FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
S. B. No. 
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~ 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
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. 
The World Bank reported that soil erosion is the worst environmental problem in 
the Philippines, affecting between 63% to 76.5% of the country's total land area, with 13 
of the total provinces in the country 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 to establish the Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT), 
involving diversified crop production and soil and water conservation measures as the 
more appropriated program for 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 from their crops. More importantly, it will help to 
restore and conserve soil fertility and stem the damage to the environment. 
This bill proposes a 20% real property tax exemption to farmers applying the 
SALT farming method for the first five years of the implementation of this program, in 
addition to extension and other services provided by the Department of Agriculture 
PA). 
These measures will be powerful tools in advancing the government's major 
goals of poverty alleviation, environmental protection and sustainable development. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHlLlPPlNEs 
1 
7 nu5 -1 
p 5 7r! 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
BY :-".+&LA 
S. B. No. $421. 
~~ 
~ 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM FOR 
AGRICULTURAL 
LANDS 
LOCATED 
IN 
SLOPING 
AREAS, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE AND FOR OTHER 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 Lands Program Act". 
SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policies. - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to promote sustainable, comprehensive rural development and to provide support 
to the agricultural sector through appropriate technology transfer and research activities, 
and the provision of adequate financing, production, marketing, extension and other 
support services. 
To this end, the establishment of programs and farming techniques shall be 
undertaken to ensure greater production, thereby increasing income and promoting 
equitable income distribution in rural areas and enable the rural poor, particularly the 
hillside farmers, to contribute in the pursuit of national self-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. 
SEC. 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 tress and shrubs like coffee, banana, 
citrus, kakawate, and ipil-ipil planted along the contours. The rows of trees or shrubs 
serve to slow down the runoff and intercept eroded soils, thus minimizing soil erosion. 
Coverage. - The Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) 
Farming 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. 
Lead Agency. -The Department of Agriculture shall, jointly with the 
Department of Agrarian Reform and in coordination with the local government units 
concerned and other non-government organizations, plan and program the 
SEC. 4. 
SEC. 5. 


implementation of the SALT farming method through a period of three (3) years from the 
effectivity of this Act. 
SEC. 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; 
infrastructure development and public works projects that fall under the 
program, including but not limited to the preparation of physical 
development plans; 
availment of existing government subsidies for irrigation facilities; 
price support for agricultural produce; 
long-term, low-interest credit, loans and grants, especially to landowners, 
farmers and farmers-organization; 
all crops suitable for the implementation of the program; and 
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. 
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. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - 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. 
Appropriations. -The amount necessary for the implementation of 
this act shall be charged to the appropriations for the Department of Agriculture. 
Thereafter, such amount necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in 
the annual General Appropriations Act. 
Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations, issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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. 
SEC. 8. 
SEC. 9. 
SEC. I O .  
SEC. 11. 
SEC. 12. 
SEC. 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,