Memorandum Circular No. 08, Series of 2020 Implementing Guidelines for the Implementation of Urban Agriculture Program

1. Introdu ction This Memorandum Circular outlines the implementing guidelines in the implem entation of Urban Agriculture as one of the modalities in making food available, accessible, affordable, safe, and providing additional income to the project beneficiaries.

2. Rationa le It is the national policy of the State to provide available, affordable, and safe food. The State also recognizes that the population is growing and this means that addition al food will be needed. Food production is in the hands of the farmers and fisher folks, and farming and fishing remain the basic source of food of the people. Food product ion has to be incentivized, hence the the Departm ent of Agriculture implem ents program s that will result to Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita. The farmers or the food produce rs are the major stakeho lders of the Departm ent of Agriculture and as well as the entire Filipino people who consum es the produce of the farmers . The Metrop olis or the Urban areas have the most number of consumers and is the major market of farm and fish markets. The volume of consumption is so high that on cases of emerge ncies, the food require ment of the Metropolis becomes a major challen ge for the policy makers and the agricultural and fisheries sector. It is along this line that the science of Urban Agriculture is acknowledge_d as one of the a roaches in augmen ting the food demand of the metropolis. Urban . PIP plemen ted with a zero-wa ste manage ment when properl y planned d d · " h Agr1cu. ture corn d ·t become s as an alternat ive source of foo an mcome 1or t e and 1mplem ente , I Metropolis.

3. Objectives General: This program aims to produce food in the Metropolis areas through the implementation of Urban Agriculture Program. Specific a) To stablish Urban Agriculture demonstration farms in Metro Manila; b) To establish one Urban Agriculture demonstration farm in Metro Cebu and Metro Davao, and other Metro Cities outside Metro Manila; c) To establish Urban Agriculture demonstration farms in every agency of the Department of Agriculture situated in the National Capital Region; d) To capacitate beneficiaries on value adding to their produce; e) To create community livelihood in the areas of Urban Agriculture Program; and f) To provide incentives to the Urban Agriculture Program beneficiaries; and

4. Program Implementation Framework I. Activities and Responsibilities. In the implementation of Urban Agriculture Program, the following agencies ad their responsibilities are outlined. Activities Responsible Agency Expected Outputs a) Program Bureau of Plant Industry • Program implementation Management reports Office • Information, Communication, and Educational Materials b) Establishment of Bureau of Plant Industry • Established Urban Urban Agriculture Regional Field Offices Demonstration farms Demonstration Bureau of Agriculture and Farms Fisheries Engineering c) Seedling Bureau of Plant Industry • Seedlings and distribution preparation and Regional Field Offices list Distribution d) Fingerling Bureau of Fisheries and • Fingerlings and distribution multiplication, Aquatic Resources list aqua feeds, and Distributions e) Small tools and Bureau of Plant Industry • Small tools, garden soil, equipment Bureau of Agriculture and engineering designs, and acquisition, Fisheries Engineering distribution list garden soil , and DA-Regional Field Offices Distribution Bureau of Soils and Water Management f) Training and Agricultural Training • Training modules Extension Institute • Trained beneficiaries g) Monitoring and Inter-agency Ad-hoe • Monitoring reports Evaluation Committee • Policy briefs- implementation and incentives / The ~d~ntified agencies are to create their respective teams in implementing the prov1s1ons of the Urban Agriculture Program. II. Program Beneficiaries The Bureau of Plant Industry being the lead in the National Capital Region shall prepare the Memorandum of Understanding between them and the identified 'li beneficiaries. The preferred beneficiaries are Barangays, Public Schools and Universities, and other government offices willing to collaborate as a beneficiary of the Program. Ill. Beneficiary Incentives The Urban Agriculture Program Beneficiaries shall be provided with the following: a. Starter seedlings and fingerlings b. Starter garden soil, fertilizer, and aqua feeds c. Small agricultural tools d. Technical assistance in maintaining an Urban Agriculture e. Designs of small structures as appropriate f. Capacity building and livelihood training g. Cash Prizes for the best Urban Agriculture Program IV. Oversight The Office of the Secretary through the Chief of Staff and office of the Undersecretary for Operations is given oversight functions in the implementation of the Urban Agriculture Program. V. Budget The office of the High Value Crops shall provide the initial funds for the implementation of the Urban Agriculture Program. To sustain this program, the Bureau of Plant Industry shall allocate funds from its various activities. This will cover the conduct of trainings and meetings, provision of agricultural inputs, field monitoring, incentives and performance awards. Further, each of the agencies identified shall also charge to their own funds certain expenses in the implementation of the Urban Agriculture Program. All expenses related to the implementation of the Urban Agriculture Program are subject to existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations. VI. Miscellaneous All other agencies of the Department of Agriculture are enjoined to provide their cooperation and support to the Urban Agriculture Program in ensuring its success.

5. EFFECTIVITY This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately upon signing and any other issuances inconsistent herewith are deemed superseded or revoked accordingly. G-'G-~ WILLIAM D. DAR, Ph.D. Secretary DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IIIIIIIII II lllllllllll 111111111111111111111111111111 !11111111111111111 In replying PI■ cite this code . For Signature: S-03-20-0379 Received ; 03/17/20 20 Ol:lO PM