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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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AUG 15 P 3 :25 
SENATE 
S.No. 1330 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 16 provides: 
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 
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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 rPM in schools must become 
an established national policy.' 
• This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth Congress, Second Regular Session. 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
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TO PROTECT OUR SCHOOLS FROM PESTICIDES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Definition - For the purposes of this Act, the following terms shall have 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 bait. 
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B. 
"School" means both public and private educational institutions. 
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C. 
"Facilities" mean school buildings, land, and other appurtenances of all public or 
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private educational institutions. 
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D. 
"Daycare Facility" shall mean licensed and registered child daycare homes, 
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programs, and facilities. 
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E. 
"Integrated Pest Management" and "IPM" means a decision-making process for 
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pest 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 conditions 
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that promote pest infestations and to keep pest populations at tolerable damage or annoyance 
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levels; and only as a last resort, utilizes the least toxic pesticide controls. The overall goal ofIPM 
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is to eliminate the unnecessary use of pesticides and reduce the use of 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. Such plans shall utilize IPM techniques to manage and control pests 
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and problems. All rPM plans shall include a provision for public access to all information about 
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the 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 on Pesticides. - By the first of June in the next year succeeding 
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the effectivity date of this Act, all applications of pesticides made on the grounds of any public 
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or private school facilities and premises or daycare facilities and premises shall be prohibited. 
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Such prohibition shall not include any application of pesticides deemed necessary to protect 
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public health, safety, and welfare, or to protect the building and structural integrity of such 
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facility. Such necessary application may be made outside of regular business hours provided it is 
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the least toxic alternative. No child enrolled at such school or daycare facility may enter an area 
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where pesticides have been applied until it is safe to do so according to the provisions of the 
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pesticide label. 
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SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulation. Within sixty (60) days from the 
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effectivity of this Act, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, in cooperation 
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with the Department of Health, shall issue the rules and regulations necessary to implement the 
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provisions of this Act, including but not limited to, a model plan, a compliance schedule, and 
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appropriate penalties for noncompliance .. Such rules and regulations shall include, but not be 
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limited to, standards for technical capability and definitions for "pesticide applications necessary 
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to protect the public health, safety, and welfare" and "pesticide applications necessary to protect 
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the building and structural integrity of a facility." 
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SECTION 5. Separability Clause. -
If .any provision of this· Act is declared 
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unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby 
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shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or 
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parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or 
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modified accordingly. 
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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 at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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