Philippines: An Ordinance Institutionalizing Urban Agriculture In The City Of Mandaluyong
Owners of vacant lots within the City that have no development plan within the year are encouraged to covert their lots into urban gardening/farming
ORDINANCE NO. 794, S-2020
Excerpt:
WHEREAS, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, urban farming has been the
most attractive and practical means of growing fresh farm produce in one’s backyard,
especially during the lockdown period;
WHEREAS, Metro Manila’s unprecedented growth has brought a host of
challenges and complex land use dilemmas that urban governance seeks to address
in a way that is sustainable, inclusive and sensitive to the needs of urban residents;
WHEREAS, to adapt to the “New Normal” established by the government, it has
been noted that there is an increasing interest in the planting of backyard farm
products and maximizing small spaces amongst the residents, thus, developing
interests, innovation and creativity in urban farming are now apparent, and must be
taken advantage to encourage community cooperation;
WHEREAS, for purposes of focus and consistency, the enabling legislation shall
contain specific and doable programs and strategies to be implemented by concerned
agencies under the executive branch of local government;
WHEREAS, Article II, Section 9 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State
shall 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;
WHEREAS, the Local Government Code of 1991 empowers the local government
unit to prepare their respective comprehensive land use plans enacted through zoning
ordinances which shall be the primary and dominant bases for the future use of land
resources: Provided, that the requirements for food production, human settlements,
and industrial expansion shall be taken into consideration in the preparation of such
plans;
WHEREAS, under Section 16 of the General Welfare Clause of the Local
Government Code of 1991, it states that, “Within their respective territorial
jurisdictions, local government units shall ensure and support, among other things,
the preservation and enrichment of culture, promote health and safety, enhance the
right of the people to a balanced ecology, encourage and support the development of
appropriate and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, improve public
morals, enhance economic prosperity and social justice, promote full employment
among their residents, maintain peace and order, and preserve the comfort and
convenience of their inhabitants”;
