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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
fiEi:l..IvFI: !Y: 
S E N A T E  
S.B.No. 9876 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to establish a comprehensive Organic Agriculture Program for the 
sustainable development and appropriate promotion of organic agriculture in the 
country through the development of appropriate technologies, adoption and promotion 
of organic cultivation and production methods in the countryside aad the provision of 
support services such as training and extension, credit, facilities, equipment and 
technical assistance. 
Section 5 Article XI11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the State 
shall provide support to agriculture through appropriate technology and research, and 
adequate financial, production, marketing, and other support services. 
On 27 December 2005, Executive Order No. 481 was promulgated by the 
President of the Philippines to promote organic agriculture as a farming scheme 
especially in rural farming communities and ensure the integrity of organic products 
through the approved organic certification procedures and organic production, 
handling and processing standards. E.O. 481 likewise created a National Organic 
Agriculture Program under the Department of Agriculture which shall focus on, but not 
be limited to: (a) Regulations and Guidelines; (b) Certification and Accreditation; (c) 
Market Promotion and Networking; (d) Organic Information for Producers, Handlers 
and Processors; and (e) Research, Development and Extension. Under said E.O., a 
National Organic Agriculture Board was also constituted composed of the Secretary of 
the Department of Agriculture as Chairperson; The Secretary of the Department of 
Trade and Industry as Vice-Chair; The Secretary of the Department of Health as Vice- 
Chair; The Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government; The 
Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and The Secretary 
of the Department of Science and Technology. Although such Executive Order is in 
place, the sustainability of the program is vulnerable to changes in political conditions. 
There is therefore a need to ensure the sustainability of the program thru legislation. 
According to the International Federation of Organic Movements, the total 
organic area in Asia is 4.1 million hectares managed by almost 130,000 farmers and the 
Asian organic food market is valued at about US$750 million. On the other hand, the 
Philippine Development Assistance Program President Jerry Pacturan estimates that the 
organic market in the Philippines is growing at a significant rate of 10-20% yearly. 
In the Philippines, certified organic products include rice, vegetables, sugar, 
banana, and coconut. Export-bound organic products include muscovado sugar, 
banana chips, coconut cooking oil, virgin coconut oil, desiccated coconut, and dried 


banana leaves. Organic farming system benefits small and marginal farmers because 
the processes involved require fewer external inputs. Although it may be labor- 
intensive, this could support rural employment. The premium price of organic products 
generally has a margin of 20-30%, which means higher income for farmers. There is also 
a growing awareness for health and the environment stimulates the interest of 
consumers in natural and organic products, which means that the market for organic 
products will continue to thrive in the coming years. 
While the potential of organic agriculture and organic markets in the Philippines 
is stiong and must be taken advantage of by the government, there are specific 
requirements to ensure organic products’ integrity and suitable marketing strategies 
need to be explored. 
This bill aims to institutionalize the program on organic agriculture and provide 
funds for its operations and sustainability. Through this proposed measure, the 
government adopts organic agriculture as a sustainable program that will redound to 
the economic benefits of farmers while ensuring the health of our people and 
sustainability of natural resources in our country. 
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In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE PROMOTION OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN THE 
PHILIPPINES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the 'Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title - This Act shall be known as "Organic Agriculture Promotion 
Act of 2007". 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - It shall be the policy of the State to promote 
and accelerate organic agriculture in the country though the production, processing, 
manufacture and distribution of bio-organic fertilizers, pesticides, weedecides and other 
organic agriculture inputs which will continuously improve soil fertility, increase farm 
yield, reduce pollution and protect the environment, prevent depletion of natural 
resource, and reduce dependence on the importation of fertilizer and pesticides. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms - As used in this Act, Organic Agriculture 
includes all agricultural systems that promote the environmentally, socially and 
economically sound production of food and fibers. Organic agriculture dramatically 
reduces external inputs by refraining from the use of chemo-synthetic fertilizers, 
pesticides and pharmaceuticals. 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 sustainable 
development and appropriate promotion of organic agriculture 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. Organic Agriculture Program - There is hereby established 
Comprehensive Organic Agriculture Program which shall continuously develop 
appropriate technologies, adopt and develop the promotion of organic cultivation and 
production methods in the countryside through the provision of support sereices such 
as training and extension, credit, facilities and equipment and technical assistance. 
SECTION 6. Research, Development and Exteqsion - The Bureau of Soils and 
Watq Management shall coordinate with the Bureau of Agricultural Research, 
Phili$pine 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 organic agriculture Research, Development 
and Extension (RDE) Plans and Programs from the national to the field level. 
The Organic Agriculture RDE Plans and Programs shall include but not limited 
to the following: 
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a. Development, pilot testing and commercialization of appropriate and 
efficient bio-organic farming technologies; 
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b. MasSive promotion of developed and commercially viable bio-organic 
fertilizer, 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 techndlogies to 
accelerate bio-organic fertilizers and pesticide production and distribution; 
and 
e. Conduct of training to farmers, manufacturer, planner, extension workers, 
professionals in the agriculture sectors and other stakeholders. 
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SECTION 7. Organic Agriculture RDE Network - an Organic Agriculture 
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 fertilizers manufacturer and distributors, 
agricultural engineers, agriculturist, soil technologist farmers and groups/associations. 
SECTION 8. Research Development and Extension Centers 2 National, regional 
and, provincial Organic R&D and Extension Centers shall be organized and established 
within ninety days following the approval of this Act, which shall be integrated 
program to develop and promote organic agriculture throughout the country. 
SECTION 9. Organic Fertilizers and Pesticides Production and Processing 
Centers -Organic Fertilizers and Pesticides Production and Processing Centers shall be 
established in strategic Agricultural and Fishery Development Zones and the agrarian 
reform communities. 
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.,>SECTION 10. Implementation Mechanism - The Bureau of Soils and Water 
Management is hereby restructured and strengthened to serve as the implementing 
agency of .the National 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 
departments shall implement at the provincial, city and municipal levels. 


SECTION 11. Organic Agriculture Council - an Organic Agriculture Council, 
whose main function is to formulate policies and program on organic agriculture 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; 
c. The Secretaries of DENR, DAR, DOST, DTI as members; and 
d. Representatives from the agriculture, fisheriep and environmental protection 
sector, 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 organic agriculture inputs by maximizing their 
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, sh'all assist organic 
agriculture input producers through the provision of adequate financial, technical, 
marketing and other support service. 
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, 
agriculture engineers shall promulgate and implements rules and regulations within 
ninety day% 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. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
presidential proclamation, rules and regulations or parts therebf contrary to or 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 16. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the same shall not effect the validity and effectivity of the other 
provisions hereof. 
SECTION 17. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved,