Integrated Urban Agriculture Act

Spitate mas Offier of the Betretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 SEP 25 M1:56 SENATE RECEIVED BY: 1422 S. No. - Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR AN ACT PROMOTING INTEGRATED URBAN AGRICULTURE IN URBAN AREAS NATIONWIDE TO ADDRESS FOOD SECURITY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE It is the policy of the State to 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.! For this purpose, the goals of the national economy should be focused on a more equitable distribution of opportunities, income and wealth by increasing the number of goods and services produced by the nation for the benefit of its people. An increase in production capacity may contribute to attain these goals of national economy, which will definitely raise the standard of living for all. The Philippines may improve its production capacity if urban agriculture will find support from the government. Urban agriculture, by its definition, is to grow plants and rear animals mainly for food and domestic use in a city or town and its environment and includes activities such as production, processing, marketing and delivery of agriculture products. It is a key solution to rapid population growth, constant problems created by the food crisis, and climate change.2 Vertical farming, beekeeping, kitchen gardening, rooftop gardening, aquaculture - these are several kinds of urban agriculture that this bill seeks to 1 Section 9 Article II of the Constitution 2 Urban Agriculture in the Philippines, Livestock | Agri Farming, (n.d.). www.agrifarming.in. https://www.agrifarming.in/urban-agriculture-in-the-philippines-livestock

promote. In doing so, food waste, which is one of the major problems of every city, will be properly addressed. Aside from preserving a fresh source of food, urban agriculture can also save the environment. This bill seeks to institutionalize and promote urban agriculture by allowing idle or abandoned government lands, open spaces, shipping containers, public housing in all urban, peri-urban and urbanizable areas in the country to be utilized for agricultural purposes. If enacted, this measure shall allow Local Government Units to identity areas that may be utilized for urban agriculture. Universities and colleges are also encouraged to incorporate urban farming as part of its National Service Training Program. If the purpose of this bill is achieved, this shall promote a cost-effective and sustainable food system unit as it does not need a large space to produce a lot of food. This can be a possible solution for fighting hunger and poverty. Every human being deserves enough food on their table and this can be provided if a self-sustaining food source is made available to them by the government. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is sought. MARK A. VILLAR

Sellate Difice of the Serratarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 SEP 25 All :56 SENATE RICEIVED BY: S. No. 1422 Introduced by Senator MARK 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 Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Integrated Urban

Agriculture Act"

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall promote and protect the

fundamental right of every person to adequate food and freedom from hunger. Recognizing the challenges to food security and ecological balance in urban areas, the State shall optimize the use and productivity of urban land resources and spaces to support sufficient and sustainable food production. Towards this end, the State shall promote the development of modern, cost-effective, space-efficient, and environmentally-safe agriculture technologies in urban areas to contribute in achieving sustainable food production and food security, promoting agro-ecology, ensuring public and mental health and thus improving the quality of life of urban populations. In doing so, the State shall prioritize the conservation of the country's generic biodiversity, and endemic and heirloom flora and fauna as a strategy for climate change adaptation, mitigation and resiliency. Accordingly, the State shall ensure the integration of principles, strategies and technologies on urban agriculture in urban planning, and instill a love of farming among urban dwellers most especially the youth.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act, the following terms

are hereby defined as follows: (a) Agro-ecology - refers to scientific discipline and set of practices that studies how different components of the agroecosystem interact, and seeks sustainable farming systems that optimize and stabilize yields. It applies ecological concepts and principles to manage interactions among plants, animals, humans and the environment for food security and nutrition; (b) Community Gardens - refer to any piece of land cultivated by group of people using either individual or shared plots on public or private land with the consent of the owner, to produce edibles, such as herbs, vegetables, fruits or ornamentals, as a form of sustainable land use system for economic and societal development, community gardens may be found in neighborhoods and schools, or connected to institutions such as hospitals or located on the grounds or roofs of shared housing, such as tenements and apartment complexes; (c) Compatibility - refers to the ability of the digital content or digital service to function with hardware or software with which digital content or digital services of the same type are normally used, without the need to convert the digital content or digital service; (d) Food security - refers to a situation wherein all people have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food, at all times, to maintain a healthy and active life; (e) Food system - refers to a complex web of activities involving the production, processing, transport, and consumption of food. Issues concerning the food system include the governance and economics of food production, its sustainability, the degree to which we waste food, how food production affects the natural environment and the impact of food on individual and population health; (f) Good Agricultural Practices - refer to the practices that address environmental, economic, and social sustainability for on-farm

