THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejekjto Estrada 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The continued importation and use of chemical or inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, 
weedicides, and other farm inputs has long been -wellspring of protest and debate thin 
the agricultural sector. 
The use of these farm inputs has caused environmental degradation. It has 
resulted in the decrease in our soil's fertility and the destruction of aquatic and semi- 
aquatic life not only in the fields but also in our internal waters. Moreover, these pungent 
chemicals cause various ailments upon farmers and their animals as well as the 
consumers of agricultural produce. 
Our dwindling dollar reserves are also greatly depleted by these importations. In 
I992 alone, we imported 1,100,000 metric tons of inorganic fertilizers valued at 
US$168,108,174 (P4,370,812,524), and 10,770 metric tons of chemical pesticides worth 
U S$62,469,000 (PI ,624,194,000). 
The need to explore and adopt alternative measures is evident. Western nations 
have, for the past many years, gone back to bio-organic farming. 
Bio-organic farming is-defined as an agricultural production system which avoids 
the use of chemical or inorganic farm inputs, pesticides, yveedicides and feed additives 
and relies on biological means of conditioning and enriching the soil and controlling 
pests. 
While reducing pollution and the destruction of useful organism for the 
agricultural ecosystem, it also helps solve the problem of waste and garbage disposal 
through the use of plant and animal waste and crop residues. It should also be noted 
that bid-farming does not require any importation. 
Many aspects of bio-farming methods, such as vermiculture, the production and 
application of bid-organic fertilizers and other farm inputs, and the technique of 
"integrated pest management" have been developed and applied for some years now in 
the Philippines. However, much more can and should be done. 
It would be to the advantage of our environment, our economy and ultimately our 
people, to adopt this measure providing for the promotion of bid-organic farming in the 
Philippines. 
Approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 


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.
 
HIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by the Senator Jinggoy Efer2ito Estrada 
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-____ 
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AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE PROMOTION OF 
,A” 
0 
$IO-ORGANIC FARMING IN THE PHILIPPINES 
Be enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Dec/aration of Policy. - It is hereby declared policy of the state to 
promote, propagate and assist the of farming in the Philippines that will cumulatively 
condition and enrich the fertility of the soil increase farm yields, reduce pollution and 
destruction of the environment, prevent the depletion of natural resources, and reduce 
our dependents on imported farm inputs. Towards this end, a comprehensive program 
for the production and distribution of bio-organic fertilizers, undertaken pesticide and 
other farm inputs shall be undertaken in order to meet the country’s requirements in or 
before the year 2000. 
SECTION. 2. Bio-Organic Farming. - For purposes of this Act, ‘bio-organic 
farming” shall mean an agricultural production system which avoids the use of chemical 
or inorganic farm inputs, pesticides, weedicides and feed additives and relies on 
biological means of conditioning pests, such as but not limited to the use of beneficial 
organisms, the utilization of plant and animal wastes through composing, crop rotation, 
Intercropping, multiple cropping, and the adoption of integrated pest management or 
(IPM) pesticide free community ecology approaches to pest management. It also covers 
areas such as but not limited to, soil fertility management varietal breeding and 
selection under chemical and pesticide-free conditions, and other cultural practices that 
enhance productivity without destroying the soil and harming farmers, consumers, and 
the environment. 
SECTION. 3. Program. - There is hereby established a comprehensive bio- 
organic farming program which shall adopt and develop the propagation, of bio-organic 
cultivation and production methods, the education of more and more farmers there on, 


