TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 JUL 21 A10:23
SENATE 
S. No. 716
!V:C : 'r
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN
AN ACT
CREATING AN AGRICULTURAL PENSION PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SOCIAL 
SECURITY AND PENSION BENEFITS TO FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Farmers and fisherfolk play an important role in the country's economic 
development. They are the backbone in feeding the nation and keeping our 
communities nourished. According to the March 2025 Labor Force Survey, there are 
around 20.1 percent of the country's labor force or 9.64 million people employed in 
the agricultural sector1 and in the first quarter of 2025 they have contributed to the 
country's GDP growth2.
The productivity of the sector, however, and its contribution to national 
development has not translated to higher incomes and better quality of life for farmers 
and fisherfolk. The Philippine Statistics Authority show that agricultural workers still 
belong to the top three sectors with the highest poverty incidence among the basic 
sectors in 2023. Farmers registered poverty incidence at 27.0 percent while fisherfolk 
was at 27.4 percent.
1 PSA. Participation in the labor force in May 2025 increased to 52.32 million Filipinos aged 15 years 
and overhttps://psa.gov.ph/statistics/labor-force-survey/node/1684077662
2 PSA. 1st Quarter Agricuiture, forestry and fishing accelerates in the first quarter of 2025 
https ://psa .gov. ph/statistics/national- 
accounts/sector/Agriculture%2C%20Forestry%20and%20Fishing.


Mang Romeo, a farmer from Nueva Ecija, is among the millions of farmers who 
have been working in the sector for decades. Being over 70 years old, he remains 
poor despite working in the farm for six decades since he was 12 years old. There is 
an imperative need to address this situation of farmers and fisherfolks who continue 
to be the hands that help feed our nation.
This proposed measure aims to recognize the fundamental role and properly 
value to the contributions of farmers and fisherfolk, like Mang Romeo, in our daily 
survival, in ensuring food security, and in the overall national development. The 
undersigned sees the urgent need to protect and promote their welfare through 
measures that would reduce their socio-economic risks and vulnerabilities. A 
comprehensive pension and social security program is hereby sought to be created 
for the benefit of agriculture workers. The State must strive to ensure a better quality 
of life and provide a substantial and reliable source of retirement benefits and social 
security to the very people who feed the nation.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
FRANCIS
NGILINAN
Sen^r


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 JUL21 A10:24
SENATE
S. No. 716
RliLiliVt ■
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGIUNAN
AN ACT
CREATING AN AGRICULTURAL PENSION PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SOCIAL 
SECURITY AND PENSION BENEFITS TO FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the"Pensyonadong Magsasaka
2 
at Mangingisda Act'.
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to:
4 
a) Revitalize the agriculture industry towards sustainability and create the
5 
necessary conditions to end hunger, achieve food security, and improve the general
6 
health and nutrition of Filipinos;
7 
b) Recognize the fundamental role and give proper value to the contributions of
8 
farmers and fisherfolk in our daily survival, national development, and in ensuring
9 
long-nm food security;
10 
c) Protect and promote the welfare of farmers and fisherfolk by putting in place
11 
measures that would reduce their socio-economic risks and vulnerabilities, thereby
12 
improving their quality of life; and
13 
d) Establish and institutionalize a comprehensive pension and social security
14 
program for the benefit of agricultural workers.
15 
Sec. 3. The Farmers and Fisherfolk Social Security and Pension Program. - There
16 
is hereby established the "Farmers and Fisherfolk Social Security and Pension
17 
Program," herein referred to as the Program, which shall provide agricultural workers
18 
a substantial and reliable source of income security and secured retirement in their


1 
old age. The Program shall consist of the comprehensive set of objectives, targets,
2 
and holistic approach in the provision of sickness, maternity, disability, retirement,
3 
death, and funeral benefits to farmers and fisherfolk. It shall be integrated and made
4 
consistent with the package benefits under the Social Security System (SSS) and
5 
relevant programs of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Crop
6 
Insurance Corporation (PCIC),
7 
Sec. 4. Implementing Agencies. - The PCIC, an attached agency of the DA, and
8 
the SSS shall be the primary implementing agencies of the provisions of this Act. To
9 
fulfill the goals of this Act, they shall perform the following duties and functions:
10 
a) The SSS and PCIC shall tap the expertise of other relevant government offices
11 
in the formulation of the objectives, targets, and approaches under the
12 
Program;
13 
b) The PCIC shall manage the registration system of eligible agricultural workers
14 
under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and
15 
maintain the required operational reports;
16 
c) The SSS shall manage the funds allocated and the social security and pension
17 
scheme of the Program and maintain the required actuarial and financial
18 
reports;
19 
d) The PCIC and the SSS shall perform other duties and functions necessary in
20 
the efficient and effective implementation of this Act. The PCIC and the SSS
21 
shall collaborate with and secure the technical assistance of 24 the DA in all
22 
stages of implementation of this Act. The DA shall ensure that the objectives
23 
of the Program are met and shall evaluate and monitor the Program's
24 
contribution to the productivity of the agricultural sector and the improvement
25 
of the quality of life of farmers and fisherfolk.
26 
Sec. 5. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the initial
27 
implementation of this Act shall be drawn from the savings of the national
28 
government. Thereafter, the funds necessary for the continuous implementation of
29 
the program shall be sourced from ten percent (10%) of the total annual duties
30 
collected from the importation of agricultural products. The supplemental amount
31 
necessary for its implementation shall be included in the annual appropriations of the
32 
DA.


1 
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
2 
the date of effectivity of this Act, the PCIC shall, in consultation with the DA, SSS, the
3 
Department of Budget and Management, and the Department of Finance, formulate
4 
the rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.
5 
Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
6 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in
7 
full force and effect.
8 
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive and administrative orders, rules,
9 
and regulations inconsistent with the foregoing provisions are hereby repealed or
10 
modified accordingly.
11 
Sec. 9. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
12 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the
13 
Philippines.
Approved,