SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 88 
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JUL -I {\ll:4 5 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M: Lapid",> r;! 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article 14, Section 10 of the 1987 Constitution provides that "science and 
technology are essential for national development and progress." As such the State shall 
give priority to research and development and their utilization for the improvement of 
the lives and welfare of the general public. 
One area where research and development can be applied is the use of state-of-
the-art technologies to improve agricultural production and ensure food security. 
Aeroponics technology can be applied in the production of agricultural crops and 
vegetables. 
Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment 
without the use of soil or an aggregate medium. Aeroponic culture differs from both 
hydroponics and in-vitro (plant tissue culture) growing. Unlike hydroponics, which 
uses water as a growing medium and source of essential minerals to sustain plant 
growth, aeroponics is conducted without a growing medium. 
All over the world, aeroponics is considered to be safe and ecologically friendly 
for producing natural, healthy plants and crops. The main ecological advantage of 
aeroponics is the conservation of water and energy. When compared to hydropOniCs, 
aeroponics offers lower water and energy inputs per square meter of growing area. 
Plants and agricultural crops grown using aeroponics spend 99.98% of their time 
in air and 0.02% in direct contact with hydro-atomized nutrient solution. The time spent 
without water allows the roots to capture oxygen more efficiently. Furthermore, the 
hydro-atomized mist also Significantly contributes to the effective oxygenation of the 
roots. Aeroponics allows more control of the environment around the root zone, unlike 
other plant growth systems, the plant roots are not constantly surrounded by some 
medium (as, for example, with hydroponics, where the roots are constantly immersed 
in water). 
Aeroponic systems are more cost effective than other technologies because of the 
reduced volume of solution input required. Also, less water and nutrients are needed 
in the system at any given time compared to other nutrient delivery systems. The nerd 
for substrates is also eliminated, as is the need for many moving parts, resulting in 
lowered manufacturing cost and reduced maintenance costs. 


With aeroponics, the deleterious effects of seed stocks that are infected with 
pathogens can be minimized due to the separation of the plants and the lack of shared 
growth matrix. In addition, due to the enclosed, controlled environment, aeroponics can 
be an ideal growth system to grow seed stocks that are pathogen-free. The enclosing of 
the growth chamber, in addition to the isolation of the plants from each other helps to 
both prevent initial contamination from pathogens introduced from the external 
environment and minimize the spread from one plant to others of any pathogens that 
may exist. 
This proposed measure seeks to promote the use of aeroponics technology in 
agricultural production of high value-added crops and vegetable to further increase 
volume of agricultural production and ensure food security. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly reques~p.;o .... , 
MA 
L "LITO" M. LAPID 
r-
Senator 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
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S. No. _0_; 0_ 
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JUL-1 
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Introduced by Senator Manuel '1.ito" M. 4lP!d 
AN ACT 
PROMOTING THE USE OF AEROPONICS TECHNOLOGY TO BE APPLIED IN 
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION OF HIGH VALUE-ADDED CROPS AND 
VEGETABLE FARMING TO ADDRESS FOOD SECURITY CONCERNS OF THE 
COUNTRY AND JUDICIOUSLY UTILIZE SCARCE FERTILE LAND RESOURCES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION!. 
Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Aeroponics 
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Technology in AgriCliltural Production Act of 2013". 
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SEC. 2 
Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
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to reaffirm the fundamental right of every person to adequate food and to be free from 
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hunger. The achievement of self-sufficiency in food production is therefore adopted as a 
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primary State policy. Towards this end, key reforms for the advancement of, and 
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support to agricultural advancement in technology adaptation is hereby promoted in 
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order to ensure the food security of our country. 
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Towards this end, the State commits itself to the adoption of state-of-the art 
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technologies and to the promotion of the development of modern, appropriate and cost-
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effective and environmentally safe agricultural technology in order to ensure and 
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provide food security to the country. 
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SEC. 3. 
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Definition- For purposes of this Act, the term "Ae:roponics" shall 
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refer to the process of growing vegetation in an air or mist environment without the use 
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of soil or an aggregate medium. Aeroponic growing is considered to be safe and 
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ecologically friendly for producing natural, healthy plants and crops. 
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SEC. 4. 
Use of Aeroponics Technology. - The Department of Agriculture 
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(DA) is hereby mandated to promote the use of aeroponics agriculture as an instrument 
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to further improve the production of high-value added crops and vegetables in the 
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country and address the food security concerns in the country. 
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Idle government lands owned by either national or local governments or 
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available land resources in state universities and colleges shall be considered for 
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growing crops and vegetables using aeroponics agriculture. 
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SEC. 5. 
Comprehensive Research on Aeroponics Technology Applied in 
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Agricultural Production. - For purposes of this Act, the Secretary of the DA is hereby 
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mandated to conduct a comprehensive research and information drive on aeroponics 
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technology applied in agricultural production in order to further improve food 
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production. 
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It shall support research activities to expand the knowledge and understanding 
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of aeroponics technology to be used in agriculture prodUction, including a renewed 
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investment into advance technology research in order to adopt state-of-the-art 
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technologies to promote agricultural prodUction in our high value-added crops and 
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vegetables. 
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SEC. 6. 
Inclusion of Aeroponics Technology in Agricultural Training. -
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Aeroponics technology as used in agricultural production shall be integrated in the 
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academic curriculum for secondary and tertiary level students of both public and 
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private academic institutions studying courses on Agriculture, Practical Arts, Home 
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Economics and/ or other subjects related to agriculture. 
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The Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the Commission on 
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Higher Education (CHED), shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the 
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implementation of this Section within six (6) months from the date of effectivity hereof. 
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SEC. 7. 
Appropriation. - The amount necessary to carry out the prOvisions 
of this Act shall be included and incorporated in the annual general appropriations of 
the DA, DepEd, and CHED. 
SEC. 8. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within six (6) months 
from the date of effectivity of this Act, the DA, in consultation with the Department of 
Science and Technology (DOST), shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules 
and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. 
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SEC. 9. 
Separability Clause - If any part or provision of this Act shall be 
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held unconstitutional or invalid other provisions hereof which are not affected hereby 
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shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 10 
Repealling Clause - All laws, presidential, executive orders, rules, 
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and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
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are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 11. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
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its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
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circulation. 
Approved, 
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