Filipino Farmers and Fisherfolk Financial Assistance Program Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL -7 A11:58 SENATE REC S. No. 207 Introduced by Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa AN ACT PROVIDING DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FILIPINO FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK, ESTABLISHING FOR THE PURPOSE THE "FILIPINO FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM," PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Food security remains one of the most pressing challenges in the Philippines. Despite the country's abundant natural resources and strong agricultural potential, millions of Filipinos continue to suffer from undernourishment and food insecurity. The COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, climate-related disruptions, and global trade volatility have only magnified these vulnerabilities. At the heart of the food security equation are our farmers. Yet many of them remain among the poorest and most underserved. They contend not only with the uncertainties of weather and market prices, but also with systemic neglect-limited access to credit, low mechanization, and inadequate safety nets during times of crisis. This bill seeks to institutionalize the Filipino Farmers and Fisherfolk Financial Assistance Program, a conditional cash transfer initiative tailored specifically for small farming households. It aims to stabilize income, encourage continued agricultural production, and mitigate poverty in the countryside. It is designed to complement, not replace, existing interventions such as subsidies and loan programs. Key features include a targeting system for eligible farming households in coordination with the DA, DAR, and LGUs, identifying conditions such as registration

under the DA's sector registry and participation in agricultural training, as well as the establishment of a cash-for-work component to supplement income through infrastructure and public service projects relevant to rural development. The DSWD shall serve as the lead agency, leveraging its experience under the 4Ps program and working in close partnership with national agencies. Oversight and monitoring mechanisms will ensure accountability, impact evaluation, and responsiveness to local realities. This is not just a welfare program-it is a strategic investment in productivity, social justice, and food sovereignty. When farmers are protected, the nation is secured. For these reasons, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL -7 A11 :58 SENATE REC: S. No. 207 Introduced by Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa AN ACT PROVIDING DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FILIPINO FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK, ESTABLISHING FOR THE PURPOSE THE "FILIPINO FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM," PROVIDING 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. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Filipino Farmers and

Fisherfolk Financial Assistance Program Act.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a declared policy of the State to promote a

just and dynamic social order through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all. Towards this end, the State shall formulate and implement programs and projects guided by a national strategy to reduce poverty in the countryside and ensure the sufficiency and accessibility of food products for all.

Sec. 3. Filipino Farmers and Fisherfolk Financial Assistance Program. - The

Filipino Farmers Fand Fisherfolk Financial Assistance Program, hereinafter referred to as the Program, is hereby established as a national strategy for rural poverty reduction and program for ensuring food security and sufficiency that provides conditional cash transfer to poor farming and fisherfolk households to mitigate the decline of farming and fishing incomes.

The financial assistance under this Program shall be supplementary to other similar undertakings of the government and shall not be a replacement for any existing programs for farmers.

Sec. 4. Conditional Cash Transfer to Farming and Fisherfolk Household-

Beneficiaries. - The Advisory Council created under Republic Act No. 11310, otherwise known as the "Pantawid Pamiiyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act," shall determine the amount of cash grants to be extended to farming and fisherfolk household- beneficiaries.

Sec. 5. Eligible Beneficiaries. - The Department of Social Welfare and

Development (DSWD) shall. In consultation with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and local government units, select qualified farming and fisherfolk household-beneficiaries of the program. From the above selection, farming and fisherfolk households shall be eligible to receive cash grants under the Program after complying with the following requirement: (a) Household-beneficiaries is engaged in agricultural production through farming or fishing; (b) Responsible person from household-beneficiaries who actually engages in agricultural production must register with the DA under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture; (c) At least one (1) member from the Household-beneficiary must attend at least one (1) training program to be conducted by Philippine Center for Postharvest, Development and Mechanization, Agricultural Training Institute, or Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in the respective city or municipality.

Sec. 6. Noncompliance with the Conditions for Entitlement. - The person of a

reported qualified household-beneficiary who fails to comply with the conditions set forth in Section 5 of this Act shall be notified in writing. Further payment of cash grants shall be suspended after four (4) months of noncompliance and the erring household- beneficiary shall be subject to case management process of the DSWD.

Sec. 7. Cash-for-Work for Farmers and Fisherfolk Program. - As additional

income for farming and fisherfolk household-beneficiaries, the DSWD may, in coordination with government agencies concerned, facilitate short-term intervention

to provide temporary employment to members of qualified farming and fisherfolk households. Projects that may be incorporated under the Cash-for-Work Program shall include, but not be limited to: (a) Irrigation programs and projects of the DA and the National Irrigation Administration; (b) Public works programs and projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways; (c) Water supply and sanitation projects of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and local water districts; (d) Disaster preparedness, mitigation, relief, rehabilitation, and risk reduction projects of the Office of the Civil Defense, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and other similar agencies of government; and (e) Other similar programs and projects of national government agencies, government-owned or -controlled corporations, and local government units. The DSWD shall determine the payment rate of cash-for-work employment: Provided, That such payment shall be in no case lower than seventy percent (70%) of the prevailing daily wage rate set by the National Wages and Productivity Commission.

Sec. 8. Lead Agency. - The DSWD shall serve as the central planning,

coordinating, implementing and monitoring body of the Program. In the implementation of this Act, the DSWD shall perform the following functions: (a) Selection and application of appropriate, effective, and cost-efficient methos in identification and selection of qualified farming and fisherfolk household- beneficiaries in coordination with the DA and DAR; (b) Identification and selection of target farming and fisherfolk household- beneficiaries based on a uniform, objective and transparent selection process; (c) Coordination with various national and local government agencies, including non-government and private sector organizations, to ensure full implementation of the provision of this Act; (d) Establishment of participatory system and methodologies to monitor and evaluate the compliance of household-beneficiaries and the implementation of the Program;

(e) Provision of recommendation measures, rules and regulations to the Advisory Council in order to improve delivery of commitments made in this Act; (f) Determination of program coverage based on a standardized targeting system; (g) Provision of seminar-workshop and training programs to educate qualified farming and fisherfolk household-beneficiaries about the conditions and other actions pertinent to this Act; (h) Synchronization and harmonization of the implementation of the Program with other similar or related programs of the government; (i) Submission of an annual report to Congress on matters pertinent to the operations and financial status of the Program; and (i) Performance of other functions as may be necessary or incidental to the proper implementation of the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 9. Monitoring and Evaluation of the Program. - The DSWD shall monitor

and evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the Program and report is status at least once every three (3) years in order to ensure the realization of the objectives of this Act. The Independent Monitoring Committee created under Republic Act No. 11310, otherwise known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4PS) Act," shall be used to complement the monitoring activities of the DSWD in the implementation of the Program. The Independent Monitoring Committee shall submit a report of its monitoring activities relative to the implementation of the Program to the Advisory Council.

Sec. 10. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of the

provisions of this Act shall be included in the funding allocation of the concerned agencies under the General Appropriation Act.

Sec. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from

the effectivity of his Act, the DSWD, DA, Department of Finance and Department of Budget and Management shall. In consultation with the appropriate government agencies and other stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act.

Sec. 12. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared

unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

Sec. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations

and executive orders contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the official gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,