SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regulat, Session 
) 
'14 
OEC 17 P5 :03 
SENATE 
S.H. NO. 2520 
X' 
------------.-------------.-......,'~ 
• .:..: ..... ......,'!,<.:..,:l .... "_. i_'~", .',,: .. 0 .... -
Introduced by Scnlltor Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay 
'AN ACT EXEMPTING FARMER COOPERATIVES AND ASSOCIATIONS ENGAGED 
IN THE TRADE OF ORGANIC FERTILIZERS FROM PAYMENT OF REGlSTRA TION, 
LICENSING FEES AND ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGES, GRANTING AMNESTY FOR 
PREVIOUS VIOLATIONS OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 1144 AND AMENDING FOR 
THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 1144 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Organic 
fertilizers 
are ferlilizers 
derived Fom animal matter or vegelable 
mailer. 
(e.g. composl, manure, 
animal 
wastes 
pam 
meal 
processing, peal. manure. slurry. 
and guano). 
It has come to our attention that much oflhe fertilizer needs of our farmers are still being met 
by traditional organic fertilizers. With the recent attraction towards organic fanning i.e., 
farming, which uses organic fertilizers, local demand for traditional organic fertilizers has 
increased in the past few years. With the rise of such demand, a number of our farmers and 
their families have established cooperatives or associations trading in organic fertilizers. 
Owing to the lack of access to information/education of many of our farmers, a number of 
them are exposed to possible criminal liability under Presidential Decree 1144, which states 
that: 
Section 9. Registration and Licensing. No pesticides, fertilizer, or other agricultural 
chemical shall be exported, imported, manufactured, formulated, stored distributed, 
sold or offered for sale, tral1Sported, delivered for transportation or used unless it 
has been duly registered with the FPA or covered by 1I numbered pl'ovisional 
permit issued by FPA for use in accordance with the conditions as stipulated in 
the permit. Separate registrations shall be required for each active ingredient and its 
possible formulations in the case of pesticides or for each fertilizer grade in the case 
offertilizer. 
xxx 


A violation of Section 9 is punishable under Section 10, which states that: 
Section 10. Penalties 
(a) Fertilizer. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Decree or any of 
the provisions of the rules and regulations issued or promulgated by the FP A on 
fertilizer shall be punished by imprisonment of not less than 15 years and 1 day or 
morc than 20 years if the amount involved is more than P50,000.00; by 
impl'isonment of not less than 10 years and 1 day or more than 15 yeal's if the 
amount involved is PI0,000.00 or less, as well as a fine nmging from 1m amount 
equal to the value involved to three times such value but which shall in no case 
be less than 1'5,000.00 nor more than P20,000.00; by a fine of P5,000.00 but not 
more than }'10,000.00 by other violations where the amount involved cannot be 
determined; Provided, that if falsification of a public or commercial document is 
committed by reasons or on the occasion of the commission of any of the acts 
punishable herein, the offender shall be imposed of the maximum fine and term of 
imprisonment as above prescribed. If the violation is committed by a corporation, 
firm, partnership, cooperative, association or any other entity, the penalty shall be 
imposed upon the guilty office or offices and such corporation, firm, partnership, 
association or entity. 
This representation is cognizant of the rationale for regulation of fertilizers. 
It does not 
propose the abolition of the penalties provided above. Instead, regulation should be 
encouraged in view of the susceptibility of a free market regime to abuse. 
It is proposed that all registration, license fees and other administrativc costs for farmer 
cooperatives and associations dealing with organic fertilizers be exempt from payment of 
such fees. It is hoped that throllgh this measure, such cooperatives or associations will be 
encouraged to submit to the regulatory jurisdiction of the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority. 
For the above reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 


SIXTU:Ji:NTH CONGRESS OF THE RJi:PUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'14 
GEC 17 P5 :03 
SENATE 
S.B. NO. --2..520 
T,\. 
Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Bina)' 
1 
AN ACT EXEMPTING FARMER COOPERATIVES AND ASSOCIATIONS ENGAGED 
2 
IN THE TRADE OF ORGANIC FERTILIZERS FROM PAYMENT OF REGISTRATION, 
3 
LICENSING FEES AND ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGES, GRANTING AMNESTY FOR 
4 
PREVIOUS VIOLATIONS OF PRESIDENTlAL DECREE 1144 AND AMENDING FOR 
5 
THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 1144 
6 
7 
Be it enacted by lhe Senale and House of Representatives ollhe Philippines in Congress 
8 
assembled: 
9 
. 10 
SECTION 1. Section 9-A is herehy inserted to Presidential Decree 1144, as follows: 
11 
12 
SECTION 
9-A. 
EXEMPTION 
FOR 
FARMER 
COOPERATIVES 
AND 
13 
ASSOCIATIONS ENGAGED IN THE 71?ADE OF ORGANIC FER71LlZERS 
14· 
FARMER COOPERATIVES AND 
ASSOCIATIONS ENGAGED 
IN 
THE 
15 
DOMESTIC SALE OR TRADE OF ORGANIC FERTILIZERS SHALL BE 
16 
EXEMPT FROM PAYMENT OF REGISTRATION FEES, LICENSE FEES AND 
17 
ANY OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGES IMPOSED BY THE FERTILIZER 
18 
AND PESTICIDE AUTHORITY. 
19 
20 
THE FPA SHALL PROMULGATE GUIDELINES FOR THE SCREENING OF 
·21 
FARMER 
COOPERATIVES 
AND 
ASSOCIATIONS 
ENTITLED 
TO 
22 
EXEMPTIONS UNDER THIS ACT. 
23 
24 
SECTION 2. Amnesty. To encourage farmer cooperatives and associations engaged in the 
25 
trade of organic fertilizers to suhmit to the jurisdiction of the FP A, they shall file with the 
26 
FPA a request for amnesty and apply for the necessary license and registration of the organic 
27 
fertilizers that they are already selling; Provided However, that the request lor amnesty shall 
28 
be filed within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Aet. 
29 
. 30 
The amnesty shall lIot be denied unless said farmer cooperative or association has been 
31 
previously warned in writing by the FPA and persisted to do business without the requisite 
32 
license and registration. 
33 
34 
SECTION 3. Information Dissemination. Upon the approval of this Act, the FPA shall 
35 
engage in extensive information dissemination campaign to all farming communities all over 
36 
the country. 


1 
SECTION 4. Appropriations. An additional budget of Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00) 
2 
to cover administrative costs in the implementation of the amendments herein is hereby 
3 
appropriated. 
4 
5 
SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules and 
6 
regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions o[ this Act 
7 
are hereby repealed or modiiied accordingly. 
8 
9. 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. Ii; [or any reason, any section or provision of this Act is 
10 
held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected 
11 
thereby. 
12 
13 
SECTION 7. EjJeclivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
14 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
15 
16 
Approved,