Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO,__ 355.

Introduced by Representative Lex Anthony Cris A. Colada

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines has an average annual rainfall of about 2,400 mm which is
enough to meet the annual water demand for crop production. However, this amount
of rainfall as not evenly distributed throughout the year in most parts of the country. In
some areas, there is too much rainfall, resulting to excessive surface run-off, severe
erosion, siltation of rivers, and flooding during the rainy season. And in other parts of
the country, there may be too little to provide a sustained base flow to support crop
production especially during the dry season, particularly in the upland areas.

This situation is further aggravated by the continuous degradation of our
watersheds. Watersheds have been subjected to various forms of degradation such
as indiscriminate logging and slash-and-burn practices (“kaingin"), with the resulting
loss of forest cover from 17 million hectares in 1934 to only about 5.33 million hectares
and most recent estimates (LGSP, 2003). But if properly managed, watersheds can
provide a continuing flow of water to a particular water body (e.g. river, oreeks and
streams) and to man-made “water use outlets” such as dams, irrigation systems, or
water supply take-off points.

Moreover, about 45% of the arable lands in the Philippines have been
moderately to severely eroded, triggering the movement of subsistence farmers to
marginal lands with the hope of meeting their day-to- day food requirement
Approximately 5.2 M hectares are severely eroded and 8.5 M hectares are moderately
eroded resulting to 30 - 50% reduction and soil productivity and water retention
capacity. This situation will predispose the degraded lands to drought and other water
availability problems.

A related challenge is the country's perennial problem of food insufficiency and
in light of our growing population. This calls for the development of new areas for food
production.

The development and management of the country's water resources are critical
interventions because the availability of water (or lack of water) impacts on the
country's ability to increase agricultural productivity, which is fundamental to food
security. Protection and efficient management of the watersheds ensure the



continuous water base flow and contribute to environmental sustainability. There is a
need, therefore, to ensure water availability for sustainable agricultural development
while paraltel interventions should be pursued to arrest rapid environmental
degradation.

This bill, thus, aims to promote soil and water conservation technologies and
practices through the National Soil and Water Conservation Program. The targeted
sector of the program consists of local government units and marginalized farmers in
the rain-fed uplands.

Under the water conservation efforts in the Program, environment-friendly rain water
harvesting structures will be constructed in the middie to upper reaches of the uplands
and watersheds with predominantly rolling to hilly topography. The depressions and
small iniand valieys in these areas can be harnessed for small water reservoir
development which could then be utilized by poor upland farming communities for
agricultural production. The envisaged to program will also include watershed
protection, development and management as major components.

Likewise, sustainable upland development is also one of the priority thrusts of
the government under Executive Order 606 (Pursuing Sustainable Upland
Development Anchoring on Food, Wood, and Non-Wood Security and Economic
Productivity). Rainwater harvesting can contribute to the attainment of sustainable
upland development through the involvement of local communities who will manage
and maintain both the rainwater harvesting systems and the local watersheds, which
are important in recharging ground and surface water that will feed into the water
impounding dams.

Concomitant to water conservation activities are soil conservation activities.
There are various soil conservation measures that could be implemented in the
uplands to protect the environment while attaining agricultural productivity. These will
reduce the risks of natural disasters and enhance the adoption mechanism of farmers
and communities to climate change. Moreover, it will also enhance food security,
improve farm household income, protect resource base and/or environment and
prepare the community against the threats of upcoming natural calamity.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bili is eamestly sought.

LEX ANTHONY GRIS A. COLADA
eee Party-list



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manita

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

No, S001

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Lex Anthony Cris A. Colada

AN ACT PROMOTING SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGIES
AND APPROACHES FOR SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT

Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known asked the “Soil and Water
Conservation Act of 2022.”

Section 2, Declaration of Policy. It is here by declared the policy of the state to
promote and support soil and water conservation technologies and approaches
through the development, promotion, and implementation of soil and water
conservation measures and practices including rainwater harvesting to enhance
decision - making, planning, and potential up - scaling of good practices. Towards this
end, the state shall support Sustainable Land Management (SLM) programs for the
prevention of land degradation and protection of the environment and natural resource
base, and to protect the livelihood of farmers, particularly of upland farmers and

indigenous people.
Section 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act:

2) Land Degradation refers to the reduction or loss of the biological or economic
productivity and complexity of rain - fed cropland, irrigated cropland, range,
pasture, forest, and woodlands resulting from land use or from processes or
combination of processes arising from human activities and habitation pattern
such as a) soil erosion caused by wind and/or water; b) deterioration of the
physical, chemical, or biological or economic properties of soil; c) long term loss

of natural vegetation


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e)

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Organic Agriculture refers to a production system that sustains the health of
soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on Eco logical processes karma by a
diversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs
with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation, and
science to benefit the shared environment and to promote fair relationship and
good quality of life for all involved.

