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

Seventeenth Congress
‘Second Regular Session

House BiLLNo.__62'79

Introduced by Representative Sharon S. Garin

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Pesticide use is still prevalent among the agricultural sector in the Philippines.
However, pesticide poisoning is also still one of the global health problems. In a study
published in the Journal of Rural Medicine of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine, it
is estimated that about 5 million people die every year as a result of intentional, accidental,
and occupational exposures worldwide. And it is the lowly farm workers who are of great
risk of exposure as they handle the pesticides directly, often without the proper safety gear
and post clean-up facilities.

In addition to regular agricultural workers, of particular concer is the exposure of
young children, who are often employed in vegetable growing from an early age. In one
study in north-east Luzon, the children reported health symptoms such as headaches, skin
irritation and abdominal pain after the use of chemicals.

The most common types of pesticides used in the country are organophosphate
insecticides, carbamates and synthetic pyrethroids — each providing distinct hazards to
pesticide handlers. Organophosphates can be absorbed by humans through skin or inhalation,
resulting in nausea, diarrhea and other adverse effects on the nervous system. Many
carbamates are known carcinogens (cancer-causing), while pyrethroids may also cause users
to experience dizziness, headache, nausea and diarrhea. Exposure to immense doses leads to
acute poisoning and can even be fatal.

This bill ensures that our agricultural workers are sufficiently protected and properly
educated when handling these dangerous chemicals. Farm owners and operators should
provide adequate methods in ensuring a safe farming environment for their workers.

For the foregoing reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

SHAR’ ;ARIN
AAMB! Partylist


warvausene

10
co
12

13
14
15
16

7
18

19
20

a

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

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

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

House BILLNo._ 6279

Introduced by Representative Sharon S. Garin

AN ACT
TO PROTECT WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM THE HAZARDS OF
WORKING IN AGRICULTURAL SITES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Farm Workers’

Protection Act of 2016.”

SEC. 2. Requirements. - The following requirements shall be met at any agricultural

site to which pesticides have or will be applied. Farm owners or operators shall:

a) Conduct or cause to have conducted mandatory testing for the presence of
organophosphate pesticides for all handlers of pesticides, including applicators
and mixers of pesticides. This testing shall be conducted within one week of the
arrival of such workers at the agricultural site and within one week of the
departure of such workers from the site;

b) Provide personal protection equipment which has been fit-tested to all individuals
who are required or may be required to Wear such equipment in the course of
their work, and which is readily available to any worker needing to wear or use

such equipment;


10

1

12

13

14

15

16

7

18

19

20

2

22

23

24

©) Provide education and information to farm workers and their families about the
hazards of exposure to pesticides, how to avoid such exposures to children,
personal clothing and possessions, and what to do if pesticide exposure or

contamination occurs;

4) Report to the Department of Agriculture every incident of pesticide exposure to
farm workers or their families, whether by direct exposure to pesticide
applications or from drift of pesticides from the application site. Such reporting
shall occur within the twenty-four hours of such pesticide exposure and shall
include the day and time of the day the exposure occurred and the pesticides to
which the individuals were exposed;

©) Provide on-site washing machines for Workers to clean pesticide contaminated
clothing, which are separate from clothes washing facilities used by families. The
farm owner or operator shall be responsible to provide instruction in the proper
care of clothing contaminated with or exposed to pesticides;

) Provide one shower facility for every five (5) workers, with separate facilities for
males and females, for the removal of pesticide residues and other contaminants;

8) Provide one or more public telephones for workers to report medical emergencies,
including pesticide exposures of contamination; and

hh) Ensure that all new housing for farm workers is located at least fifty (50) feet from
any field or site, except for enclosed facilities such as greenhouses, which may be
treated with pesticides. Existing housing which does not comply with this
paragraph shall be replaced within five years or cease to be used after that time.

SEC. 3. Penalty. - The Department of Agriculture is hereby empowered to establish

and assess penalties or fines against farm owners and operators for violations of this Act. In


10

n

12

23

4

no circumstance will any penalty or fine to exceed One Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P100,000.00).

SEC. 4. Annual Report - The Department of Agriculture shall issue an annual report
of all farm inspections to the legislature for the previous calendar year, including Compliance
with the requirements contained in this Act; enforcement actions, fines and penalties for non-
compliance resulting from such inspections; and pesticide exposure or contamination reports.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. - If any provisions, or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain
valid and subsisting.

SEC.6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its

complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,