as third-party providers. 
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SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be declared 
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unconstitutional, any other provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or 
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parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
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in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/fIdp 
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