NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
^euaU’
of the 6 rci’vrarj?
72 JUL25 P2 77
S^NA
S. No. ^^5
RLCEIVtD T;
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
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
The 1987 Philippine Constitution laid down principles that promote and 
protect the agriculture sector, both directly and indirectly/ such as:
• 
"The State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the 
prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty 
through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full 
employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for 
all. "(Article II, Section 9);
• 
"The goals of the national economy are a more equitable distribution of 
opportunities, income, wealth; a sustained increase in the amount of goods 
and services produced by the nation for the benefit of the people; and an 
expanding productivity as the key to raising the quality of life for all, 
especially the underprivileged. "(Article XII, Section 1); and
• 
"The State shall promote industrialization and full employment based on 
sound agricultural development and agrarian reform, through industries that 
make full of efficient use of human and natural resources, and which are 
competitive in both domestic and foreign markets... "(Article XII, Section 1)


However, amid these constitutional provisions that afford agriculture the 
utmost support it needs, many still consider it as the "poor man's sector" because it 
remains to be neglected in terms of investments and development. In fact, farmers 
and fisherfolks are still among the poorest in the country; and food security remains 
elusive to a lot of Filipinos. This is worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. According 
to a Social Weather Station (SWS\ In May 2021, 4.2 million families experienced 
hunger. The survey conducted from 28 April 28 to 2 May 2021 among 1,200 adults 
revealed that "16.8% of Filipino families experienced "involuntary hunger" or hunger 
due to lack of food at least once in the past three months''1.
Hence, to further advance agriculture and food security, this measure aims to 
promote the practice of urban agriculture. Urban agriculture, as enshrined in this bill, 
is the practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in or around a village, 
town, or city which could also involve animal agriculture, aquaculture, and 
agroforestry, among others. It is or.e way to promote food security as It will provide 
citizens easy access to several agricultural products right within their cities and/or 
communities. In addition, under this measure, urban agriculture and vertical farming 
shall be integrated Into the academic curriculum for primary and secondary level 
students of both public and private academic institutions offering courses on 
Agriculture, Practical Arts, Home Economics, and/or other subjects related to 
agriculture. The local government units are likewise mandated to Institutionalize 
urban agriculture and vertical farming activities in unused spaces and idle lands in 
their respective localities.
It is the hope of this measure that the Philippines benefit from this form of 
agriculture in the same way that other countries that implement urban farming have.
In this light, the approval of this bill is fervently sought.
^ Jf GRACE TOE
/ f
1 Rivas, R. (13 July 2021). 4.2 million Filipino families stay hungry in May2021 -SWS. 
https://www.rappler.com/nation/millions-finpino-families-stay-hungry-sws-survey-may-2021/


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SEN 
S. No
of tiu'
•22 JUL 25 P2:27
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
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 Gardens
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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, poverty
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alleviation, improved quality of environment through greening, reduction in pollution,
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and creation of savings in househcJd expenditures. Towards this end, key reforms
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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
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shall be defined as follows;
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a) Instructional Gardens refer to a program of instruction in all elementary and
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secondary schools, where knowledge and skills, not only in urban agriculture
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and vertical farming, but In agricultural food production in general, are
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imparted to school children through relevant theories and actual engagement
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in agricultural cultivation/production. The theories and actual production shall
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revolve around the concepts of composting, waste management techniques.


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


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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 Department of Education 
(DepEd), shall be exempt from taxes and duties.
Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within six (6) months 
from the effectivlty of this Act, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of 
Science and Technology 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 Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology, and the 
Department of Education.
Sec. 10. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain In full force 
and effect.
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof contrary to or 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following Its 
publication In the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,