Rain-fed Area refers to an area not served by any irrigation facility and mainly
relies on rainfall for crop and animal production

Rainwater Harvesting System refers to a system that collects karma
accumulates, and stores rainwater and surface run-off for purposes of
supplemental irrigation, inland fish production, and other agricultural purposes.
Small - Scale Rainwater Harvesting System refers to reservoir storage
facilities with a height of not more than 5 m and surface area of not more than
2500 m?.

Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) refers to a simple, applicable,
low - cost method of upland farming which consists of alley farming and which
field and perennial crops are grown in bands 4-5 m wide between contoured
rows of leguminous trees and shrubs.

Soil and Water Conservation Technologies refers to measures that control
soil and water degradation and enhance productivity in the field.

Soil and Water Conservation Approaches refer to ways and means of
support that helped to introduce, implement, adapt, and apply soil and water
conservation technologies in the field,

Soil and Water Conservation Guided Farm (SWCGF) refers to a farm
established to showcase appropriate soil and water conservation technologies
for possible replication and up-scaling. It is also an approach that facilitates the
proper implementation of soil and water conservation technologies through the
provision of technical assistance in the field survey, soil and water conservation
farm planning and implementation of the plan.

Soil and Water Conservation Farm Plan refers to a plan that considers the
right mix of farm enterprises and appropriate soil and water conservation
technologies, which is formulated with reference to existing bio - physical
and socio-economic conditions of the farm and in consultation with farmer-

cooperators.


x) Soil Conservation refers to the management of soil to prevent or reduce soil
erosion and depletion by wind and water.

}) Sustainable Land Management (SLM) refers to the use of land resources,
including soils, water, animals and plants, for the production of goods to meet
changing human needs, while simultaneously ensuring the long - term
productive potential of these resources and the maintenance of their
environmental functions.

m) Upland refers to the extensive portion of land located within one hundred to
five hundred (100-500) meters above sea level with slopes of less than eighteen
percent (18%).

n) Water Conservation refers to the protection, development, and efficient
management of water resources for beneficial purposes.

0) Watershed refers to a land area drained by a stream or fixed body of water and
its tributaries having common outlet for surface run off. This include small
watershed with area of ten thousand (10,000) hectares and below; medium
scale watershed with area of more than ten thousand (10,000) hectares to fifty
thousand (50,000) hectares; and a large-scale watershed with an area of fifty
thousand (50,000) hectares,

p) Watershed Management refers to the process of guiding and organizing land
and other resources in a watershed to provide desired goods and services
without adversely affecting soil, water and other natural resources.

q) Watershed Protection refers to a management strategy to control soil erosion
and prevent the illegal cutting of the vegetations and other land degrading
activities in the watershed.

Section 4. The National Soil and Water Conservation Program. In order to address
the problem of land degradation which affects the state and management of our
natural resources, with a National Soil and Water Conservation Program, here in after
referred to as the Program, is hereby established. The program shall foment synergies
between agricultural of productivity improvement and sustainable land management
of through the promotion and implementation of soil and water conservation

technologies and approaches.


The Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), in consultation with
concerned agencies and other stakeholders, shall prepare the National Soil and Water
Conservation Program subject to the approval of the secretary of the Department of
Agriculture DA. Upon implementation of this Act, the (BSWM) shall submit annual
report and progress report as may be required, within 5 years to the secretary of the

Department of Agriculture for review and assessment.

Section 5, Goals and Objectives. The program shall support the implementation of
sustainable land management SLM projects for livelihood improvement and
prevention of land degradation in the uplands. As such, it shall pursue the following

specific objectives

+ To establish one thousand (1,000) soil and water conservation and guided
farms within 5 years from the effectivity Of this Act in order to showcase
sustainable land management best practices such as but not limited to stoping
agricultural land technology, organic - based agriculture farm waste and
residue Management, waste water recycling and re - use, rain water harvesting
or combination of 2 or more of these Practices including approaches to
implement these practices

+ To establish ten thousand (10,000) units of small - scale rainwater harvesting
systems consisting of rainwater reservoir development, watershed
management, and service area development in strategic upland areas
throughout the country, within five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act; and

+ To capacitate and empower local government units LGUs and farmers
associations in the implementation and operationalization and maintenance of
soil and water conservation model farms and rainwater harvesting systems.

