The House of Representatives has endorsed for Senate approval a measure promoting integrated urban agricultural development in all metropolitan areas nationwide to address food-security issues.
The lower chamber—voting 170-0 without abstention—approved on third and final reading House Bill 9105, or the proposed “Integrated Urban Agriculture Act.”
Under the measure, agricultural development to be implemented shall apply to all urban spaces, including idle government or private properties, as well as available land resources in state or private universities suitable for growing crops and raising poultry, livestock and aquaculture.
With this, the bill shall strengthen the National Agriculture and Fisheries Council (NAFC) by giving them the authority to monitor and ensure its proper implementation.
The NAFC shall be composed of representatives from several government agencies and shall be chaired by the secretary of the Department of Agriculture.
The bill said the council shall undertake the following functions: a) develop a unified strategy to link agricultural production to nutrition programs; b) conduct policy studies, program monitoring and comprehensive researches on food production, sustainable food systems and the country’s urban agriculture agenda; c) ensure that department resources are used to effectively encourage agricultural production in urban communities; d) provide technical assistance in support of vertical farming, backyard food production and community gardening programs; and e) submit periodic reports and policy recommendations to the Congress.
The bill said the council shall engage the assistance of the Philippine Information Agency, through the Public Information Office in each city and municipality, to create a nationwide information campaign to raise public awareness.
The measure said urban agriculture shall be integrated in the academic curriculum for elementary, secondary and tertiary level students of both public and private institutions offering courses in Agriculture, Practical Arts, Home Economics and other related subjects.
It added a course curriculum on gardening and instructional materials shall also be developed and included in the regular curriculum of elementary and secondary education.
For universities and colleges, Urban Agriculture shall form part of the required period of time spent by students in the National Service Training Program (NSTP) or the Citizens Military Training, the bill said.
As for the local government units (LGUs), they shall be mandated, in coordination with the Council, to formulate policies on the practice of urban agriculture, the bill added.
The LGUs shall also be responsible for encouraging all homeowners’ associations, neighborhood associations, community associations, people’s organizations and local business establishments to participate in urban agriculture activities.
Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing, principally author of the measure, said her aims to promote urban agriculture in highly urbanized cities and municipalities to regenerate ecosystem functions.