FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
1 I) 
JUL 19 P 4 :23 
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~iVEO BV '.,1-_-
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to Article II, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution: 
"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 the Center for Disease Control (CDC), exposure to pesticides can produce 
cough, shortness of breath, nausea, 'vomiting, headaches, and eye irritation, There is also 
mounting evidence that long-term pesticide exposure in adults is associated with chronic health 
effects such as cancer, neurological and reproductive problems, Children may be particularly 
susceptible to pesticide toxicity because many of their organ systems have not reached 
developmental maturity, 
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an alternative pest-control technique that manages 
and suppresses pests by preventing their access to food, water and shelter. These strategies can 
be more cost-efficient than traditional pest control options, Using IPM at schools can reduce 
pesticide exposures of workers and students, The practice of using IPM in schools must become 
an established national policy, ' 
• This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth Congress, Second Regular Session 
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.. , 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE RE.PUBLIC 
) 
OF~tf~~:: ,) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Plt:Cf.!VEO 1'1'( :. £;;:;..-
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
\., 
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AN ACT 
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TO PROTECT OUR SCHOOLS FROM PESTICIDES 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
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assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Definition. For the purposes of this Act, the following terms shall the 
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meanings set forth below: 
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A. 
Pesticide shall mean a fungicide used on plants, an insecticide, an herbicide or a 
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rodenticide but does not mean a sanitizer, disinfectant, anti-microbial agent or pesticide 
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bait. 
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B. 
School means all facilities, both public and private educational institutions. 
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C. 
Facilities means school buildings, land and other appurtenances of all public or private 
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educational institutions. 
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D. 
Daycare Facility shall mean licensed and registered child daycare homes, programs and 
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facilities. 
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E. 
Integrated Pest Management !lnd IPM means a decision-making process for pest 
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control that utilizes regular monitoring to determine if and when controls are needed; 
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employs physical, mechanical, cultural, biological and educational tactics to control 
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conditions that promote pest infestations and to keep pest populations at tolerable damage 
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or annoyance levels; and only as a last resort, utilizes least toxic pesticide controls. The 
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overall goal of IPM is to eliminate the unnecessary use of pesticides and reduce the use of 
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all pesticides. 
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SECTION 2. Integrated Pest Management. On the first of June after the effectivity date 
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of this Act, all schools and daycare facilities shall have Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plans 
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for all pest control activities, which have been subject to public review and approved by the 
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school board. Such plans shall utilize IPM techniques to manage and control pests and problems. 
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All IPM plans shall include a provision for public access to all information about the 
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implementation of the plan. School districts may create advisory committees to assist in the 
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development of the IPM plans, and to monitor the implementation of such plans. 
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SECTION 3. Prohibition of Pesticide. By the first of June in the year next succeeding the 
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effectivity date of this Act, all applications of pesticides made on the grounds of any public or 
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private school facility premises or daycare facility premises shall be prohibited. Such prohibition 
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shall not include any application of pesticides deemed necessary by the Department of 
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Enviromnent and Natural Resources to protect the public health, safety, welfare, pesticides 
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needed to protect the building and structural integrity of such facility. Such necessary application 
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may be made outside of regular business hours provided it is the least toxic altemative. No child 
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enrolled at such school or daycare facility may enter an area where pesticides have been applied 
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until it is safe to do so according to the provisions of the pesticide label. 
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SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulation. Within twelve months of the effective 
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date of this Act, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in cooperation with the 
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Department of Health shall issue rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of 
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this Act, including but not limited to a model plan, a compliance schedule and appropriate 
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penalties for noncompliance. Such rules and regulations shall include, but not limited to 
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standards for technical capability and definitions for "pesticide applications necessary to protect 
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the public health, safety, and welfare" and "pesticide applications necessary to protect the 
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building and structural integrity of a facility." 
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SECTION 5. Repealing Clause.' - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts 
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thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is 
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declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are not 
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affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
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following its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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