processes, and which result in safe and quality food and non-food agricultural products; (g) Idle lands - refer to non-agricultural lands in urban and urbanizable areas on which no improvements have been made by the owner, as certified by the city, municipal or provincial assessor. Idle government lands refer to lands owned by any government entity that have been idle and have not been used for the purpose for which they have been reserved for the past ten (10) years; (h) Indoor farming - refers to controlled environment agriculture which aims to optimize plant growth to house vertical farming techniques in greenhouses, warehouses, abandoned buildings, shipping containers, tunnels, skyscrapers and modern buildings, shipping containers, tunnels, skyscrapers and modern buildings using soilless farming techniques such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics; (i) Integrated urban agriculture-refers to the development paradigm that encompasses principles, management technologies, and the policies relating to the practice and application of agricultural and fisheries production of food and goods in urban areas; (i) Peri-urban areas - refer to areas where urban and rural features and processes meet, interact and intertwine, usually located between city and countryside. Peri-urban areas are semi-dense clusters with a density of at least three hundred (300) inhabitants per square kilometer and a population of five thousand (5,000) or more, but are neither contiguous with nor within two (2) kilometers of an urban area; (k) Protected agriculture - refers to the use of technologies that enclose to harvest highest yields, safer, cleaner and of better quality even out of season by modifying the natural environment and protect crop against the elements which include high temperature, excessive rainfall, humidity, wind, birds, insects; (1) Social preparation - refers to the series of activities designed to prepare the underprivileged and homeless families to cope with the changes brought about by government development projects;

(m) Soilless agriculture - refers to the method of growing plants that do not rely on the soil as a source of nutrients and water, common methods are hydroponics, aquaponics and aeroponics; (n) Urban areas - refer to classification as may be made by the Philippines Statistic Authority (PSA) which under PSA Resolution No. 01, Series of 2017-098, covers the following: (1) If a barangay has population size of five thousand (5,000) or more; (2) If a barangay has at least one establishment with a minimum of one hundred (100) employees; (3) If a barangay has 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; (o) Urban planning - refers to multi-disciplinary art and science of analyzing, specifying, clarifying, harmonizing, managing and regulating the use and development of land and water resources, in relation to their environs, for the development of sustainable communities and ecosystems in urban and urbanizable areas; (p) Urbanizable areas - refer to sites and lands which, considering the present characteristics and prevailing conditions, display marked and great potential of becoming urban areas within the period of five (5) years; and (q) Vertical farming - refers to the methods or practices of increasing the number of plants grown in an area by growing crops in vertically stacked layers; such as generally done in greenhouses, warehouses, abandoned buildings, shipping contains, tunnels, skyscrapers and modern buildings using soilless farming techniques such as hydroponics, aquaponics or aeroponics.

Sec. 4. Coverage. - This Act shall cover idle or abandoned government, shipping

containers, 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 growing crops and raising poultry, livestock and aquaculture: Provided, That, the utilization of idle lands for urban agriculture purposes shall not be used as grounds for the eviction of informal settlers families occupying the lands; Provided further, That, the raising of poultry and livestock shall be limited to urbanizable areas and all livestock raising shall be subject to health and safety standards and regulations issued by the Department of Health 7 (DOH), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and other relevant government agencies.

Sec. 5. Urban Farming. - Local government units (LGUs) shall identify and

develop idle government, without prejudice to the rights of owners of open spaces, within their jurisdiction, for full or partial conversion solely to community gardens, food forest gardens, indoor farms and/or vertical farms to support food security and community nutrition; Provided, That food forest gardens and urban farms adopting agro-ecological, principles shall be the priority form of urban agriculture wherever applicable and feasible; Provided further. That spaces allocated for urban agriculture and aquaculture shall not be prime lots. All LGUs, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), shall capacitate neighborhood associations and people's organizations, and facilitate the organization and registration of community-based cooperatives, to undertake community gardening and establish community farmers' markets. The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) shall ensure that the design and development of subdivision, condominium and public housing projects have provisions for adequate spaces for community gardens, food forest gardens, greenhouse agriculture, roof gardens, indoor farms and vertical farms. Towards this end, the DHSUD, in coordination with the DA, shall capacitate homeowners' associations to undertake community gardening and vertical farming. The DA shall provide the necessary technical assistance and support services, including the provision of seeds and seedlings and gardening tools, access to loans from government financial institutions, and training workshops that shall capacitate various stakeholders. It may assist in the design, establishment, promotion and

regulation of indoor and vertical farming machineries and facilities to ensure the full productivity of community gardens, school gardens, food forest gardens, greenhouse 3 farms, roof gardens, and indoor and vertical farms. The DA shall ensure that the technical assistance it provides is consistent with Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PHILGAP) or a set of standards and regulations ensuring food quality and safety, facilitation of market access, establishment of community farmers' markets and reduction in non-compliance with issuances regarding permitted pesticides and other contamination hazards, as provided under Republic Act No. 10611, otherwise known as the "Food Safety Act of 2013", and relevant laws. The DA, in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) shall also undertake the establishment of rainwater harvesting facilities in compliance with Republic Act No. 6717, entitled "An Act Providing for the Construction of Water Wells, Rainwater Collectors, Development of Spring and Rehabilitation of Existing Water 17 Weils in All Barangays in the Philippines', renewable energy systems and solid waste management systems, including waste-to-energy facilities, to provide sustainable supply of water, energy and compost to community gardens, food forest gardens and urban farms.

Sec. 6. Urban Agriculture and Aquaculture in Urban Planning. - The DHSUD, in

coordination with the DA, shall ensure the integration of concepts and principles of urban agriculture and its relationship to other processes in the food system in urban planning. Accordingly, the DHSUD and DA shall promote sustainable, smart and organic food production systems that harness the benefits of new technologies and methods in soil, nutrient, water and energy management, such as composting, rainwater harvesting and utilization of renewable energy. The DHSUD shall also ensure the rational use of land resources in urban planning to promote sustainable peri-urban interface, as well as for the spatial requirements of supply chain management and logistics to strengthen urban-rural foodshed linkages.

Towards these ends, the DHSUD shall promulgate guidelines for the harmonization of the comprehensive land use plans and zoning ordinances of LGUS 3 with urban culture policies, frameworks, strategies and standards. All LGUs are hereby mandated to incorporate urban agricultural development in their respective Annual Development Plans. Annual Investment Plans, Physical Framework Plans, and Development Master Plans including the hiring of agriculturists 7 and agricultural and biosystems engineers to carry out urban agriculture programs. Likewise, LGUs, with the assistance of the DA, Department of Interior and Local 9 Government (DILG) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), shall establish and maintain a digital information system to facilitate the efficient collection, management and analysis of urban food systems, agriculture and nutrition data, as well as the monitoring and evaluation of LGU performance vis-a-vis the food system agriculture and nutrition targets, to inform local planning, policy-making and programming bodies, and to ensure open public access to date.

Sec. 7. Urban Agriculture/Aquaculture Education. - The Department of

Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Educations (CHED), with the technical assistance of the DA, shall integrate urban agriculture in the academic institutions offering courses in Agriculture, Practical Arts, Home Economics and other subjects related to agriculture. A course curriculum on gardening shall be developed and included in the regular curriculum of elementary and secondary education. Instructional materials shall likewise be developed utilizing advance techniques of crop and food animal production, urban agriculture and farming, and cultivating awareness and appreciation of genetic biodiversity, heirloom and endemic flora and fauna, and agro-ecological principles. The DepEd, with the assistance of the DA, shall strengthen the implementation of its Gulayan sa Paaralan Program in elementary and secondary schools. The establishment of school gardens shall be encouraged to ensure continuous supply of vegetables for school feeding, in accordance with Republic Act No. 11037, otherwise known as the "Masustansyang Pagkain Parasa Batang Filipino Act."

For universities and colleges, urban agriculture shall form part of the required period of time spent by students in the National Service Training Program. A plan for the utilization or maximization of space occupied by schools shall be formulated specifically for urban agriculture purposes.

Sec. 8. Urban Agriculture Awareness Campaign. - The DILG, National Nutrition

Council, and LGUs are mandated to formulate policies on urban farming in consonance with the provisions of this Act and be at the forefront of community- based education and awareness campaigns. For this purpose, LGUs shall mobilize existing structures and local bodies such as the provincial, city and municipal agricultural offices, the provincial, city, municipal, and barangay federation of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and the youth sector represented in any local special body under LGUs. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall integrate urban agriculture and community nutrition in the seminar-workshops and training programs to educate qualified household-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Filipino Program (4PS).

Sec. 9. Research and Development - The DA and the DOST, as well as relevant

state universities, government research and development institutions, and the private sector, shall intensify research on methods and technologies to support urban agriculture, including the development and operation of sustainable demonstration urban community gardens, food forest gardens, greenhouse, indoor, roof and vertical farms.

Sec. 10. Incentives. - Compliance by subdivision and condominium developers

and owners with Section 5 of this Act may qualify them for incentives provided under Republic Act No. 10771, otherwise known as the "Philippine Green Jobs Act of 2016," subject to the rules and regulation promulgated by the Department of Finance and the DHSUD. The commitment and performance of LGUs in the implementation of this Act shall be included in the criteria for the awarding of the Seal of Good Local Governance and the provision of incentives, provided for under Republic Act No. 11292, otherwise known as "The Seal of Good Local Governance Act of 2019."

