Urban Agriculture Act of 2025

/Offer of t: Stuctary 25 AUG 20 P5:15 TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: SENATE 1243 S. No. Introduced by Senator MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PROMOTION OF INTEGRATED URBAN AGRICULTURE AND OTHER EMERGING INNOVATIVE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN CITIES AND OTHER STRATEGIC AREAS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO ADDRESS FOOD SECURITY CONCERNS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE The Constitution, Art. XIII, Section 5, provides that, "[the State shall recognize the right of farmers, farmworkers, and landowners, as well as cooperatives, and other independent farmers' organizations to participate in the planning, organization, and management of the program, and shall provide support to agriculture through appropriate technology and research, and adequate financial, production, marketing, and other support services." According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, global agricultural production will have to increase by 50% to meet the food requirements of a projected world population of almost 10 billion by 2050. However, it must be kept in mind that the available land suitable for farming and other agricultural activities is finite or fixed. Thus, if traditional farming practices continue as presently being practiced, there will not be enough land to sustain the production of food required to meet the demand for food supplies. Our country, the Philippines, has been struggling to maintain and in fact to increase rice production to meet domestic demand as well as to compete in the international market. This is worsened by the fact that the allocation of land for rice production rivals the need to

devote land for housing and industrial development. To address food supply issues and food security concerns, innovative agricultural techniques are introduced to address every person's right to adequate food and to protection from hunger. Some of those techniques are vertical farming, known as controlled environment agriculture or indoor farming, and urban planning. These two are the solutions suggested by experts all over the globe to increase overall agricultural production. Thus, this measure proposes to institutionalize, strengthen, and promote urban agriculture and vertical farming to meet food sufficiency targets, create agricultural jobs despite the rapid industrialization of many areas and the development of innovative agricultural techniques apt for the present time. In view of this, early passage of this bill is sought. Senator

Offiep of the Scrictare 25 AUG 20 P5:15 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REELE OF THE PHILIPME First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: SENATE S. No. 1243 Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PROMOTION OF INTEGRATED URBAN AGRICULTURE AND OTHER EMERGING INNOVATIVE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN CITIES AND OTHER STRATEGIC AREAS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO ADDRESS FOOD SECURITY CONCERNS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known "Urban Agriculture Act of 2025."

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 State shall adopt the Urban-Peri-Urban Model to achieve self-sufficiency in food production and building climate resilient communities. The realization of the absence of hunger, provision of decent work and economic growth, good health and wellbeing and climate action is therefore adopted as primary policy. Towards this end, key reforms for the promotion and development of integrated urban agriculture and other emerging innovative sustainable agricultural production practices and technologies that are modern, appropriate, cost-effective, and environmentally safe are hereby institutionalized in key cities and other strategic areas to ensure the food security of Philippines.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act the following terms shall

be defined as follows:

a. Aeroponics refers to a way of planting in which plants are suspended on the air and grow in a humid environment without soil; b. Agricultural Innovation refers to the process whereby individuals or organizations bring new or existing products, processes or ways of organization into use for the first time in a specific context in order to increase effectiveness, competitiveness, resilience to shocks or environmental sustainability and thereby contribute to food security and nutrition, economic development or sustainable natural resource management; c. Agro-ecology refers to a scientific discipline that studies how different components of the agro-ecosystem interact. It seeks sustainable farming systems that optimize and stabilize yields and pursues multifunctional roles for agriculture, promotes social justice, nurtures identity and culture, and strengthens the economic viability of farming communities; d. Aquaculture refers to the farming of aquatic organisms in both coastal and inland areas involving interventions in the rearing process to enhance production. It is the fastest growing food-producing sector and now accounts for 50 percent of the world's fish that is used for food; e. Aquaponics refers a system of aquaculture in which the waste produced by farmed fish or other aquatic animals supplies nutrients for plants grown hydroponically, which in turn purify the water; f. Community garden refers to a piece of land gardened collectively by a group of people that participates in sustainable, local food production and provide diversity and resiliency to the food supply chain. It provides food and additional household income, fosters stronger and safer communities, and develop green spaces that benefits the environment; g. Council refers to the Urban Agriculture and Food Security Council established through this Act. h. Food Forest Farm refers to multifunctional biodiverse agroforestry systems using several plant layers of different height (strata), including trees, shrubs, and groundcover; i. Food Security refers to when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary

needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. This widely accepted definition points to the following dimensions of food security: 1. Food availability - the availability of sufficient quantities of food of appropriate quality, supplied through domestic production or imports, including food aid; 2. Food access - access by individuals to adequate resources, or entitlements, for acquiring appropriate foods for a nutritious diet. Entitlements are defined as the set of all commodity bundles over which a person can establish command given the legal, political, economic and social arrangements of the community in which they live, including traditional rights such as access to common resource; 3. Utilization - utilization of food through adequate diet, clean water, sanitation and health care to reach a state of nutritional well-being where all physiological needs are met; and 4. Stability - to be food secure, a population, household or individual must have access to adequate food at all times; j. Food Systems refer to the sum interactions along the food value chain-from input supply and production of crops, livestock, fish, and other agricultural commodities to transportation, processing, retailing, wholesaling, and preparation of foods to consumption and disposal; k. Good Agricultural Practices refer to the set of standards for the safe and sustainable on-farm production and post- production processes resulting in safe and healthy food and non-food agriculture products, while taking into account economic, social and environmental sustainability; I. Hydroponics refers to soil-less system consist of not using soil as substrate for crop production; m. Idle Land, as defined by the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, refers to non-agricultural lands in urban and urbanized areas on which no improvements have been made by the owner, as certified by the city, municipal or provincial assessor; n. Idle Government Land refers to lands including patrimonial properties of the state, public properties and properties foreclosed by the government financing institutions (GFIs), government owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), as certified by the city, municipal and provincial assessor on which no improvement has been made by the government and have not been used for

the purpose for which they have been reserved or set aside for the past ten (10) years; o. Indoor Farming refers to growing of crops in a controlled environment, on stacked shelves using artificial lights, and controlling temperature and moisture to maximize plant growth; p. Integrated Urban Agriculture refers to the practices of cultivation, processing, and distribution of food within, or around a community, district or city to address the needs of its inhabitants. Integrated Urban Agriculture is undertaken for the following purposes: 1. for addressing food shortage and ensuring adequate food supply within the community; 2. for maintaining the environment; and 3. stabilization and strengthening of food prices in the market. q. Office refers to the Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office established under this Act. r. Peri Urban Areas refers to areas surrounding cities which are in most ways integrated with the city. These spaces act as a transitional zone between the inner city and the countryside. It also has high growth rates and receive up to 70 percent of the migrants from rural areas as well as migrants from the city itself; s. Protected cultivation is a process of growing crops in a controlled environment where the temperature, humidity, light and such other factors can be regulated as per requirement of the crop; t. Social Preparation refers to the series of activities designed to prepare the affected families to cope with the changes brought about by government programs or development projects and to encourage them to actively participate and prepare their society, community and personal responsibilities in their quest for tenurial security, human development and basic services, employment and livelihood, and other government programs for the urban poor; u. Soilless Agriculture refers to growing plants without the use of soil, in which the nutrients required for growth are supplied through other means; v. Urban and peri-urban agriculture can be defined as practices that yield food and other outputs from agricultural production and related processes, such as transformation, distribution, marketing, and recycling, taking place on land and

