I TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
■ First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. ^078
—Jbv of ti»r
25 AUG -6 P4 38
WtCEIVPtiV:
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
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
At the height of the novel Coronavirus pandemic, an unprecedented hunger 
incidence rate was recorded by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) on September 2020 
- record-high of 30.7% or an estimated 7.6 million Filipino families went hungry due 
to lack of food at least once in the past three months1. Even at the early weeks of the 
public health crisis and the implementation of strict lockdown, hunger incidence rates 
rose across all localities in the country, but the sharpest increase was recorded in 
Metro Manila - from 9.3% in December 2019 to 20.8% by May 2020. This means that 
one out of five Metro Manila residents experienced involuntary hunger from February 
to April 20202.
As the Covid-19 health emergency created another crisis in the form of food 
insecurity, it reminded us the importance of sufficient food production as a
1 "Record-high 7.6 million families experienced hunger in past 3 months - SWS." September 27, 2020. 
https://www.rappler.com/nation/hunger-philippines-sws-survev-september-202Q/
2 "Number of hungry Filipinos almost doubles as pandemic rages — SWS." May 21, 2020. 
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1279086/number-of-hungrv-filipinos-almost-doubles-covid-19-pandemic-rages- 
sws


fundamental response against hunger. During this period, many families started 
growing vegetable crops in their backyard. Some barangays converted idle lands and 
any available space into community gardens, where fresh produce were sourced and 
given to households or used in their feeding programs. Some even repurposed 
container vans into plant nurseries and controlled environments which grow greens, 
mushrooms and other nutritious food.
However, years after the pandemic, the situation has barely improved. 
According to the survey conducted by the Social Weather Station (SWS) from 
December 12-18, 2024, "the number of Filipino households experiencing involuntary 
hunger has jumped to 25.9%, the highest since the COVID-19 pandemic."3
This proposed legislation aims to ensure food security by promoting urban 
agriculture and integrating agricultural production in the primary and secondary school 
curricula. The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Science and 
Technology (DOST) will be mandated to support the use of urban agriculture and 
vertical farming in the country's metropolitan areas, such as the National Capital 
Region.
This is to also keep the momentum going which commenced during the 
pandemic, wherein citizens and communities started growing their own food and 
began cultivating the soil, and to institutionalize the innovative agricultural practices 
being conducted within cities and urban settings. The success of this program can also 
address malnutrition among children, mitigate pollution through the setting up of more 
green spaces, and alleviate poverty as it ensures food access for low-income 
households.
This measure is also consistent with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 
#2: End Hunger, Achieve Food Security and Improved Nutrition, and Promote 
Sustainable Agriculture.
1 Hunger rate at Its highest since pandemic — SWS I Philstar.com


In view of the aforesaid objectives and manifold benefits, the passage of this 
bill is earnestly sought.
NGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
ef tir
25 
P4:3«
RECEIVfi lY;
SENATE
s. No. 1078
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
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:
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Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the ''Instructional Garden
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and Urban Agriculture Act.
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It shall be the policy of the State to promote
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food security, food quality, improved health, fight hunger and malnutrition, promote
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poverty alleviation, improved quality of environment through greening, reduction in
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poilution, and creation of savings in household expenditures. Towards this end, key
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reforms for the development of appropriate, cost-effective, and environmentally safe
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agricultural practices are hereby encouraged in order to ensure the food security of
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the country.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall
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be defined as follows:
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(a) Instructional Gardens refer to a program of instruction in all elementary
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and secondary schools, where knowledge and skills, not only in urban
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agriculture and vertical farming, but in agricultural food production in
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general, are imparted to school children through relevant theories and


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


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unused spaces and idle lands. This shall require the enactment of local legislation 
institutionalizing urban agriculture and vertical farming, utilizing unused spaces and 
idle lands. This shall require the enactment of local legislation institutionalizing urban 
agriculture in all levels of the LGU. Local government units shall also grant necessary 
incentives to their constituents who actively participate in urban farming activities.
Sec. 7. Tax Incentives. — All allocations of grants, endowments, donations, or 
contributions and technical assistance provided by private individuals or corporations 
to schools for the promotion and implementation of Institutional Gardens in the school 
curricula, as certified by the DepEd, shall be exempt from taxes and duties.
Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within six (6) months 
from the effectivity of this Act, the DA and the DOST shall promulgate the necessary 
IRR to implement the provisions of this Act
Sec. 9. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of 
this Act shall be included and incorporated in the annual general appropriations of the 
DA, DOST, and the DepEd.
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. — kny law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
accordingly.
Sec. 12. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,