NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 350
; 
3run-:
of til. vi.i'T
’22 JUL 12 All :07
RF.CEiVtO 6V....
Introduced by Senator Cynthia A. Villar
AN ACT
PROMOTING INTEGRATED URBAN AGRICULTURE IN URBAN AREAS 
NATIONWIDE TO ADDRESS FOOD SECURITY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Constitution states that: "The State shall 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness 
among them."
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that in 2016, an estimated 
forty-one (41) million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese 
worldwide, while over 340 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 were 
overweight or obese. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and 
adolescents aged 5-19 has risen dramatically from just 4% in 1975 to around 18% in 
2016.1
In the Philippines, this prevalence has increased from 1.9% (140,000 people) 
in 1990 to 3% (270,000 people) in 2013 for children between the age 1 to 4. For 
children between the age 5 to 9, this has increased from 2.9% (240,000) to 5.1% 
(570.000). For adolescents between the age 10 to 14, this has increased from 3.6% 
(270.000) to 7.1% (780,000). Finally, for teenagers between 15 to 19, this increased 
from 3.4% (220,000) to 6.4% (640,OOO).2
1 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight
2 http://vizhub.healthdata.org/obesity/


On the flipside, the Philippines has a prevalence rate of 19.8% of underweight 
and 30.3% of stunted children under the age of five (5) years.
In both instances, this prevalence, whether underweight or stunted or 
overweight or obese, may lead to Irreversible health impacts if not addressed. 
Undernourishment leads to vulnerability to certain diseases while obesity increases 
the risks of developing cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, among others.
The pandemic has further exacerbated the longstanding challenge of food 
insecurity, disrupting access to fresh and nutritious foods at affordable prices for 
growing urban populations, and in effect has exposed the true fragility of our food 
system.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), deaths caused by 
malnutrition increased by almost 40 percent in the January to October 2021 period, 
the highest on record.
Data showed 4,844 Filipinos died of malnutrition in January to October last year 
compared to 3,514 in the same period in 2020, or a growth of 37.85 percent in 2021. 
Local economists believe this reflected on the responce to the health and nutrition 
needs of Filipinos, not only during the pandemic but also during non-pandemic years.
Urban home, backyard, container and community gardens in open spaces have 
been working to strengthen food production and on establishing a more reliable food 
system. For many communities, urban gardens have played a major role in addressing 
the effects of the pandemic, serving as a space that not only provides access to fresh 
foods to alleviate food insecurity but also as a source of social support and emotional 
well-being for community residents and added income during this time of crisis.
As many urban residents .struggle with access to fresh fruits and vegetables 
and continue to face food Insecurity, community gardens have been helpful in 
alleviating these nutritional gaps.
On the other hand, the establishment of vegetable gardens in schools can be 
an effective tool for hunger mitigation. Since 2007, a program called Gulayan sa 
Paaralan3 to encourage public schools to establish vegetable gardens, primarily 
to serve as a source to supplemerit feeding programs within the area to help alleviate 
malnutrition and hunger. Moreover, the practice of establishing "Gulayan sa Paaralan" 
in schools conveniently serves as effective teaching tool for children to learn the art 
and science of planting as well as the benefits gained from it.
The bill seeks to replicate such programs through the institutionalization of 
Instructional gardens in elementary and secondary schools, whether private or public, 
and the promotion of urban/home/open spaces gardens to help alleviate hunger and 
to serve as a tool to teach the fundamental concepts about nutrition, the cultural and
3 http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/hunger/57789-fighting-malnutrition-vegetable-gardens
2


historical aspects of our food supply, as well as the rudiments of planting, considered 
to be a very useful skill for citizens of an agricultural country like the Philippines.
Improving the nutrition of our children is key to the country's goals of investing 
in people and boosting human capital for a more inclusive pattern of economic growth. 
To achieve this, we need greater coordination among the local and national 
government units, as well as participation of the private sector and civil society to 
address this silent pandemic afflicting many poor and vulnerable families by growing 
their own food or at least make food easily accessible to all by promoting home or 
urban gardens.
For the foregoing reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly recommended.
u
SEN. CYNTHIA A. VILLAR


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
o( til ■
72 Jli 12 All :07
SENATE
s. No. 350
RV.CEiVtD 13V
Introduced by Senator Cynthia A. Villar
AN ACT
PROMOTING INTEGRATED URBAN AGRICULTURE IN URBAN AREAS 
NATIONWIDE TO ADDRESS FOOD SECURITY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Phiiippines 
in Congress assembied:
1 
SECTION 1. Short Tide. This Act shall be known as the 'Integrated Urban
2 
Agriculture Act of 2022'.
3 
SEC. 2. Deciaration of Poiicy. The State shall promote and protect the
4 
fundamental right of every person to adequate food and freedom from hunger.
5 
Recognizing the challenges to food security and ecological balance in urban areas,
6 
the State shall optimize the use and productivity of urban land resources and spaces
7 
to support sufficient and sustainable food production. Towards this end, the State
8 
shall promote the development of modem, cost-effective, space-efficient, and
9 
environmentally-safe agriculture technologies in urban areas to contribute in
10 
achieving sustainable food production and food security, promoting agroecology,
11 
ensuring public and mental health and thus improving the quality of life of urban
12 
populations. In doing so, the State shall prioritize the conservation of the country's
13 
genetic biodiversity, and endemic and heirloom flora and fauna as a strategy for
14 
climate change adaptation, mitigation and resiliency.
15 
Accordingly, the State shall ensure the integration of principles, strategies and
16 
technologies on urban agriculture in urban planning, and instill a love of farming
17 
among urban dwellers most especially the youth.
18 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act:
19 
(a) Agro-ecology refers to a scientific discipline and set of practices that studies how
20 
different components of the agroecosystem interact, and seeks sustainable farming


1 
systems that optimize and stabilize yields. It applies ecological concepts and principles
2 
to manage interactions among plants, animals, humans and the environment for food
3 
security and nutrition;
4 
(b) Community Gardens refer to any piece of land cultivated by group of people using
5 
either individual or shared plots on public or private land with the consent of the
6 
owner, to produce edibles, such as herbs, vegetables, fruits or ornamentals, as a form
7 
of sustainable land use system for economic and societal development, community
8 
gardens may be found In neighborhoods and schools, or connected to institutions such
9 
as hospitals or located on the grounds or roofs of shared housing, such as tenements
10 
and apartment complexes;
11 
(c) Food Forest Gardening refers to multi-layered crop farming or a low maintenance
12 
and sustainable method of food production that is based on woodland ecosystems,
13 
Incorporating fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vines, and perennial vegetables which
14 
yields are directly useful to humans. It also refers to a system of agro-forestry that
15 
creates diverse, productive, healthy, ecologically-sound and sustainable system of land
16 
use;
17 
(d) Food security refers to a situation wherein all people have access to sufficient,
18 
safe, nutritious food, at all times, to maintain a healthy and active life;
19 
(e) Food system refers to a complex web of activities involving the production,
20 
processing, transport, and consumption of food. Issues concerning the food system
21 
Include the governance and economics of food production, its susteinability, the
22 
degree to which we waste food, how food production affects the-natural environment
23 
and the Impact of food on Individua- and population health;
24 
(f) Good Agricultural Practices refer to the practices that address environmental,
25 
economic, and social sustainability for on-farm processes, and which result in safe and
26 
quality food and non-food agricultural products;
27 
(g) Idle lands refer to non-agricultural lands in urban and urbanizable areas on which
28 
no improvements have been made by the owner, as certified by the city, municipal or
29 
provincial assessor. Idle government lands refer to lands owned by any government
30 
entity that have been idle and have not been used for the purpose for which they have
31 
been reserved for the past ten (10) years;
32 
(h) Indoor farming refers to controlled environment agriculture which aims to optimize
33 
plant growth to house vertical farming techniques in greenhouses, warehouses,
34 
abandoned buildings, shipping containers, tunnels, skyscrapers and modem buildings
35 
using soilless farming techniques such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics;
36 
(i) Integrated urban agriculture refeis to the development paradigm that encompasses
37 
principles, management technologies, and the policies relating to the practice and
38 
application of agricultural and fisheries production of food and goods in urban areas;
39 
(j) Peri-urban areas refer to areas where urban and rural features and processes meet,
40 
interact and Intertwine, usually located between city and countryside. Peri-urban.


1 
areas are semi-dense clusters with a density of at least three hundred (300)
2 
inhabitants per square kilometer and a population of five thousand (5,000) or more,
3 
but are neither contiguous with nor within two (2) kilometers of an urban area;
4 
(k) Protected agriculture refers to the use of technologies that enclose crops to harvest
5 
higher yields, safer, cleaner and of better quality even out of season by modifying the
6 
natural environment and protect crop against the elements which Include high
7 
temperature, excessive rainfall, humidity, wind, birds, insects;
8 
(I) Social preparation refers to the series of activities designed to prepare the
9 
underprivileged and homeless families to cope with the changes brought about by
10 
government development projects;
11 
(m) Soilless agriculture refers to the method of growing plants that do not rely on the
12 
soil as a source of nutrients and water; common methods are hydroponics, aquaponics
13 
and aeroponics;
14 
(n) Urban areas refer to classification as may be made by the Philippines Statistics
15 
Authority (PSA) which under PSA Resolution No. 01, Series of 2017-098, covers any
16 
of the following: - If a barangay has a population size of five thousand (5,000) or
17 
more; - If a barangay has at least one establishment with a minimum of one hundred
18 
(100) employees; - If a barangay has five (5) or more establishments with a minimum
19 
of zero (0) employee, and five (5) or more facilities within the two (2)-kilometer radius
20 
from the barangay hail;
21 
(o) Urban planning refers to multi-disciplinary art and science of analyzing, specifying,
22 
clarifying, harmonizing, managing and regulating the use and development of land
23 
and water resources, in relation to their environs, for the development of sustainable
24 
communities and ecosystems In urban and urbanizable areas;
25 
(p) Urbanizable areas refer to sites and lands which, considering the present
26 
characteristics and prevailing conditions, display marked and great potential of
27 
becoming urban areas within the period of five (5) years; and
28 
(q) Vertical farming refers to the methods or practices of increasing ttie number of
29 
plants grown in an area by growing crops in vertically stacked layers; such as generally
30 
done in greenhouses, warehouses, abandoned buildings, shipping containers, tunnels,
31 
skyscrapers and modem buildings using soilless farming techniques such as
32 
hydroponics, aquaponics or aeroponics.
33 
SEC. 4. Coverage. This Act shall cover Idle or abandoned government or private
34 
lands, buildings, shipping containers, subdivisions or villages, public housing, open
35 
spaces in all urban, peri-urban and urbanizable areas In the country; and all available
36 
land resources and buildings in schools, state or private universities and colleges,
37 
military camps suitable for growing crops and raising poultry, livestock and
38 
aquaculture: Provided, That, the utilization of idle lands for urban agriculture purposes
39 
shall not be used as grounds for the eviction of informal settler families occupying the
40 
lands; Provided further. That, the raising of poultry and livestock shall be limited to


1 
urbanizable areas and all llvestcx:k raising shall be subject to healtli and safety
2 
standards and regulations issued by the Department of Health (DOH), Department of
3 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Human Settlements and
4 
Urban Development (DHSUD) and other relevant government agencies.
5 
SEC. 5. Urban Farming. Local government units (LGUs) shall identify and
6 
develop Idle government and private lands and buildings, without prejudice to the
7 
rights of owners of private lands, buildings and open spaces, within their jurisdiction,
8 
for full or partial conversion solely to community gardens, food forest gardens, indoor
9 
farms and/or vertical farms to support food security and community nutrition;
10 
Provided, That, food forest gardens and urban farms adopting agro-ecological
11 
principles shall be the priority form of urban agriculture wherever applicable and
12 
feasible; Provided further. That, spaces allocated for urban agriculture and
13 
aquaculture shall not be prime lots. All LGUs, In coordination with the Department of
14 
Agriculture (DA) and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), shall capacitate
15 
neighborhood associations and people's organizations, and facilitate the organization
16 
and registration of community-based cooperatives, to undertake community
17 
gardening and establish community farmers' markets.
18 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit or extinguish the rights of owners
19 
to their private lands and spaces without their consent or without their receipt of just
20 
compensation, in case of expropriation.
21 
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) shall
22 
ensure that the design and development of subdivision, condominium and public
23 
housing projects have provisions for adequate spaces for community gardens, food
24 
forest gardens, greenhouse agriculture, roof gardens, indoor farms and vertical farms.
25 
Towards this end, the DHSUD, in coordination with the DA, shall capacitate
26 
homeowners' associations to undertake community gardening and vertical farming.
27 
The DA shall provide the necessary technical assistance and support services,
28 
including the provision of seeds and seedlings and gardening tools, access to loans
29 
from government financial Institutions, and training workshops that shall capacitate
30 
various-stakeholders. It may assist in the design, establishment, promotion and
31 
regulation of indoor and vertical farming machineries and facilities to ensure the full
32 
productivity of community gardens, school gardens, food forest gardens, greenhouse
33 
farms, roof gardens, and Indoor and vertical farms. The DA shall ensure that the
34 
technical assistance it provides is consistent with Philippine Good Agricultural Practices
35 
(PHILGAP) or a set of standards and regulations ensuring food quality and safely,
36 
facilitation of market access, establishment of community farmers' markets and
37 
reduction In non-compliance with issuances regarding permitted pesticides and other
38 
contamination hazards, as provided under Republic Act No. 10611, otherwise known
39 
as the "Food Safety Act of 2013", and relevant laws.
40 
The DA, In coordination with the Department of Science and Technology
41 
(DOST), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department
42 
of Energy (DOE), and the Department of Public Works And Highways (DPWH) shall


1 
also undertake the establishment of rainwater harvesting facilities in compliance with
2 
Republic Act No. 6716, entitled, "An Act Providing for the Construction of Water Wells,
3 
Rainwater Collectors, Development of Spring and Rehabilitation of Existing Water
4 
Welis in All Barangays in the Philippines", renewable energy systems and solid waste
5 
management systems, including waste-to-energy facilities, to provide sustainable
6 
supply of water, energy and compost to community gardens, food forest gardens and
7 
urban farms.
8 
SEC. 6. Urban Agriculture and Aquaculture in Urban Planning, TTie DHSUD, in
9 
coordination with the DA, shall ensure the integration of concepts and principles of
10 
urban agriculture and its relationship to other processes in the food system In urban
11 
planning. Accordingly, the DHSUD and DA shall promote sustainable, smart and
12 
organic food production systems that harness the benefits of new technologies and
13 
methods in soil, nutrient, water and energy management, such as composting,
14 
rainwater harvesting and utilization of renewable energy. The DHSUD shall also ensure
15 
the rational use of land resources in urban planning to promote sustainable peri-urban
16 
interface, as well as for the spatial requirements of supply chain management and
17 
logistics to strengthen urban-rural foodshed linkages.
18 
Towards these ends, the DHSUD shall promulgate guidelines for the
19 
harmonization of the comprehensive land use plans and zoning ordinances of LGUs
20 
with urban agriculture policies, frameworks, strategies and standards.
21 
All LGUs are hereby mandated to incorporate urban agricultural development
22 
in their respective Annual Development Plans, Annual Investment Plans, Physical
23 
Framework Plans, and Development Master Plans including the hiring of agriculturists
24 
and agricultural and biosystems engineers to carry out urban agriculture program.
25 
Likewise, LGUs, with the assistance of the DA, Department of Interior and Local
26 
Government (DILG) and the Department of Information and Communications
27 
Technology (DICT), shall establish and maintain a digital information system to
28 
facilitate the efficient collection, management and analysis of urban food systems,
29 
agriculture and nutrition data, as well as the monitoring and evaluation of LGU
30 
performance vis-a-vis the food system, agriculture and nutrition targets, to inform
31 
local planning, policy-making and programming bodies, and to ensure open public
32 
access to data.
33 
SEC. 7. Urban Agriculture/Aquaculture Education. The Department of Education
34 
(DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Educations (CHED), with the technical
35 
assistance of. the DA, shall Integrate urban agriculture in the academic curriculum for
36 
elementary, secondary and tertiary level students of both public and private academic
37 
institutions offering courses in Agriculture, Practical Arts, Home Economics and other
38 
subjects related to agriculture. A course curriculum on gardening shall be developed
39 
and included in the regular, curriculum of elementary and secondary education.
40 
Instructional materials shall likewise be developed utilizing advanced techniques of
41 
crop and food animal production, urban agriculture and farming, and cultivating


1 
awareness and appreciation of genetic biodiversity, heirloom and endemic flora and
2 
fauna, and agro-ecological principles.
3 
The DepEd, with the assistance of the DA, shall strengthen the implementation
4 
of its Gulayan sa Paaralan Program in elementary and secondary schools. The
5 
establishment of school gardens shall be encouraged to ensure continuous supply of
6 
vegetables for school feeding, in accordance with Republic Act No. 11037, otherwise
7 
known as the "Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang PHipino Act."
8 
For universities and colleges, urban agriculture shall form part of the required
9 
period of time spent by students in the National Service Training Program.
10 
A plan for the utilization or maximization of space occupied by schools shall be
11 
formulated specifically for urban agriculture purposes.
12 
SEC. 8. Urban Agriculture Awareness Campaign. The DILG, National Nutrition
13 
Council, and LGUs are mandated to ibrmulate policies on urban farming in consonance
14 
with the provisions of this Act and be at the forefront of community-based education
15 
and awareness campaigns. For this purpose, LGUs shall mobilize existing structures
16 
and local bodies such as the provincial, city and municipal agricultural offices, the
17 
provincial, city, municipal and barangay agriculture and fishery councils, the provincial,
18 
city, munidpal, and barangay federation of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and the youth
19 
sector represented in any local special body under LGUs.
20 
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall Integrate
21 
urban agriculture and community nutrition In the seminar-workshops and training
22 
programs to educate qualified household-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang
23 
Pilipino Program (4Ps).
24 
SEC. 9. Research and Development. The DA and the DOST, as well as relevant
25 
state universities, government research and development Institutions, and the private
26 
sector, shall intensify research on methods and technologies to support urban
27 
agriculture, including the development and operation of sustainable demonstration
28 
urban community gardens, food forest gardens, greenhouse. Indoor, roof and vertical
29 
farms.
30 
SEC. 10. Incentives Compliance by subdivision and condominium developers
31 
and owners with Section 5 ofthis Act may qualify them for incentives provided for
32 
under Republic Act No. 10771, otherwise known as the "Philippine Green Jobs Act of
33 
2016", subject to the rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Finance
34 
and the DHSUD.
35 
The commitment and performance of LGUs In the implementation of this Act
36 
shall be included In the criteria for the awarding of the Seal of Good Local Governance
37 
and the provision of incentives, provided for under Republic Act No. 11292, otherwise
38 
known as "The Seal of Good Local Governance Act of2019."


1 
Loans extended by government and private banks to participating individuals,
2 
corporations and partnerships shall be treated as compliance with Republic Act No.
3 
10000, otherwise known as "The Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act of2009."
4 
SEC. 11. Inter-Agency Coordination, There is hereby established a National
5 
Convergence Program on Urban Agriculture and Aquaculture. The DA is hereby
6 
designated as the Lead Implementifig Agency and the Secretariat of the Convergence
7 
Program. The following agencies shall perform duties and responsibilities In order to
8 
develop and sustain concerted action to promote urban agriculture:
9 
a) The DA shall provide technical assistance and support services to LGUs,
10 
community-based cooperatives, homeowners' associations, neighborhood
11 
associations and people's organizations to ensure the viability and cost-effectiveness
12 
of urban agriculture projects and through its Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries
13 
Engineering, shall provide the design, specifications, establishment strategies,
14 
promotion, regulation and technical assistance in the fabrication of production models
15 
of indoor farming, vertical farming and other urban agriculture machineries,
16 
equipment and facilities;
17 
b) The DHSUD shall encourage the Integration of urban agriculture principles,
18 
policies. Strategies, frameworks and standards in the design and development of
19 
subdivisions and condominium projects. The DHSUD shall ensure such Integration in
20 
public housing projects and in the preparation or updating of development and
21 
investment plans, CLUPs and zoning ordinances of LGUs. The DHSUD shall also
22 
promulgate the necessary rules and monitor compliance therewith. The DHSUD shall
23 
help homeowners' associations to strengthen their capacity to undertake urban
24 
agriculture or aquaculture projects in their neighborhoods and communities;
25 
c) The DILG shall monitor the compliance of LGUs with the provisions of this
26 
Act in order to determine their qualification for the incentives provided under Republic
27 
Act No. 11292;
28 
d) The DepEd shall integrate the principles and practice of urban agriculture
29 
using advanced crop production techniques like soilless agriculture, indoor farming or
30 
vertical farming to Include modem methods of irrigation and automated systems Into
31 
the primary and secondary education curricula, including the establishment of school
32 
gardens under the Guiayan sa Paaraian Program. The DepEd shall ensure the
33 
adequate capacity building programs such as training-workshop, hands-on training or
34 
immersion program of teachers and the development of appropriate instructional
35 
materials such as educational video and manual for this purpose;
36 
e) The DOST shall conduct research on modern, cost-effective methods and
37 
technologies to support urban agricultural production, as well as post-harvest handling
38 
of surplus produce from urban agriculture projects;
39 
f) The DTI shall provide technical assistance in processing and packaging of
40 
surplus produce from urban agriculture and aquaculture projects and ensure access


