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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NRETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HOUsEBILLNo.9855
Introduced by REP. Eunl0 BERNARDIN0 L. YULO
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Philippine  agriculture  is  continuously being  challenged by natural  disasters  of various  forms.
According to  the  Global  Assessment of the  Status  of Human-Induced  Soil  Degradation  (GLASOD),
around 70% of the Philippine land area has been degraded, with soil erosion being the most prevalent
fom  of land  degradation.  With  climate  change,  this will put further strain on rural production  and
livelihood systems that are alredy under stress from existing resource scarcity and economic issues.
This bill  seeks to address the critical issue of soil degradation and its  impact on agricultural
productivity and environmental sustainability in the Philippines. This legislation will update and expand
Republic Act No. 3082 or An Act to Provide for a Five-Year Soil Survey and Conservation Program,
which  was  passed  in  1961.  The  aforementioned  law  established  a  comprehensive  and  multifaceted
strategy to prevent soil erosion and degradation; nonetheless, five years was insufficient to cover such a
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natural resounes.
The measure reflects the Philippine govemment's commitment to addressing the urgent issue of
soil degradation and promoting sustainable agriculture Healthy and fiinle soil is essential for ensuring
food security, maintaining ecosystem balance, and supporting the country's long-ten economic growth.
The proposed legislation will empower farmers, landowners, and other stakeholders to make educated
decisions and take proactive stays to preserve and inprove soil health by promoting scientific soil testing
and   conservation   methods.   Through   the   combined   efforts   of  stakeholders,   including   farmers,
policymakers,  scientists,  and  civil  society,  the  Philippines  can  advance  toward  a  more  resilient  and


sustainable agricultural sector for future generations.
In view of the foregoing, tile immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NRETEENTH CONGRE SS
Second Regular Session`
HOUsEB|LLNo.9855
Introduced by REP. Erml0 BERNARDINO L. YULO
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR AN ANNUAL SOIL SURVEY AND CONSERVATION PROGRAM,
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS TREREFOR
Be it erracted by the Senate and the House Of Representatives Of the Philippines in Congress
SECTION 1. ;S»orf Zljde. This act shall be known as the "Soil Survey and Conservation
Act„.
SEC. 2. Decfarmfiow a/Srtr*e Pad.ey. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the
rtythm and harmony of nature /Hrf. 2, Sec.J6 /987 Cousfztrf!.on/. The State shall promote soil
conservation programs to prevent erosion and land degradation, provide rational utilization of
soil resources, inerease agricultural productivity, and mitigate the impacts of flood and drought.
SEC. 3. Oky.ecrfuies. The prograni shall accomplish the following objectives:
(a) To undertake nationwide soil survey,   and  by  scientific analysis, gather data in
the types  of soil  in all  municipalities,  including their barrios  and sitios,  in the
various  agricultural  regions  of the  country  with  a  view    to    making    such
infomation available with maps in any municipality  as  a guide for determining
suitable crops to be grown, the amount and kind of ferilizer, lime and other soil
amendments  toapply if needed, and the required soil management practices to be
adopted for optimum yield of crops;
a) To further augment and accelerate the soil and water conservation program of


the  Bureau  of  Soils  and  Water  Management  (BSwro,  along  the  major
activities  of  erosion  control  operations  and  other  necessary  conservation
practices to insure sustained production;
(c)            To  coordinate  the  various  efforts  and activities  of the  local  government units
(LGUs) in soil conservation programs for the purpose of achieving an integrated approach
in the utilization of soil resourees and strengthen the funding support.
(d)            To  strengthen  public  awareness,  especially  those  in  the  agricultural  sector,
through  information  education  and  communication  canipaign  on  the  soil  conservation
programs of the goverrment.
SEC. 4. SojJ S«"ey and Co»senirfun.  The Bureau of Soils and Water Management, in
coordination with the LGUs and other relevant goverrment agencies, shall conduct a nationwide
soil survey annually. The soil survey shall encompass the identification, classification, mapping,
and evaluation of soil types  and characteristics across the country.  It shall  also  develop  and
implement a comprehensive soil conservation program which may include but not limited to
measures and strategies to prevent soil erosion, promote soil fiutlity, and mitigate the inpact of
soil degradation.
SEC. 5. rangct ,4nt}us.  The extent of operation under the provisions of this Act
shall  include  agricultural  lands  under  cultivation  and  all  other  agricultural  lands
intended  to  be  under  cultivation  throughout  the  Philippines,  as  identified  by  the
Department of Agriculture @A) and the concerned LGU.
SEC. 6. apenrfuus. The inplementation aspects of this program shall fall under the following
specific activities, to wit:
(a) Sol./ S#rvey.  -  This  activity  shall  include  studies  of the  various  types  of soil  in  the
different target areas throughout the country, through field and laboratory analyses of the
soils found in each municipality, including the barios and sitios therein. Drainage, both


