Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

3041

House Bill No,

Introduced by Hon, Rodolfo G. Biazon

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Data from the Department of Agriculture indicate that 7.1 million hectares or 23% of
the country’s total land area have slopes of between 3% to 30% described as gently sloping,
undulating or rolling. Cultivation and use of these areas for agriculture using traditional
farming methods can lead to extensive soil erosion, and depletion of soil fertility,

IL is reported that soil er s an environmental problem in the Philippines that
affects between 63% to 76.5% of the country’s total land area, with [3 of the 73 provinces
having more than half of their area moderately to severely eroded. Total annual soil loss in
the Philippines could be as high as 80.6 million tons per year. Without a doubt, this has
contributed significantly to the alarming frequency of flashfloods in the lowlands.

This bill seeks 1o establish the Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT),
involving diversified crop production and soil and water conservation measures as the more
appropriate program lor the Philippine hillsides and mountainsides, The adoption of this
technology would result in substantial benefits to marginalized upland families who would
derive a higher income fom their crops, More importantly, it will help to restore and
conserve soil fertility and stem the damage to the environment.

This bill propo
farming method for the
extension and other

es a 20% real property tax exemption to farmers applying the SALT
first five years of the implementation of this program, in addition to
vices provided by the Department of Agriculture. This measure will be
powerful tools in advancing the government's major goals of poverty alleviation,
environmental protection and sustainable development.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is eamnestly sought.

Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS:

First Regular Session

House Bill No, 3044

Introduced by Hon. Rodolfo G. Biazon

AN ACT
‘ABLISHING THE SLOPING AGRICULTURAL LAND TECHNOLOGY
FARMING PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE AND FOR
OTE PUPOSES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the
Philippines in Congress assembled.

SECTION 1. Short Title. ~ This Act shall be known as the “Sloping Agricultural
Land ‘Technology (SALT) Act of 2010.”

See, 2, Declaration of Policies. — \t is hereby declared the policy of the State to
promote sustainable and comprehensive rural development and to provide support to the
agricultural sector through appropriate technology transfer and research activities, and the

provision of adequate fin

ing, production, marketing, extension and other support services.

Yo this end, the establishment of programs and farming techniques shall be
undertuken to ensure greater production, thereby increasing income and promoting equitable
income distribution in the rural areas and enable the rural poor, particularly the hillside

farmers, to contribute in the pursuit of national sell-sufficiency

in food production. These
programs and techniques shall also be designed to achieve the sustainable management,

development and conservation of the country’s land resources.


See. 3. Definition. — For purposes of this Act, Sloping Agricultural Land Technology

(SALT) shall refer to a system of farming sloping areas including hills and mountainsides

whereby alleys of commercial or food crops like corn, beans, and other crops are grown in

between rows of perennial trees and shrubs like cotfee, banana, citrus, kakawate, and ipil-ipil
planted along the contours. ‘The rows of uees or shrubs serve to slow down the runoff and
intercept eroded soils, thus minimizing soil erosion,

Sec. 4. Coverage. ~ The Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SAL) Parming
Program shall cover all public and private lands including ancestral lands devoted to
agriculture with a slope of at least five degrees (5) or higher, regardless of the agricultural
products raised or that can be raised thereon.

See. 5. Lead Agency. ~ The Department of Agriculture shall, jointly with the

Department of Agrarian Reform and in Coordination the local government units concerned

and other non-government organizations, plan and program the implementation of the SALT

farming method through a period of three (3) yea

rs from the effectivity of this Act,

See. 6. Support Services. ‘The Department of Agriculture shall provide information,

general support and coordinative services in the implementation of the program particularly
in the provision of the following:
) irrigation facilities, especially dry season facilities;
b) infrastructure development and public works projects that fall under the program,
including but not limited to the preparation of physical development plans;

©) availment of exi

ing government subsidies for irrigation facilities;
d) price support for agricultural produce:
¢) long-term, low-interest credit, loans and grants, especially to landowners, farmers

and farmers organizations;

1) all crops suitable for the implementation of the progra


g) development of cooperative management skills through intensive training,
Sec. 7. Incentive, ~ All farmers applying the SALT farming method shall be granted a

twenty percent (20%) real property tax exemption for the first five (5) years following the

implementation of the Act.

» 8. CLOA Requirement. ‘The application of the SALT method to their
landholdings shall be a pre-requisite before farmers are awarded the Certificate of Land
Ownership Award (CLOA) by the Department of Agrarian Reform.

Sec. 9 Implementing Rules, ~ The Secretary of Agriculture, through the Bureau of
Soils and Water Management, shall formulate the rules and regulations necessary for the

effective implementation of this Act.

Se

10, Appropriations.

he amount necessary for the implementation of this act

shall be charged to the appropriations for the Department of Agriculture. Thereafter, such

amount nei

sary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

Si

11. Repeating Clause. — All

executive orders, rules and
regulations, issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

Si

. 12, Separability Clause. — If, for any reason, any section or provision of this act
is declared unconstitutional or invalid, such parts not affected thereby shall remain in full
force and effect

See. 13. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

complete publication in at least (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,