1 
of local government units, cooperatives, homeowners' associations, and people's
2 
organizations to markets;
3 
g) The DOF shall administer the grant of incentives under Section 10 of this Act
4 
to qualified persons based on their compliance with Section 5 of this Act;
5 
h) The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall ensure adequate
6 
funding for the functions and programs provided for by under this Act;
7 
i) The CHED shall develop and implement curriculum on capacity building
8 
programs such as training-workshop, hands-on training or Immersion program and
9 
related standards and instructional materials In support of urban agriculture;
10 
j) The DPWH in compliance with RA 6716 is mandated to undertake
11 
construction of water wells, rainwater collectors, development of springs and
12 
rehabilitation of existing water wells In all barangays in the Philippines, taking into
13 
consideration the population, hydrologic conditions, costs of project development and
14 
operations, financial and economic factors and institutional arrangements.
15 
k) The National Nutrition Council and the Food and Nutrition Research Institute
16 
shall assist the DepEd in identifying the crops to be cultivated in schools' farms and in
17 
preparing nutritious food, pursuant to standardized menus to ensure child nutrition
18 
provided for under Republic Act No. 11037, and in developing the modules on
19 
nutrition.
20 
I) The CDA shall provide guidance and assistance to LGUs in the development
21 
of cooperatives within their jurisdiction;
22 
m) The Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor shall undertake social
23 
preparation activities to encourage participation and empower poor and
24 
underprivileged communities from the preparation and planning to implementation
25 
and evaluation of urban development projects;
26 
n) The Philippine Information Agency shall undertake a nationwide information
27 
campaign, utilizing all forms of media, to raise awareness and encourage participation
28 
of the public In the implementation of this Act, in close coordination with other cultural
29 
agencies such as the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCAA) and the Film
30 
Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).
31 
o) The Council for the Welfare of Children shall integrate urban agriculture in
32 
the formulation of programs and measures providing dynamic leadership in ensuring
33 
a child-friendly and child sensitive society.
34 
p) The National Youth Commission, as the Philippine government's sole policy-
35 
making body on youth affairs and consistent with its role in coordinating and
36 
implementing programs designed to help the youth become more aware of the issues
37 
surrounding them, shall include an appreciation of urban agriculture. SEC. 11.
38 
Performance Report to Congress. The DA and partner agencies in the National


1 
Convergence Program on Urban Agriculture and Aquaculture shall submit annual
2 
performance reports to Congress.
3 
SEC. 12. Appropriations. The funds necessary to carry out the initial
4 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the respective budget of concerned
5 
agencies for the current year. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the
6 
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
7 
Appropriations Act.
8 
SEC. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety days (90) from
9 
the effectivity of this Act, the agencies under the National Convergence Program on
10 
Urban Agriculture and Aquaculture shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules
11 
and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
12 
SEC. 14. Separability Clause. If any part or provision of this Act is held
13 
unconstitutional or invalid, other parrs or provisions hereof which are not affected shall
14 
continue to remain in full force and effect.
15 
SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, issuances, rules and
16 
regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed or modified
17 
accordingly.
18 
SEC. 16. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
19 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
20 
Approved,