Hus. F REPS
Republic of the Philippines RECEIVED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 3.0 AUG 2016
Quezon City air
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS By
First Regular Session ™

PEMETR ATION UNIT
Not ¥ SCRVICE

House Bill No, 88.92

Introduced by Representative GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO.

AN ACT
TO PROTECT WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM THE HAZARDS OF WORKING IN
AGRICULTURAL SITES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article Il, Section 16, of the 1987 Constitution expressly states that, “The State shall protect
and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the
rhythm and harmony of nature".

According to a study published by the Institute for Labor Studies, pesticides popular in the
Philippines have been banned or severely restricted in the United States. Further, farmers
do not know the consequences of mishandling these chemicals. Acute pesticide poisoning
has been traced to unsafe practices in the handling, storing and disposal of pesticides

Organophosphate pesticides produce both short-term (acute poisoning) and long-term
(chronic) effects that affect various organs in addition to its potential of causing
abnormality in the genes and reproductive system. This underscores the need for
preventive programs to ensure farmers safety and health.

‘This bill establishes the measures that should be undertaken by farm owners and/or
operators to ensure the safety of their workers and their respective families.

In view of the foregoing, expeditious passage of this bill is earnestly recommended.

GLORIA MAGAPAGAL ARROYO
2m District, Pampanga

NT AVES:



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3392

House Bill No,___

Introduced by Representative GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT

TO PROTECT WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM THE HAZARDS OF WORKING IN
AGRICULTURAL SITES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Farm Workers’ Protection

Act of 2016."

SEC. 2. Requirements. - The following requirements shall be met at any agricultural
site to which pesticides have or will be applied, Farm owners or operators shall:

a)

b)

4)

Conduct or cause to have conducted mandatory testing for the presence of
organophosphate pesticides for all handlers of pesticides, including
applicators and mixers of pesticides. This testing shall be conducted
within one week of the arrival of such workers at the agricultural site and
within one week of the departure of such workers from the site;

Provide personal protection equipment which has been fit-tested to all
individuals who are required or may be required to wear such equipment
in the course of their work, and which is readily available to any worker
needing to wear or use such equipment;

Provide education and information to farm workers and their families
about the hazards of exposure to pesticides, how to avoid such exposures
to children, personal clothing and possessions, and what to do if pesticide
exposure or contamination occurs;

Report to the Department of Agriculture every incident of pesticide
exposure to farm workers or their families, whether by direct exposure to
pesticide applications or from drift of pesticides from the application site
Such reporting shall occur within the twenty-four hours of such pesticide
exposure and shall include the day and time of the day the exposure
occurred and the pesticides to which the individuals were exposed


e) Provide on-site washing machines for workers to clean pesticide-
contaminated clothing, which are separate from clothes washing facilities
used by families. The farm owner or operator shall be responsible to
provide instruction in the proper care of clothing contaminated with or
exposed to pesticides;

) Provide one shower facility for every five workers, with separate facilities
for males and females, for the removal of pesticide residues and other
contaminants;

2) Provide one or more public telephones for workers to report medical
emergencies, including pesticide exposures of contamination; and

h) Ensure that all new housing for farm workers is located at least fifty (50)
feet from any field or site, except for enclosed facilities such as
greenhouses, which may be treated with pesticides. Existing housing
which does not comply with this paragraph shall be replaced within five
years or cease to be used after that time.

SEC, 3. Penalty. - The Department of Agriculture is hereby empowered to establish
and assess penalties or fines against farm owners and operators for violations of this Act. In
no circumstance will any penalty or fine to exceed One Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P100,000.00)

SEC, 4. Annual Report ~ The Department of Agriculture shall issue an annual report
of all farm inspections to the legislature for the previous calendar year, including
compliance with the requirements contained in this Act; enforcement actions, fines and
penalties for non-compliance resulting from such inspections; and pesticide exposure or
contamination reports.

SEC. 5, Separability Clause. - If any provisions, or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.

SEC.6.Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Bffectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,