the extension of extension of assistance to individuals and groups who are practicing 
and promoting these methods as well as those who are willing to do so, other pertinent 
activities, and documentation and evaluation of the program. 
SEC. 4. Bio-Organic Farming Aufhorify. - To carry out the policy and the 
program provided in this Act, there is hereby created a Bio-Organic Farming Authority 
(BOFA) under the Offices of the President. The BOFA shall have a juridical personality 
and shall consist of a Board of Members (hereinafter referred to as the Board) which 
shall provide direction and general guidelines for the program, with an Executive 
Directorate which shall implement the program in its various aspects in accordance with 
The direction and guidelines of the Board. The various government departments and 
agencies and the officials thereof named in this Act, in collaboration with private 
individuals and groups also herein named, are hereby directed to intensity and 
coordinate their activities with the program of the BOFA. 
The BOFA shall ensure the full participation of people's organization (POs), non- 
government organizations (NGOs), the general public' through mechanism, such as but 
not limited to, public hearing, meetings, and joint projects. 
SECTION 5. The Board. - Aside from providing the direction and general 
guidelines for the program, the Board shall supervise its implementation and shall 
exercise all the powers not otherwise conferred on other bodies and individuals under 
this Act. 
SECTION 6. - Composifion of the Board. - The Board shall consist of : 
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the Secretary of Agriculture and Food, Chairman; 
the Secretaries (or their representatives) of the Department of Science 
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and Technology, Environment and Natural Resources, Education and 
Culture and Sports, and Local Government; 
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the Chairman of the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (PFA) ; 
two (2) representatives of small farmers. 
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two (2) representatives of non-government organizations involved in 
two (2) representatives of agricultural state and private colleges and 
sustainable agriculture for at least three (3) years; and 
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universities, Members. 
The representatives of small farmers and of NGOs, and of agricultural state and 
private colleges shall be chosen by the Secretaries of Agriculture and Food and Science 


and Technology, respectively, from among nominees submitted to the agency 
concerned by their respective national organizations. They shall be conversant with bio- 
organic farming and committed to the policies and program provided under this Act. 
SECTION 7. Organization of the Board. - Within sixty (60) working days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the national organizations of small farmers, of NGOs, and 
agricultural colleges and universities shall submit respective nominees the Secretary of 
Science and Technology, as the case may be, who shall evaluate the qualifications of 
the nominees and appoint the most qualified members to the Board. 
The Chairman shall call the members of the Board, or a majority thereof if not all 
have designated, a meeting organize themselves and prescribe its rules and 
procedures for the attainment of the objectives of this Act. A majority of all the members 
of the Board shall constitute a quorum. 
The shall also determine its budget, including travel expenses, allowances and 
per diems of its non-governmental members when attending official Board meetings or 
attending to them, and costs of office space, equipment and supplies. 
The Board may appoint full-time assi.stants, Secretaries, and other employees, 
subject to existing Civil Service rules and regulations. 
SECTION 8. Executive Directorate. - The Executive Directorate, hereinafter 
referred to as the Directorate, shall be headed by a full-time Executive Director who 
shall appointed by the President of the Philippines not later than thirty (30) working days 
organizational meeting and whose compensation shall be fixed by the Board. The 
Executive Director shall be assisted the members of the Directorate, who shall be 
composed of the following officials and public representatives of private groups, and 
who are hereby directed to full support and cooperation; 
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The Director, Bureau of Soils and Water Management, DAF 
The Director, Bureau of Plant Industry, DAF; 
The Director, Agricultural Trading 2 Institute, DAF; 
The Executive Director, Fertilizer Pesticide Authority (FPA); 
A representative, to be designated by the Secretary of the Department of 
A representative, to be designated by the Secretary of the Department of 
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The Director, Bureau Research, DAF; 
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Science Technology; 
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Environment Resources 


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A representative, to be designated by the Secretary of the Department of 
Education, Culture and Sports; 
A representative, to be designated by the Secretary of the Department 
Interior and Local Government; 
The Executive Director, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and 
Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD); 
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A representative from the Farmers Cooperative Sector; 
Two (2) other NGOs involved in sustainable agriculture or development for 
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the past three (3) years be chosen by the Secretary of Agriculture and 
Food from among the nominees of the NGO sector; 
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A representative each of agricultural state and private colleges and 
universities, to be chosen from among the nominees of national 
organizations of said colleges universities; and 
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Three (3) representatives of small farmers to be chosen by the Secretary 
of to be chosen by Agriculture and Food from among the nominees of 
national organizations of small farmers; 
All the members or representatives in the Executive Directorate shall conversant 
with bio-organic farming and committed to the policies and program provided under this 
Act. 
The Executive Director is hereby empowered to call upon any government 
agency for assistance in the performance his tasks. 
The Department of Agriculture and Food and of Science and Technology shall 
jointly provide an office and staff for the Directorate. 
The salary and office expenses of the Executive Director and the members and 
staff of the Directorate well as the traveling expenses, allowances and per diems private 
representatives in the Directorate attending official Directorate meetings and performing 
other tasks assigned to them, shall taken from the appropriations provided under this 
Act. 
SECTION 9. Appointment of Task. - The Executive Director shall apportion 
and coordinate the tasks embraced by the program provided in this Act among the 
various members of the Directorate according to their field(s) of specialization. Such 
shall include, but are not limited to education, research, extension, training of farmers, 
training of trainors including the giving or acquisition scholarships and observation 
grants of here and abroad, pesticide-free IPM, small scale and commercial production 
of organic farm inputs, an accreditation system to insure sustained their quality, and 
sustained promotional campaigns. The members the Directorate shall at all times 


observe cooperation with one another, complement and/or supplement offices and/or 
organizations in the accomplishment of such tasks. 
SECTION I O .  Work Plan. - Within sixty (60) working days after assuming office 
and after the first organizational meeting of Directorate, the Executive Director shall 
submit to the Office of the President for approval; 
a) A report on the setting-up and organization of the Directorate and staff; 
b) A scheme of distribution and complementation of functions among the 
c) A plan of bringing the program down to the grassroots, utilizing available 
personnel and facilities on the local level and those of local government units; 
d) A pattern of cooperation and mutual assistance with local Government units, 
Pos and NGOs, which will maximize people empowering and participatory 
approaches to program formulation, implementation and monitoring; and 
members Directorate; 
e) A schedule of short-term, medium-term, and long-term targets. 
SECTION 11. Bio-organic Farming and Profecfion of the Environmenf. - 
The BOFA shall constantly devise implement ways and means not only producing bio- 
organic of fertilizer other farm inputs and needs on and off the farm but also of helping 
alleviate to the problems of industrial waste and community garbage disposal through 
appropriate methods of sorting, collecting, and composting. 
Likewise, the BOFA in coordination with the Department of Education , Culture 
and Sports-shall set-up Bio-organic demonstration farms in various schools nationwide. 
,, 
The Executive Director shall conduct continuing studies, with consultations 
among the people and officials as Pos and NGOs, in order to advise local, 
governments, from the Barangay to the Provincial level, on collection and disposal of 
garbage and waste in such a way as to provide raw materials for the production of 
organic fertilizer and other farm inputs. 
SECTION 12. incenfives. - The Government shall extend incentives for 
manufacture and propagation of bio-organic farm inputs by maximizing their use in all 
government- supported agricultural production, research and programs. The 
Department of Agriculture (DAF), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), 
Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), Department of the Interior and 
Local Government (DILG) , Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Land Bank. And 
other government lending non-lending institutions shall assist organic input procedures 


through marketing and other services and resources. 
SECTION 13. Appropriations. - The sum of Fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00) 
for the effective implementation this Act is hereby appropriated out of any funds in the 
National Treasury not otherwise appropriated. Thereafter, such amount as may 
necessary for the continuous implementation of the program shall be included in the 
annual General Appropriations Act. 
At least seventy-five percent (75%) of the BOFA's percent budget shall be 
alloted holistic and integrated scientific research, information, and training of farmers 
and demonstrations on the farm level, including the provisions of full-time bio-farming 
extension workers who will work with farmers' associations and cooperatives, Pos, 
NGOs, barangay assemblies, rural communities, and other groups . 
SECTION 14. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or the 
application of such provision to any person or circumstance is held invalid for any 
reason, the other provisions or their application to other persons or circumstances and 
effect . 
SECTION 15. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, regulations 
and issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or 
amended accordingly. 
SECTION 16. €fTectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon its approval. 
Approved,