Pensyonadong Magsasaka at Mangingisda Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session ) 25 JUL 21 A10 :23 SENATE RECCLE S. No. _ Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN AN ACT CREATING AN AGRICULTURAL PENSION PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SOCIAL SECURITY AND PENSION BENEFITS TO FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK EXPLANATORY NOTE Farmers and fisherfolk play an important role in the country's economic development. They are the backbone in feeding the nation and keeping our communities nourished. According to the March 2025 Labor Force Survey, there are around 20.1 percent of the country's labor force or 9.64 million people employed in the agricultural sector and in the first quarter of 2025 they have contributed to the country's GDP growth?. The productivity of the sector, however, and its contribution to national development has not translated to higher incomes and better quality of life for farmers and fisherfolk. The Philippine Statistics Authority show that agricultural workers still belong to the top three sectors with the highest poverty incidence among the basic sectors in 2023. Farmers registered poverty incidence at 27.0 percent while fisherfolk was at 27.4 percent. 1 PSA. Participation in the labor force in May 2025 increased to 52.32 million Filipinos aged 15 years and overhttps://psa.gov.ph/statistics/labor-force-survey/node/1684077662 2 PSA. 1st Quarter Agriculture, forestry and fishing accelerates in the first quarter of 2025 https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/national- accounts/sector/Agriculture%2C%20Forestry%20and%20Fishing.

Mang Romeo, a farmer from Nueva Ecija, is among the millions of farmers who have been working in the sector for decades. Being over 70 years old, he remains poor despite working in the farm for six decades since he was 12 years old. There is an imperative need to address this situation of farmers and fisherfolks who continue to be the hands that help feed our nation. This proposed measure aims to recognize the fundamental role and properly value to the contributions of farmers and fisherfolk, like Mang Romeo, in our daily survival, in ensuring food security, and in the overall national development. The undersigned sees the urgent need to protect and promote their welfare through measures that would reduce their socio-economic risks and vulnerabilities. A comprehensive pension and social security program is hereby sought to be created for the benefit of agriculture workers. The State must strive to ensure a better quality of life and provide a substantial and reliable source of retirement benefits and social security to the very people who feed the nation. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. FRANCIS IN BANGILINAN Senator

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REFIE OF THE PHILPANES First Regular Session JUL 21 AIO :24 SENATE S. No. _ Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN AN ACT CREATING AN AGRICULTURAL PENSION PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SOCIAL SECURITY AND PENSION BENEFITS TO FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the " Pensyonadong Magsasaka

at Mangingisda Act".

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to:

a) Revitalize the agriculture industry towards sustainability and create the 5 necessary conditions to end hunger, achieve food security, and improve the general 6 health and nutrition of Filipinos; b) Recognize the fundamental role and give proper value to the contributions of 8 farmers and fisherfolk in our daily survival, national development, and in ensuring 9 long-nm food security; c) Protect and promote the welfare of farmers and fisherfolk by putting in place measures that would reduce their socio-economic risks and vulnerabilities, thereby improving their quality of life; and d) Establish and institutionalize a comprehensive pension and social security program for the benefit of agricultural workers.

Sec. 3. The Farmers and Fisherfolk Social Security and Pension Program. - There

16 is hereby established the "Farmers and Fisherfolk Social Security and Pension 17 Program," herein referred to as the Program, which shall provide agricultural workers 18 a substantial and reliable source of income security and secured retirement in their

1 old age. The Program shall consist of the comprehensive set of objectives, targets, 2 and holistic approach in the provision of sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, 3 death, and funeral benefits to farmers and fisherfolk. It shall be integrated and made 4 consistent with the package benefits under the Social Security System (SSS) and 5 relevant programs of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Crop 6 Insurance Corporation (PCIC).

Sec. 4. Implementing Agencies. - The PCIC, an attached agency of the DA, and

8 the SSS shall be the primary implementing agencies of the provisions of this Act. To 9 fulfill the goals of this Act, they shall perform the following duties and functions: a) The SSS and PCIC shall tap the expertise of other relevant government offices in the formulation of the objectives, targets, and approaches under the Program; b) The PCIC shall manage the registration system of eligible agricultural workers under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and maintain the required operational reports; c) The SSS shall manage the funds allocated and the social security and pension scheme of the Program and maintain the required actuarial and financial reports; d) The PCIC and the SSS shall perform other duties and functions necessary in the efficient and effective implementation of this Act. The PCIC and the SSS shall collaborate with and secure the technical assistance of 24 the DA in all stages of implementation of this Act. The DA shall ensure that the objectives of the Program are met and shall evaluate and monitor the Program's contribution to the productivity of the agricultural sector and the improvement of the quality of life of farmers and fisherfolk.

Sec. 5. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the initial

implementation of this Act shall be drawn from the savings of the national government. Thereafter, the funds necessary for the continuous implementation of the program shall be sourced from ten percent (10%) of the total annual duties 30 collected from the importation of agricultural products. The supplemental amount 31 necessary for its implementation shall be included in the annual appropriations of the 32 DA.

Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from

2 the date of effectivity of this Act, the PCIC shall, in consultation with the DA, SSS, the 3 Department of Budget and Management, and the Department of Finance, formulate 4 the rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.

Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or

unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in 7 full force and effect.

Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive and administrative orders, rules,

9 and regulations inconsistent with the foregoing provisions are hereby repealed or 10 modified accordingly.

Sec. 9. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

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