Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

Third Regular Session

House Bill No. $128

Introduced by Representatives Rico B. Geron

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to reconcile the different definitions of the term agriculture in all
levels in the land use or conversion in the Philippines. There are about more than six (6)
laws and rules with differing definitions of agriculture which had placed Filipino farmers
into at disadvantageous sector.

It has always been the thrust of the government to strengthen the country’s food
security. However, such objective would be highly improbable to achieve if most if not
all of the farmers will be landless and unempowered.

This representation finds it imperative to reconcile all the agriculture definition
and to criminalize the unilateral land conversion. This bill, however, considered that
should the conversion is inevitable and necessary, the agrciultrual farm land owners
shall be given preferential right to occupy the land in subject.

Approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

. GERON
Pai \GAP


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

8375

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives Rico B. Geron

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A UNIVERSAL DEFINITION OF THE TERM
“AGRICULTURE” FOR THE PURPOSE OF ALL LEVELS IN LAND USE AND
CONVERSION IN THE PHILIPPINES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

Section. 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as “Universal Definition of
Agriculture”

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall always be the policy of the State to
promote and protect the rights of the farmers by recognizing all the necessary and
incidental activities they have been engaged into with the end view of providing for the
country's food security and global competitiveness.

Sec. 3. Definition of Agriculture. - Agriculture shall be synonymous with
agricultural enterprise and agricultural activity. These terms shall mean the cultivation of
the soil, propagation of planting materials, planting of crops, growing of fruit trees,
manufacturing of feeds and animal health products used in the growing or breeding of
livestock, poultry, fish, or aquaculture, raising of livestock, poultry or aquaculture
animals, including, but not limited to, the harvesting, drying, cutting, processing,
producing, manufacturing, recovering, buying, brokering, packing, marketing, selling in
retail or wholesale, and processing of such products into food products of every class
and description, as wells as the operation of biogas from poultry, swine and livestock,
use of water treatment plants for use in agricultural related activities, and other farm
activities and practices performed by a farmer in conjunction with such farming
operations dones by person whether natural or juridical.


Sec. 4. Application of the Definition. - The definition of Agriculture under Section
3 of this Act shall reconcile the different definitions provided under the following laws:

1. Sections 3 and 20 of the Republic Act No. 6657 otherwise
known as Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law

2. Chapter 1 of the Labor Code of the Philippines

3. Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Republic Act No.
6727 otherwise known as the Wage Rationalization Act

3. Republic Act No. 8435 otherwise known as the Agriculture and
Fishereies Modernization Act of 1997.

4. Section 4 of the Republic Act No. 10611 otherwise known as the
Food Safety Act of 2013.

5. Section 129, 130, 133 of Republic Act No. 7160 otherwise known
as the Local Government Code of 1997

6. Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
Memorandum Circular No. 23 Series of 2017.

Sec. 5. Prohibition on Unilateral Conversion of Agricultural Land. — It shall
be unlawful for any person or entity to convert any identified agricultural lands
into any other types of land without the written consent of the agricultural land
owners. Any person or entity who committed any violation of this Act shall be
punishable with six (6) years and one day to twelve (12) years in addition to
administrative penalty of removal or dismissal from public service and perpetual
disqualification from public office in the case of public officer or employee
offender.

Sec. 6. Compulsory Conversion of Agricultural Land. — In cases where the
conversion of the agricultural lands is inevitable in the interest of public safety, interest
or order, the agricultural land owners shall be given preferential rights of occupancy
over the subject land.

Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Agriculture
and other related agencies shall promulgate such rules and regulations as are
necessary to implement the provisions of this Act

Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. Any provisions of law, presidential decree, executive
orders, rules and regulations contrary to the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

Sec. 9. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its publication
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.