external and intemal, and other features, such as relief of the land and climate,
shall betaken into consideration. After the survey of each province, a soil map
shall be  prepared,  published,  and made  available  for  each  municipality  therein
together with a detailed descriptionof the  soil  types,  crops  suited  to  each,  the
kind and amountof ferdlizer and other soil amendments  that  should  be applied
for each crop and such other information  as  will insure optimum production.
®)  Couserv¢Z2.on and erosz.on cowho/. - From the infomiation obtained in the soil survey,
erosion control measures shall be formulated. These measures shall include among others,
contour tillage, terracing, strip cropping, cover cropping and construction of fann ponds.
Any measure or measures recommended for adoption for any particular farm or region
shall be the result of a thorough study of all factors and must include an ocular examination
of the area. The result of such study shall be published and made available to famiers in the
different municipalities of the province for the infomation and guidance of famers and
landounus.
In  areas  where  soil  erosion  has  reached  a point  that  immediate  action  has  become
necessary,  the  Director  of BSWM  shall  make  available  a team  or teams  composed  of
personnel from the BSWM or the Secretary of Deparment of Agriculture shall authorize
the Director of BSWM to secure the assistance of other government agencies which he
may deem necessary in carrying out the objectives of this Act.
(c) Fertr./Zzer 4zap/z.cafro71. - The BSWM shall provide technical assistance to famers in the
proper use  of fertilizers  and to other parties  desiring  such  services, based on chemical
analysis of soil.
(d) /n:I.gzzfz.ow. - The BSWM shall provide irrigation schemes that shall be carefully planned
and executed. Emphasis shall be placed on high value crop areas. This may include rainwater
harvesting facilities, pump irrigation systems, and other irrigation froilities.
SEC.  5.  iRestzorch  ¢nd  Devrfupme»f.   The  BSWM,  in  parthership  with  research
organizations,  shall  allocate  resources  for  soil-related research  and development  activities.
These  efforts  shall  focus  on  the  development  of  innovative  methods,  and  practices  for
sustainable soil management and soil conservation.


SEC. 6. F¢r7»ers Edrcaffom  There shall be training and capacity-building programs to
famiers  and  landowners  on  soil  conservation  practices  to  strengthen  the  dissemination  of
infomation, technical assistance, and the promotion of best practices in soil management.
SEC.  7. Sapenrisfo».  There shall be created, under the  supervision and control of the
Director of BWSM, teams to implement the soil survey pl'ogram envisioned in this Act, for each
region.  The  composition  of each  team  shall  be  determined by the  Director of BSWM,  the
personnel to be composed of persons who can best accomplish the objective of the soil survey
program  indicated  herein  and  to  include  laboratory  technicians  competent  to  analyze  soil
samples.
The Director of BSWM may, in his discretion, create a apecial section in the main office of
the Bureau to coordinate the work in the field.
SEC  8.  iRaporty.7.g  and EvaJ«edou  Each  LGU,  together  with  the  BSWM  assigned
personnel  shall  prepare  annual  reports  on  the  progress  of the  soil  survey  and  conservation
program in their areas. These rqurts shall be submitted to the Ixpartment of Agriculture and
made accessible to the public.
SH:C.  8.  Implementing  Rules  and  Regulations.  The  Buneou  o£  Soils  and  Water
Management,  in  coordination with  the  Local  Government  Units  concerned,  shall  issue  the
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within a period of
ninety (90) days after its effectivity.
SEC. 9. 4zaproprfufiousL The amount necessary to effectively cany out the provisions of
this  Act  shall  be  charged  against  the  current  appropriations  of the  concerned  government
agencies. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 10. Rapcnding Cfo«sa AIl laws, executive ordus, presidential decrees, rules and
regulations or parts thereof which are in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.


SEC.  11. Sep¢"Ebffjb7 Cfo«se.  In the event that any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the validity of the other provisions shall not be affected by such deelaration.
SEC. 12. ELort7ed.trtyr.  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved