Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

5587

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative ESTRELLITA “GING” B. SUANSING

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Agriculture is the perennial backbone of the Philippine economy. Using
contemporaneous Philippine statistics, the sector employs a substantial 65-
70% of our work force. While farming has always been associated with rural
areas and done on vast farmlands, farming can also be done in cities - a
practice called urban agriculture. In fact, urban agriculture is now being
practiced in many countries all over the world, and in recent years, has been
introduced in the country.

This proposed measure seeks to institutionalize integrated urban
agriculture and vertical farming in the highly urbanized cities and
municipalities nationwide. This, in turn, will help address food security
concerns and regenerate ecosystem functions.

The world population will double in 50 years. Studies have shown that
new land will be needed to grow enough food for everyone. Urban agriculture
and vertical farming will not only clean our environment and avoid further
climate change, but also provide residents with safer, healthier food, at the
same time keeping farmers in business. Furthermore, urban agriculture and

vertical farming will help reduce poverty.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No, __ 5597

Introduced by Representative ESTRELLITA “GING” B. SUANSING

AN ACT
PROMOTING INTEGRATED URBAN FARMING TO ADDRESS FOOD
SECURITY CONCERNS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE
PURPOSE

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. ~ This Act shall be known as the “Integrated Urban
Agriculture Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the
State to reaffirm the fundamental right of every person to adequate food and
to be free from hunger. The achievement of self-sufficiency in food
production and building climate resilient communities is therefore adopted
as primary state policy. Towards this end, key reforms for the development

of modern, appropriate, cost-effective and environmentally safe agriculture

technologies are hereby encouraged in order to ensure the food security of
the country.

SECTION 8. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act, the term:

(A) “Integrated urban agriculture’ shall refer to the practice of

cultivating, processing and distributing of food in, or around a


village, town or city, Integrated urban agriculture also involves
animal husbandry, aquaculture, agro-forestry and horticulture.

(B) “Vertical farming” shall refer to the method of farming that is
brought to the urban space by employing the concepts of indoor
agriculture in skyscrapers and other modern buildings.

SECTION 4. Comprehensive Research on Integrated Urban Farming. ~ For
the purpose of this Act, the respective Secretaries of the Department of
Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOS) are
hereby mandated to promote the use of integrated urban agriculture and
vertical farming in the country’s metropolitan areas as an instrument to
address food security concerns and regenerate ecosystem function of the
Philippines.

Idle and/or abandoned government lots and buildings owned by either
the national and 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.

Safety standards must be followed such that the DOST and other
pertinent agencies should include research and development of appropriate
technologies necessary in promoting integrated agriculture technologies.

SECTION 5, Inclusion of Urban Agriculture and Vertical Farming in
Agricultural Training, ~ Urban agriculture and vertical farming are used in
agricultural production shall be integrated in the academic curriculum for
secondary and tertiary level students of both public and private academic
institutions studying courses on Agriculture, Practical Arts, Home
Economics, and other subjects related to agriculture, A course curriculum
on gardening/urban gardening shall also be developed and included into the
regular curriculum of both elementary and secondary education.

All public and private elementary and secondary schools and state
universities and colleges shall implement urban gardening/agriculture and
include in its regular curriculum its practical or hands-on application.

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For state universities and colleges, urban gardening/agriculture shall
form part of the required period of time spent by students in the National
Service Training Program (NSTP} or the Citizen Military Training (CMT). A
plan, therefore, for the utilization and maximizing the space occupied by
schools shall be formulated specifically for urban gardening/agriculture.
Instructional materials shall also be developed.

The Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the
Commission in Higher Education (CHED) shall promulgate the necessary
rules and regulations for the implementation of this section within six (6)
months from the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 6, Creation and Composition of the Urban Farming Council (UFC). ~
There is hereby established an Urban Farming Council (UFC) which shall be
attached to the Department of Agriculture. The UFC shall compose of the
following members:

(A) The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture who shall serve as
Chairperson of the UFC;

(B) The Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources;

(C) The Secretary of the Department of Finance;

(D) The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology;

(E) The Representative from the People’s Organizations;

(F) The Representative from the Non-Governmental Organizations;

(G) ‘The Representative from the National Urban Poor Sector Council of
the National Anti-Poverty Commission;

(H) The National President of the League of the Cities of the Philippines;

() The National President of the League of the Municipalities of the
Philippines; and

(J) The Representative from the private sector who have an expertise in
urban farming and/or vertical farming.

SECTION 7. Local Government Units Participation. - The local government

units shall formulate policy on the practice of urban farming, ut

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unused spaces and idle lands. This shall require the enactment of local
legislation institutionalizing urban gardening/agriculture in all levels of the
LGU, This also shall require LGUs to enact measures or ordinances that will
include urban gardening/agriculture as a regular component in budget

appropriations of the LGU.

All cities and urbanized municipalities where urban farming activities are
conducted shall extend whatever assistance is necessary for the urban farmers

to exercise urban farming and benefit from any incentives under this Act.

All homeowners associations, neighborhood associations, community
associations, and people’s organizations are encouraged to participate in urban
farming activities within their areas of operation. The concerned LGU shall
grant incentives for the benefits of the members of the concerned associations
or people’s organizations who are actively participating in urban farming

activities.

SECTION 8, Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within six (6) months from
the effectivity of this Act, the DA, the DOST, the DepEd, the CHED, the DILG,
and theh National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) through the National
Urban Poor Sector Council (NUPSC), and other stakeholders shall promulgate

the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement the
provisions of this Act shall be included and incorporated in the Annual General
Appropriations of the various agencies of the government involved in the
implementation of this Act.

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not

otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

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SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - Any 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 is hereby repealed,

modified, or amended accordingly.

SECTION 12. Hyfectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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