Section 6. Implementing Agency. The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the
Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) and the DA - Regional Field Units
(DA-RFUs), shall provide the technical and administrative support in the
implementation of the program and all other policies and objectives of this Act.

Section 7. Farmers Associations. Farmer-cooperators and program recipients shail
be organized into associations and/or cooperatives and shall be capacitated on soil


and water conservation. The BSWN and DA-RFUs, in coordination with concerned
local government units (LGUs), shall train them on soil and water conservation and
shall assist them in accessing available credit windows sustain the operation and

maintenance of the soil and water conservation facilities to be established.

The BSWM and Bureau of Soils and Water Management , in coordination with
concerned LGUs, shall assist and facilitate the registration of such associations and/or
cooperatives for purposes of participation in the National Soil and Water Conservation
Program: Provided, that the farmers shall select the leaders of their respective
aggrupations in accordance with the Constitution and by-laws that they shall formulate

and firm up.

Section 8. Soil and Water Conservation Guided Farms. Soil snd Water
Conservation Guided Farms (SWCGF) shall serve as model farms that will showcase
soil and water conservation approaches and technologies and the uplands. These will
provide a multiplier effect by encouraging other farmers to engaged in soil and water
conservation. For this purpose, SWCGF shall be established in clusters within high
impact areas such as watersheds.

Potential sites shall be identified and selected, using approved site selection
criteria, in coordination with concern LGUs and farmers associations. Selected sites
shall be subjected to various field surveys, bio-physical characterization, and socio-
economic profiling, the results of which shail serve as inputs in the preparation of Soil
and Water Conservation Farm Plan: Provided, that the said plan shall be prepared in
consultation with farmers based on the sites bio-physical characteristics, market
potential of crops to be produced, and capability and resources a farmer - cooperators
to manage the farm. The Soil and Water Conservation Guided Farms shall be
established in accordance with the Soil and Water Conservation Farm Plan, farmers’

capabilities and preferences, and available resources.

Section 9, Small Scale Rainwater Harvesting Structures. A small - scale rainwater
harvesting structures shall be designed and established in cluster to store rain water
and surface run-off within a watershed. Potential sites shall be identified and selected

using approved site selection criteria in coordination with concerned LGUs and


farmers associations. Selected sites shall be subjected to various field surveys, bio-
physical characterization and socio-economic profiling. The small-scale rainwater
harvesting structures shall be implemented in accordance with the approved
engineering plans and design, and field distribution which shall be prepared by
concerned LG U with technical assistance from BSWM and DA-RFUs.

The BSWM shall turn over the small - scale rainwater harvesting structures to
the concern LGU wherein said structures are located. Subject to the requirements to
be set by BSWM, the LGU shall accordingly and trust and delegate the operation and
maintenance of structures to duly organized farmers associations as recipients.

Farmers shall be required to formulate to prepare the appropriate cropping
pattern and calendar that will optimize the use of stored rainwater with the technical
assistance from the LGUs through the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist.

Section 10, Research, Development and Extension Services. Research and
development and extension on soil and water conservation shall be an important
component of the program to provide a dynamic technology development, information
dissemination and extension support in the implementation of the program. Research
and development shall cover but shall not be limited to the following areas: rainwater
harvesting design methods, runoff management technologies, soil moisture

conservation impacts, and groundwater recharge enhancement,

The BSWM, the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) are and the Agricultural
Training Institute (ATI) of the DA, the Ecosystem Research And Development Bureau
(ERDB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and
concerned State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), through proper and appropriate
institutional arrangements, shall provide technical support and assistance in the
conduct of research and development and in the provision of extension services on
soil and water conservation to LGUs and farmers associations adding cooperative.

The BSWM and ATI shall also assist the LGU in the conduct of trainings for
beneficiaries and/or cooperators of soil and water guided farms and small - scale

rainwater harvesting systems prior to operation and/or turn - over of said facilities.


Section 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations — The Department of Agriculture
and Bureau of Soils and Water Management, in consultation with other concerned
agencies and stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulation to

implement this Act.

Section 12. Appropriations — The amount necessary for the initial implementation of
this Act shall be charged to the budget of the Department of Agriculture under the
current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for
its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

Section 13. Separability Clause — if any provision of this Act is subsequently
declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected
thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 14, Repealing Clause. All laws or parts thereof, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are here by repealed or modified
accordingly.

Section 15. Effectivity ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.