Loans extended by government and private banks to participating individuals, corporations and partnerships shall be treated as compliance with Republic Act No. 10000, otherwise known as "The Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act of 2009."

Sec. 11. Inter-Agency Coordination. - There is hereby established a National

Convergence Program on Urban Agriculture and Aquaculture. The DA is hereby 6 designated as the Lead Implementing Agency and the Secretariat of the Convergence Program. The following agencies shall perform duties and responsibilities in order to 8 develop and sustain concerted action to promote urban agriculture: (a) The DA shall provide technical assistance and support to services to LGUs, community-based cooperatives, homeowners' associations, neighborhood associations and people's organizations to ensure the viability and cost- effectiveness of urban agriculture projects and through its Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering, shall provide the design, specifications, establishment strategies, promotion, regulation and technical assistance in the fabrication of production models of indoor farming, vertical farming and other urban agriculture machineries, equipment and facilities; (b) The DHSUD shall encourage the integration of urban agriculture principles, policies, strategies, frameworks and standards in the design and development of subdivisions and condominium projects. The DHSUD shall ensure such integration in public housing projects and in the preparation or updating of development and investment plans, CLUPs and zoning ordinances of LGUs. The DHSUD shall also promulgate the necessary rules and monitor compliance therewith. The DHSUD shall also promulgate the necessary rules and monitor compliance therewith. The DHSUD shall provide assistance to homeowners' association to strengthen their capacity to undertake urban agriculture or aquaculture projects in their neighborhoods and communities; (c) The DILG shall monitor the compliance of LGUs with the provisions of this Act in order to determine their qualification for the incentives provided under Republic Act No. 11292;

(d) The DepEd shall integrate the principles and practice of urban agriculture using advanced crop production techniques like soilless agriculture, indoor farming or vertical farming to include modern methods of irrigation and automated systems into the primary and secondary education curricula, including the establishment of school gardens under the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program. The DepEd shall ensure the adequate capacity building programs such as training-workshop, hands-on training or immersion programs of teachers and the development of appropriate instructional materials such as educational video and manual for this purpose; (e) The DOST shall conduct research on modern, cost-effective methods and technologies to support urban agricultural production, as well as post-harvest handling of surplus produce from urban agriculture projects; (f) The DOST shall provide technical assistance in processing and packaging of surplus produce from urban agriculture and aquaculture projects and ensure access of local government units, cooperatives, homeowners' associations, and people's organizations to markets; (g) The DOF shall administer the grant of incentives under Section 10 of this Act to qualified persons based on their compliance with Section 5 of this Act; (h) The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall ensure adequate finding for the functions and programs provided for by under this Act; (i) The CHED shall develop and implement curriculum on capacity building programs such as training-workshop, hands-on training or immersion program and related standards and instructional materials in support of urban agriculture; G) The DPWH in compliance with RA 6716 is mandated to undertake construction of water wells, rainwater collectors, development of springs and rehabilitation of existing water wells in all barangays in the Philippines, taking into consideration the population, hydrologic

conditions, costs of project development and operations, financial and economic factors and institutional arrangements; (k) The National Nutrition Council and the Food and Nutrition Research Institute shall assist the DepEd in identifying the crops to be cultivated in school farms and in preparing nutritious food, pursuant to standardized menus to ensure child nutrition provided for under Republic Act No. 11037, and in developing the modules on nutrition; (1) The CDA shall provide guidance and assistance to LGUs in the development of cooperatives within their jurisdiction; (m) The Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor shall undertake social preparation activities to encourage participation and empower poor and underprivileged communities from the preparation and planning to implementation and evaluation of urban development projects; (n) The Philippine Information Agency shall undertake a nationwide information campaign, utilizing all forms of media, to raise awareness and encourage participation of the public in the implementation of this Act, in close coordination with other cultural agencies such as the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCAA) and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP); (o) The Council for the Welfare of Children shall integrate urban agriculture in the formulation of programs and measures providing dynamic leadership in ensuring a child-friendly and child sensitive society; and (p) The National Youth Commission, as the Philippines government's sole policy-making body on youth affairs and consistent with its role in coordinating and implementing programs designed to help the youth become more aware of the Issues surrounding them, shall include an appreciation of urban agriculture.

Sec. 12. Performance Report to Congress. -The DA and partner agencies in the

National Convergence Program on Urban Agriculture and Aquaculture shall submit annual performance reports to Congress.

Sec. 13. Appropriations. - The funds necessary to carry out the initial

implementation of this Act shall be charged against the respective budget of concerned agencies for the current year. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety days (90) from

the effectivity of this Act, the agencies under the National Convergence Program on Urban Agriculture and Aquaculture shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 15. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held

unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected shall continue to remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, issuances, rules and

regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,