other spaces within cities and surrounding regions, involving urban and peri- urban actors, communities, methods, places, policies, institutions, systems, ecologies and economies, largely using and regenerating local resources to meet the changing needs of local populations while serving multiple goals and functions; w. Urban Areas refer to areas with barangays with the following characteristics: 1. a population size of five thousand (5,000) or more; 2. at least one establishment with a minimum of one hundred (100) employees; 3. five (5) or more establishments with a minimum of zero (0) employee, and five (5) or more facilities within the two (2)-kilometer radius from the barangay hall; X. Urban Planning refers to design and regulation of the uses of space that focus on the physical form, economic functions, and social impacts of the urban environment and on the location of different activities within it. It is the systematic assessment of land and water potential, alternatives for land use and economic and social conditions in order to select and adopt the best land- use options. Its purpose is to select and put into practice those land uses that will best meet the needs of the people while safeguarding resources for the future; Y. Urbanizable areas refer to sites and lands which, considering present characteristics and prevailing conditions, display marked and great potential of becoming urban areas within the period of five (5) years; and z. Vertical Farming refers to a highly industrialized year-round cultivation method for food production, adaptable for multiple crop types, where the verticalized building typology, its program and functions primarily focus on optimum plant growth.

SECTION 4. Purpose. — The purpose of this Act is to institutionalize integrated urban

agriculture and other emerging innovative sustainable agricultural production practices and technologies in the Philippines and contribute to the following: a. to ensure availability, access, stability, and utilization of food; b. to promote consumption of nutritious food; c. to support local food infrastructure; d. to increase domestic food production;

e. to strengthen relationships between urban consumers and agriculture; f. to inspire a new generation of agricultural producers in the Philippines; g. to innovate agricultural production practices using modern production methods in newly identified locations; h. to create new markets for agricultural producers, consumers, and businesses; i. to augment and /or complement livelihood and economic recovery; j. to create jobs and develop the workforce; k. to better mental health; I. to create inroads for climate adaptation/ new normal practices for Philippine food production and processing; m. to revitalize abandoned or underused property and buildings; n. to preserve natural resources, enhance green space and improve air quality; o. to provide pollinator habitat; p. to mitigate storm / monsoon water runoff; q. to create energy efficiencies; and r. to encourage community engagement.

SECTION 5. Scope. - The provisions of this Act shall apply to the development and

promotion of integrated urban agriculture and other emerging innovative sustainable agricultural production practices and technologies and shall include, but not limited to, the following: a. Research, development and extension of appropriate, sustainable environment and gender-friendly integrated urban agriculture; b. Promotion and encouragement of the establishment of facilities, equipment and processing plants that would accelerate the production and propagation of the use of natural / organic or GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) accepted fertilizers, bio-pesticides bio-herbicides and other appropriate farm inputs; and c. Implementation of programs, projects and activities on integrated urban agriculture and other emerging innovative agricultural production practices including the provision and delivery of support services with focus on the farmers, prioritizing small sustainable farming practitioners and their organizations and other stakeholders.

SECTION 6. Coverage. - This Act shall cover idle or abandoned government or

private lands, buildings, shipping containers, subdivisions or villages, public housing, open

spaces in all urban, peri-urban and urbanizable areas in the country; and all available land resources and buildings in schools, state or private universities and colleges, military camps suitable for processes and technologies in growing crops including but not limited to: community garden, aeroponics, hydroponics, aquaponics, food forest farming, vertical farming, indoor farming protected cultivation and other soilless agricultural methods among others. Provided, That, the raising of poultry, livestock, small ruminants and aquaculture shall be limited to peri-urban and urbanizable areas subject to health and safety and environmental sanitation standards and regulations issued by the Department of Health (DOH), Department 10 of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Department of Agriculture (DA) and other relevant government agencies.

SECTION 7. Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office. - To carry out the above-

declared policy, there shall be established in all independent cities and capital cities of provinces (Covered Cities) an Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office, which shall be community-based and maintained by local government units (LGUs) and a number of non- governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSO) or community-based organizations (CBOs) and state universities and colleges (SUCs). The Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office shall be linked to the regional offices of the Department of Agriculture (DA) for coordination and technical supervision, and to the DA central office. a. Objective. The objective of the Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office shali be to encourage and promote integrated urban agriculture and other emerging innovative sustainable agricultural production practices and technologies, including, but not limited to: 1. community gardens and farms located in urban areas, suburbs, and urban clusters; 2. rooftop farms, outdoor vertical production, and green walls; 3. indoor farms, greenhouses, and high-tech vertical technology farms; 4. hydroponic, aeroponic, aquaponic and aquaculture farm facilities; and 5. other innovations in agricultural production, as determined by the Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office.

b. Food Security Plan. The Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office shall formulate a Food Security Plan of the urban area in which it operates, in consultation with the Urban Agriculture and Food Security Council and other stakeholders, and oversee its implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

SECTION 8. Department Head. - The Mayor shall appoint a senior official to serve

as the Department Head of the Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office, referred to in this Act as the "Head". The Head shall be responsible for engaging in activities to carry out the objectives described in Section 7 of this Act including - a. managing and facilitating programs for community gardens, urban farms, rooftop agriculture, and indoor vertical production and other emerging innovative agricultural production practices; b. coordinating with the agencies and officials of City Local Government Unit (LGU) and the National Government; c. advising the Mayor on issues relating to the mission of the Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office; d. ensuring that the programs of the Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office are updated to address urban, indoor, and other emerging innovative sustainable agricultural production practices and technologies, in coordination with the officials in the LGU responsible for these programs; e. engaging in external relations with stakeholders and coordinating external partnerships to share best practices, provide mentorship, and offer technical assistance; f. facilitating interagency program coordination and developing interagency tools for the promotion of existing programs and resources; g. creating resources that identify common city and barangay best practices for navigating local policies; h. reviewing and improving farm enterprise development programs that provide information about financial literacy, business planning, and food safety record keeping; i. coordinating networks of community gardens and facilitating connections to local food pantries, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture; and j. collaborating with other national agencies that use agricultural practices on- site for food production or infrastructure.

SECTION 9. Urban Agriculture and Food Security Council. - The local government

units in the Covered Cities are hereby directed to convene Urban Agriculture and Food Security Council and to formulate and implement their respective Food Security Plan within a year from the enactment of this Law. a. Composition. The Urban Agriculture and Food Security Council shall be composed of representatives from the following offices, departments and institutions: 1. Convenor: City Mayor 2. Co-Convenor: Head, Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office Members 3. Local Economic Investment Promotions Office 4. Small Business Cooperative Development Promotions Office 5. Public Employment Service Office 6. Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department 7. City Health Department 8. City Veterinary Department 9. Parks Development and Administration Department 10. City Planning and Development Office 11. Barangay and Community Relations Department 12. Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Business and Entrepreneurship of the City Council 13. Committee on Parks and Environment of the City Council 14. Division of City Schools 15. Three (3) Sectoral Representatives with established track record in the practice of sustainable agricultural methods of production: 16. Agri-Business sector 17. Urban Agriculture Organizations 18. Civil Society Organizations; and 19. Such other non-permanent members that the City Council deems necessary to achieve the objectives of this Act. b. Responsibility. The Council shall advise the City Mayor and the Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office on:

1. the development of policies and initiatives relating to integrated urban agriculture and other emerging innovative sustainable agricultural production practices and technologies and food security; 2. furthering the mission of the Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office described in Section 7; 3. the review and evaluation of ongoing research and extension activities relating to integrated urban agriculture and other emerging innovative sustainable agricultural practices and technologies; 4. identifying new and existing barriers to successful integrated urban agriculture and other emerging innovative agricultural practices; 5. provide additional assistance and advice to the Director as appropriate; and 6. any other aspects of the implementation of this Ordinance. c. Membership. The Urban Agriculture and Food Security Council shall be composed of one (1) convenor, one (1) co-convenor and 15 members, of whom- 1. not more than ten (10) shall be representatives from different offices of the executive branch of the City Government; 2. not fewer than two (2) individuals shall be agricultural producers located in an urban area or urban cluster with related experience or expertise on integrated urban agriculture and other emerging innovative sustainable agricultural processes and technologies; 3. One (1) shall be an individual who represents an educational institution of the government; 4. One (1) shall be an individual who represents a nonprofit organization, which may include agricultural, environmental, or community organization; and 5. One (1) shall be an individual who represents business and economic development, which may include a business development entity, a chamber of commerce or any agricultural business organization whose office is located within the territory of the Covered City. d. Appointments. The City Mayor shall appoint the members of the Urban Agriculture and Food Security Council not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. e. Vacancies. Any vacancy in the Advisory Council shall:

1. not affect the powers of the Council; and 2. be filled as soon as practicable in the same manner as the original appointment. f. Meetings. 1. The Council shall meet not fewer than four (4) times in a year. 2. Not later than 30 days after the date on which the members are appointed under Section 9 Subsection (d) of this Act, the Council shall hold its first meeting.

SECTION 10. Educational Research and Development. - The Urban Agriculture and

Food Security Office shall develop, enhance, support, and consolidate activities and related technologies for the formulation and implementation of a unified and integrated agriculture research and development plan and programs for the city in which it operates. The organic agriculture research and development plans and programs shall include, but not limited to the following: a. Research, development and propagation of appropriate, innovative and viable integrated urban agricultural technologies. b. Promotion of developed and viable biodegradable farm wastes and by-products through various extension strategies to accelerate the production, use and distribution of naturally produced fertilizers. 1. Organize educational seminars, webinars, learning fora, online and offline to educate the community on— 2. issues relating to food systems and food security, including connections between rural farmers and urban communities; 3. health and nutrition; 4. environmental impacts, including pollinator health, soil fertility, composing, heat islands, and storm / monsoon water runoff; and 5. agricultural production, including pest and disease management.

SECTION 11. Promotion of Integrated Urban Agriculture. - The City Local

Government shall implement programs and projects within their respective food security plan including but not limited to: a. Establishment of Community Gardens. - The City Local Government of Unit through the Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office shall establish,

recognize and support urban farms and community gardens including those initiated by the Private Sector that will promote, market and develop integrated urban agriculture and other emerging innovative sustainable agricultural production practices and technologies; b. Demo Urban Integrated Farm. — Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office shall develop and select Demo Urban Integrated Farms that shall provide facilities for the training of persons who wishes to establish their own community garden. These demo farms shall also provide instructional resources for those that want to learn or experience urban agriculture; and c. Inventory of Urban Farms / Community Gardens. — The Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office shall conduct an inventory of all urban farms, community garden and spaces suitable to urban agriculture and provide for the assignment of an urban agriculture identification number for urban farms including rooftop farms, indoor farms, and other farms, as determined by the Council.

SECTION 12. Support Services to Urban Agriculture Practitioners. - The City Local

Government shall ensure support to practitioners of integrated urban agriculture and other emerging innovative sustainable agricultural production practices and technologies by providing technical training on production, marketing and branding to develop an agriculture product that will ensure a market niche, including the practice of fair trade. a. Coordination with Concerned Institutions. — The City Local Government shall coordinate with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Finance (DOF), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and other concerned government agencies, and non-government stakeholders and lending institutions to assist urban agriculture practitioners through the provision of adequate financial, technical, marketing and other services and resources. b. Grants. - The Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office may award competitive grants in the form of tools, equipment, facilities or machineries to eligible entities that has an existing community garden and or has an ongoing program/project in support of the development of integrated urban agriculture and innovative production. c. Eligible Entity. — In this Act, the term "eligible entity" refers to:

1. a community farming organization; 2. a nonprofit organization; 3. barangay local government unit; 4. any school that serves any of grades kindergarten through grade 12; and 5. an institution of higher education. d. Funding Priority. - In awarding grants under Section 12 Subsection (b.), priority shall be given to an eligible entities that uses and provides an evaluation of a grant received under this subsection: 1. to plan and construct commercial gardens or nonprofit community farms; 2. to operate community gardens or nonprofit farms that: i. produces food for donation and/or have demonstrated environmental benefit and educational component; and ii. are part of community efforts to address local food security needs. 3. to provide multiple small equity investments to help offset start-up costs relating to new production, land access, and equipment for new and beginning farmers who- i. develop a 3-year business plan; ii. live in the community in which they plan to farm; and iii. provide a match to the start-up investment in the form of cash or an in-kind contribution. e. Establishment of Trading Posts - There shall be established dedicated stalls within the commercial area of the city and special market day for agricultural products produced by recognized community gardens. f. Seed Bank and Kits. The City Local Government shall establish Seed Banks in strategic areas where recognized community gardens exist. 1. The Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office in coordination with the Barangay Councils, Non-Government Organizations and the Parks Development and Administration Department shall establish seed banks that will produce and supply seeds for the urban agriculture program of the city.

2. The Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office shall develop and distribute start-up kits for aspiring urban farmers composed of farming tools, seedlings, organic fertilizers, inputs, and soil.

SECTION 13. Incentives and Award System. - The City Local Government through

the Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office, shall establish and institutionalize incentives and awards systems for individuals and organizations in the form of financial, in-kind and technical assistance for projects that promote and develop integrated urban agriculture and other emerging innovative sustainable agricultural production practices and technology. These award systems may include the following components: a. Annual search, recognition and awards for model farmers and farmer organizations practicing organic farming in barangay and city level; b. Support for access to organic inputs for interested farmers to encourage their entry/involvement in organic agriculture; c. Institutionalization of certification by self-regulating organizations of small holder groups of farmers; d. Linkages to markets, including provision of display area in the City Local Government's City Hall Complex and other government facilities; and local produce as food supply preference for the city's feeding programs, catering, token gifts, and other city related activities and events; and e. other awards and incentives that may hereinafter be developed.

SECTION 14. Urban Agriculture Tax Incentives. — Land owners shall be exempted

from paying their idle land tax, provided, that, the landowner, on a voluntary basis, shall enter into a contract with the City Local Government pursuant to the provisions of this Act, restrict the use of vacant, unimproved, or otherwise devastated lands to uses consistent with integrated urban agriculture. The contract entered into pursuant to this Act shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following provisions: a. An initial term of not more than three (3) years; b. A restriction on property size that is at least 100 sqm, and not more than one (1) hectare; c. A requirement that the entire property subject to the contract shall be dedicated toward commercial or noncommercial agricultural use only;

d. A prohibition against any dwellings on the property while under contract; e. A notification that if a landowner cancels a contract, the City Local Government Unit through its appropriate department is hereby required to assess a cancellation fee and idle land tax pursuant to tax ordinances of the city; f. A non-prohibition of the use of structures that support agricultural activity, including, but not limited to, toolsheds, greenhouses, produce stands, and instructional space; g. A prohibition on the use of pesticide and other harmful chemicals on properties under contract;

SECTION 15. Report and Review - Within the year of the implementation of this Act

and each fiscal year thereafter, the Department of Agriculture shall render an annual report to both houses of Congress. a. the Department of Agriculture shall submit a report describing a summary of the following: 1. the status of the urban agriculture program under this Act; 2. accomplishments of the urban agriculture and food security offices and councils established through this Act; and 3. the types and volume of assistance and services provided to farmers in barangays in which integrated urban agriculture programs and / or community gardens are established. b. A review on the viability of the program shall be made by the Congress after five (5) years of implementation.

SECTION 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of

Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Finance (DOF) and other concerned government agencies, non-government organizations, civil society organizations, community based organizations and other stakeholders, shall promulgate and issue the implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) days upon approval of this 30 Act. City Local Government shall establish an Urban Agriculture and Food Security Office and convene the Urban Agriculture and Food Security Council ninety (90) days from effectivity

of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act upon the directive of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

SECTION 17. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial

implementation of this Act shall be charged against the existing appropriation of the Department of Agriculture.

SECTION 18. Separability Clause. - In the event that any part, section or provision

of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid by a competent court, the remaining provisions thereby shall remain valid and in full force and effect as if the sections or provisions so annulled or voided had never been incorporated herein.

SECTION 19. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances,

rules and regulations, or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified and/or superseded as case may be by this Act accordingly.

SECTION 20. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,