3 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
r 
S. No. 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Continuous usage of chemical or inorganic fertilizer, pesticides, weedecides and other 
farm inputs has caused environmental degradation and pollution which destroys 
aquatic life in fresh waters and detrimental to the human health. Most adversely 
affected are the farmers who are exposed during chemical application in their 
respective farms. Moreover, it also decreases soil fertility, thus, decrease agricultural 
production. 
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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 has vast resources of biomass which can be converted into organic 
fertilizer given the appropriate technology 'and efficient mechanization facilities for its 
processing and handling. 
Bio-organic farming is now partly practiced through the balanced fertilization program 
of the Department of Agriculture. The 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. 
A 
MANUEL B. VI LAR, JR 
4, 
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SENATE 
S. No. 
705 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
ANACT 
PHILIPPIll\rES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF 
PROVIDING FOR THE PROMOTION OF BIO-ORGANIC FARMING IN THE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1; 
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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 reduce 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 biolo'gical 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 
animal 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 o'f this Act shall apply to the development of 
appropriate, and promotion of bio-organic farming and shall include the following: 
1. 
Policy formulation arid implementation of bio-organic farming program, projects 
and activities, and provision and delivery of support services to the farmers 
2. 
Research and development, arid 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. 


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SECTION 6. Research, Development and Extensions - 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 Program 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; 
b) 
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; 
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, non-government 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 and 
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 be strengthened to spearhead an integrated 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 Centers 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. 
provision of this Act which can be given and effect without the provisions which have 
been declared invalid. 
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 arid 
Water Management as,Vice Chairperson; c) The Secretaries of DENR, 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. 
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 Finance, Land Bank of the 
Philippines and other government lending institutions, shall assist bio-organic input 
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support services. 
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producers through the provision of adequate financial, technical, marketing and other 
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SECTION 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations - I-lie 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. 
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SECTION 14. Appropriations - The sum of Fifty Million pesos (P50,000,000.00) 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 - The provisions of this Act are hereby declared 
separable, and if any clause, sentence, provision or section hereof, should be declared 
invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other 
d) 
Development and promotion appropriate mechanization technologies to 
accelerate bio-organic fertilizer and pesticides 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 16. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,