THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
* 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Magsaysay, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The continuous usage of chemical or inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, and other 
farm inputs has caused environmental deterioration and pollution. Detrimental to fiesh 
water sustenance, it has adversely affected also the farmers who are exposed during 
chemical application in their respective farms. Moreover, it saps soil fertility, thus, 
decrease agricultural production. 
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 hrm 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 fertilizer 
given the appropriate technology and efficient mechanization facilities for its processing 
and handling. 
Bio-organic farming is now partly practices through the balanced fertilization 
program of the Department of Agriculture. This 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. 


13TH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Magsaysay, Jr. 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE PROMOTION OF BIO-ORGANIC FARMING IN THE 
PHILIPPINES, AND APPROPRIATE FUNDS THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
CoBgress assembled: 
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 
reduces dependence on the importation of fertilizer and pesticides. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms - As used in this Act, Bio-Organic Farming 
shall means 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 biological 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 animals 
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- 
fi-ee 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 
development of appropriate, and promotion of bio-organic farming and shall include the 
fo 110 wing: 
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 fiiendly 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. 
SECTION 6. Research, Development and Extension - 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 Programs fi-om 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; 
d. Development and promotion appropriate mechanization technologies to 
accelerate bio-organic fertilizer 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 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 strengthened to spearhead an integrated program 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 
Center 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-Orgdc Farming Ptogram 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. 
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. 
b. 
The Director of Bureau of Soil and Water Management as Vice 
The Secretary of Agriculture as ChaJrperson; 
Chairperson; 
The Secretaries of DERN, DAR, DOST, DTI as members; and 
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 
C. 
d. 
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 Interior and Local Government, 
Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Finance, Land Bank of the Philippines 
and other government lending institutions, shall assist bio-organic input producers 
through the provision of adequate financial, technical, marketing and other support 
services. 
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, agricultural 
engineers shall promulgate and implements rules and regulations within ninety days 
following the approval of this Act. 
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. 
SECTSON 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 provision of this Act which can 
be given and effect without the provisions which have been declared invalid. 
SECTION 16. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,