FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Zn Regular Session )

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES
House Bill No.__ 4887

Introduced by; MA. THERESA B. BONOAN-DAVID
€ 4% District, City of Manila

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The continuous usage of chemical or inorganic fertilizers, pesticides,
and other farm inputs has caused environmental deterioration and pollution.
Detrimental to fresh water sustenance, it has adversely affected also the
farmers who are exposed during chemical application in their respective
farms. Moreover, it saps soil fertility, thus, decrease agricultural production.

Application of bio-organic farming is an alternative way to address the
above concern, Bio-organic farming is an agricultural production system
which avoids or minimize the use of chemical or inorganic farm inputs,
pesticides, weedecides and uses biological means to condition and enrich the
soil and control pests and diseases. The agricultural farms have vast resources
of biomass which can be converted into fertilizer given the appropriate
technology and efficient mechanization facilities for its processing and
handling.

Bio-organic farming is now partly practices through the balanced
fertilization program of the Department of Agriculture. This need to be
enhanced and further accelerated towards enriching soil fertility and
improved agricultural productivity.

To accelerate bio-organic farming activities in the country, there is a

need to put in place a program that would be carried out by the government
and supported with conducive and enabling policies.

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

Ym

MA. THERESA BONOAN-DAVID
4th District, City of Manila


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES
House Bill No. __488'7

Introduced by: MA. THERESA B. BONOAN-DAVID
4% District, City of Manila

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE PROMOTION OF BIO-ORGANIC FARMING IN
THE PHILIPPINES, AND APPROPRIATE FUNDS THEREOF

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

SECTION 1. Title - This Act shall be known as “Bio-Organic Farming
Promotion Act of 2004.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy- It shall be the policy of the State to promote
and accelerate bio-organic farming in the country through the production,
processing, manufacture and distribution of bio-organic fertilizers, pesticides,
weedecides and other farm inputs which will continuously improve soil fertility,
increase farm yield, reduce pollution and protect the environment, prevent
depletion of natural resources, and reduces dependence on the importation of
fertilizer and pesticides.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms - As used in this Act, Bio-Organic Farming shall
mean an agricultural production system which avoids or reduce the use of
chemical and inorganic fertilizers or farm inputs, pesticides, weedecides and feed
additives and uses biological means of conditioning and enriching the soil, and
controlling pests such as but not limited to the use of beneficial organisms, the
utilization of plant and animals wastes through composting, crop rotation,
intercropping, multiple cropping and the adoption of integrated 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 4. Coverage - The provisions of this Act shall apply to the
development of appropriate, and promotion of bio-organic farming and shall
include the following:

1. Policy formulation and implementation of bio-organic farming program,
projects and activities, and provision and delivery of support services to
the farmers;

2, Research and development, and extension of appropriate, sustainable and
environment and gender friendly bio-organic farming;

3. Establishment of facilities, equipment and processing plants that would
accelerate the production and distribution of bio-organic fertilizers,
pesticides, weedecides and farm inputs.

SECTION 5. Bio-Organic Farming Program - There is hereby established a
Comprehensive Bio-Organic Farming Program which shall continuously develop
appropriate technologies, adopt and develop the promotion of bio-organic
cultivation and production methods in the countryside through the provision of
support services such as training and extension, credit, facilities and equipment
and technical assistance.

SECTION 6. Research, Development and Extension - The Bureau of Soils and
Water Management shall coordinate with the Bureau of Agricultural Research,
Philippine Coconut Authority, Department of Science and Technology, Local
Government Units and State Colleges and Universities for the formulation and
implementation of a unified and integrated Bio-Organic Farming Research,
Development and Extension (RDE) Plans and Programs from the national to the
field level. The Bio-Organic Farming RDE Plans and Programs shall include but
not limited to the following:

a. Development, pilot testing and commercialization of appropriate and
efficient bio-organic farming technologies;

s

Massive promotion of developed and commercially viable bio-organic
fertilizers, pesticides and farm inputs through techno-demo centers;

c. Promotion on the domestic utilization of coconut peat in bio-organic
farming;

d. Development and promotion appropriate mechanization technologies to

accelerate bio-organic fertilizer and pesticide production and distribution;
and

e. Conduct of training to farmers, manufacturers, planner, extension
workers, professionals in the agriculture sectors and other stakeholders.


SECTION 7. Bio-Organic Farming RDE Network - A Bio-Organic Farming
Research, Development and Extension (RDE) network is hereby organized,
composed of research and educational institutions, Local Government Units,
nongovernment agencies and the recognized association of bio-organic fertilizer
manufacturers and distributors, agricultural engineers, agriculturists, soil
technologists farmers and groups/associations.

SECTION 8. Research, Development and Extension Centers - National, Regional
fand Provincial Bio-Organic R&D and Extension Centers shall be organized and
established within ninety days following the approval of this Act, which shall be
integrated as a major component of the existing RDE Centers of DA, DOST,
DENR, SCUs and LGUs. These will strengthened to spearhead an integrated
program to develop and promote bio-organic farming throughout the country.

SECTION 9. Bio-Organic Fertilizer and Pesticide Production and Processing
Centers - Bio-Organic Fertilizer and Pesticide Production and Processing Center
, Shall be established in Strategic Agricultural and Fishery Development Zones
and the Agrarian Reform Communities.

SECTION 10. Implementing Mechanism - The Bureau of Soils and Water
Management is hereby restructured and strengthened to serve as the
implementing Agency of the National Bio-Organic Farming Program and shall
be tasked to provide the over-all supervision, coordination, monitoring of its
implementation at the national to the local levels.

The Regional Offices of the Department of Agriculture shall be the
implementing unit of the program at the regional level, while the local
Government Units through their Provincial, City and Municipal Agriculturist
Offices and Agricultural Engineering Officer shall be the implementor at the
provincial, city and municipal levels.

SECTION 11. Bio-Organic Farming Council - A Bio-Organic Farming Council,
whose main function is to formulate policies and program on bio-organic
farming is hereby organized of the composed of nine (9) members, as follows:

a, The Secretary of Agriculture as Chairperson;

b. The Director of Bureau of Soil and Water Management as Vice-
Chairperson;

. The Secretaries of DERN, DAR, DOST, DTI as members; and

d. Three Representative of the farmers who shall be appointed by the
President based on the nomination and recommendation of the sectors that
they respectively represent - as members

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SECTION 12. Incentives - The Government shall extend incentives for the
manufacture and propagation of bio-organic farm inputs by maximizing their
use in all government and government-supported agricultural production,
research and demonstration program.

The Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology,
Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government,
Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Finance, Land Bank of the
Philippines and other government lending institutions, shall assist bio-organic
input producers through the provision of adequate financial, technical,
marketing and other support services.

SECTION 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Department of
Agriculture together with Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of
Science and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry and in consultation
with duly recognized organization of farmers, agricultural machinery dealers
and manufacturers, agricultural engineers shall promulgate and implements
rules and regulations within ninety days following the approval of this Act.

SECTION 14. Appropriations - The sum of Twenty Million pesos
(Php20,000,000.00) shall be appropriated for the initial implementation of this
Act which shall be incorporated in the Annual Budget of the Bureau of Soils and
Water Management, and thereafter the amount necessary to carry out the
program implementation shall be incorporated in the General Appropriations
Act.

SECTION 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 16. Repealing Clause, - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation
contrary to or is inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed,
modified, or amended accordingly.

SECTION 17. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.
et

Sarg 889