Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
    EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) is the sole national 
soil resource agency in the Philippines.  It is under the Department of 
Agriculture.  Initially established on June 5, 1951 as the Bureau of Soil 
Conservation, the Bureau through the decades has expanded its range of 
services besides the soil conservation and sustainable agricultural land 
management advocacy to include soil resources assessment and mapping, 
agricultural water resources management, analytical services, and soil and 
water resources research and development. 
While the Local Government Code empowers the local governments to 
provide the agricultural extension services to individual farmers, BSWM 
extends its range of services also to farmer groups enabling them to avail of 
technical assistance on soil and water-related agricultural production 
constraints.  Dialogues and consultation meetings are conducted with the 
local government’s coordination to be able to raise consciousness as well as 
address such soil and water-related issues and concerns that affect farm 
productivity and profitability. 
This House Bill seeks to provide Modernization Funding to the Bureau of Soils 
and Water Management (BSWM), to promote soil conservation and
sustainable agricultural land management advocacy to include soil 
resources 
assessment 
and 
mapping, 
agricultural 
water 
resources 
management, analytical services, and soil and water resources research and 
development. 
. 
October 20, 2022
4:18 pm
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Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.  
MICHAEL L. ROMERO  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR MODERNIZATION FUNDINGFOR THE BUREAU 
OF SOILS AND WATER MANAGEMENT (BSWM), INCREASING 
AND REORGANIZING ITS ADMINISTRATION, PROVIDING FOR A 
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF SOIL AND WATER 
RESOURCES FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS, 
HEALTH-SAFE AND FOOD RESOURCE PRODUCTION THAT IS 
ECONOMICALLY VIABLE AND SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
DECLARATION OF POLICY – It shall hereby be a 
declared policy of the State to formulate measures and guidelines for the 
effective utilization of soil and water resources as vital agricultural 
resources to attain food security and safety, environmental stability 
through soil and water resources-based adaptation and mitigation 
measures that address multi-environmental concerns on land degradation, 
climate change, and agricultural biodiversity conservation. 
The state shall continually improve the effectiveness of our Quality Management 
System towards equitable development for improved quality of life for all. 
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The state shall formulate policies for the efficient and effective administration 
and management of all manpower, skills and competencies to ensure 
compliance. 
SECTION 
2. 
MODERNIZATION FUNDING. – The amount of Five 
Hundred Million Pesos (Php 500,000,000.00) for the operation and 
administration of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) shall 
be chargeable against funds for the purpose and other sources recommended by 
the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Thereafter, appropriations 
for the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) shall be included 
in the budget proposals under the Department Agriculture (DA). 
 
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall rationalize the existing 
organizational structure and staffing pattern of the in accordance with the 
provisions of this Act and relevant compensation and position classification laws, 
rules and regulations. 
Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued implementation of the 
modernization program, shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act (GAA). 
SECTION 
3. 
BUREAU OF SOILS AND WATER MANAGEMENT 
(BSWM) MODERNIZATION FUND – There is hereby created the (BSWM) 
Modernization Fund to be used exclusively for the (BSWM) Modernization 
Program. 
The (BSWM) Modernization Fund shall be administered by the Secretary of the 
DA in accordance with existing government budgeting, accounting and auditing 
rules and regulations. 
SECTION 
4. 
PROGRESS REPORT – The Secretary of DA shall 
prepare an annual report on the status of the implementation of the (BSWM) 


Modernization Programs which shall be submitted, to the Office of the President 
and to the Chairpersons of the Committee of Agriculture and Food of the Senate 
and the House of Representatives. 
SECTION 
5. 
PERIOD OF IMPLEMENTATION – The modernization 
program under this Act shall be implemented for an initial period of two (2) 
years:  
Provided, that payments for multi-year contract obligations incurred 
under this Act may extend beyond this period:  
Provided, further, That the Bureau of Soils and Water Management 
(BSWM) shall continue to develop, modernize and constantly update its 
operational capabilities to keep pace with best global practices. 
SECTION 
6. 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS. – The Bureau of Soils 
and Water Management (BSWM) shall continue to exercise and uphold the 
following powers and functions; but not limited to: 
a) Provide continuing assessment of the sustainability of the 
country’s agricultural production systems, particularly 
soils and water as vital agricultural resources 
b) Sustain Philippine agriculture through the promotion of 
sustainable agricultural land management practices in the 
croplands, as well as in the marginal uplands, hillylands, 
and highlands 
c) Formulate, through a participatory process, a national 
research 
and 
development 
agenda 
on 
sustainable 
agricultural land management; undertake upstream and 
midstream researches including location-specific and 
targeted researches in the generation of public goods and 
services in critical areas outside of comparative advantage 


of 
various 
specialized 
research 
institutes 
of 
the 
Department and the country’s SUCs; provide leadership in 
the development and operation of a network of institutions 
on soil and water resources research and development. 
d) Strengthen the convergence efforts of concerned agencies 
(DAR, DENR and DA) on sustainable rural development to 
include climate change, land degradation and bio-diversity 
concerns 
e) Render assistance and advice on policy matters related to 
the mitigation of the effects of extreme climate events on 
agricultural 
lands; 
design 
and 
develop 
rainwater 
harvesting (small water impounding) and other water-
related 
small-scale 
infrastructures; 
and 
formulate 
recommendations on waste water use and reuse 
f) Engage in rain making projects for agricultural areas and 
watersheds to address the problems of prolonged droughts 
and minimize their effects to standing agricultural crops 
g) Recommend appropriate soil and water management 
policies to address issues on food security, environment, 
biodiversity, 
and 
climate 
change, 
including 
vulnerability/disaster 
risk 
assessment 
relative 
to 
agriculture 
h) Provide technical support services through the conduct of 
laboratory analysis on soils, water, and plant tissues; 
provide fertilization guides and recommendations; provide 
soil inoculants, compost fungus activators (CFA) and other 
microbial agents. 
SECTION 
7. 
INCREASE OF PERSONNEL. – The Bureau of Soils 
and Water Management (BSWM) shall maintain the sufficient staffing pattern. 
Hence, it is authorized to increase its manpower to meet such required and may 


continue to increase personnel per percentage rate increase of committed 
mandates annually or as the need arises. 
SECTION 
8. 
TRANSITORY 
PROVISION – 
Existing 
industries, 
businesses and offices affected by the implementation of this Act shall be given 
six (6) months transitory period from the effectivity of the IRR or such other 
period as may be determined, to comply with the requirements of this Act. 
SECTION 
9. 
IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. – The 
departments and agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of this Act 
shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate the 
necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation. 
SECTION 
10. 
REPEALING CLAUSE. – All laws, decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 
11. 
SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. – If, for any reason, any 
section or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other 
sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby. 
SECTION 
12. 
EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. – This Act shall take effect 
after fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two 
(2) national newspapers of general circulation whichever comes earlier. 
Approved,