Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session 3

HOUSE BILLNo, 5635

Introduced by Representative TEDDY A. CASINO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The enactment of R.A. 10068, also known as the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, is

considered a boost to the local organic market. While it is still in its initial stages of

implementation, there is a need to fi

-tune the Act in order to further promote organic

agriculture and truly empower our local farmers.

However, criticism towards the seemingly exclusive rights given to private certifying
bodies inhibits the growth of organic agriculture as it deters small farmers from going

organic. ‘The high cost to get certified, in order to carry the “organic” label discriminates

against our small farmers and indigenous peoples who have long traditions of raising and
producing organic goods. Denying them to label what is essentially an organic product as

such is also detrimental to their livelihood.

Local government units (LGU) should be given a bigger role in the promotion of
organic agriculture. Increasing number of LGUs recognize the health, economic and

environmental value of organic farming, and have likewise issued ordinances in support of

organic agriculture. These local initiatives should be considered by national government

agencies before they allow crops or agricultural methods that may affect the organic nature

of farming in the localities where they intend to operate or test.

This bill recognizes the Participatory Guarant

System (PGS) in the certification

and labeling of organic products and encou:

the appropriate agencies to develop and



strengthen such alternative certification mechanisms. It likewise ens

wes the protection of

indigenous organic resources against cross contamination of engineered crops

For decades, the lack of s

ainable alternatives and genuine support from the

national government have turned generations of

ipino farmers slaves to the land, instead
of stewards of it. This is due to the fact chat landlords, big agco-corporations and
government policies have been used to tie farmers to usurious practices and products,

further pushing peasants to poverty. Sustai

able agricultural methods, such as organic
farming, are a welcome alternative to the import-based and toxic farming methods which

ate destroying our natural resource

In view of the foregoing, immediate pa:

\ge of this bill is earnestly sought.
Approved,

<= Peet On

EDDY A. CASINO
Bayan Muna Party-list,


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSEBILLNo, 5635

Introduced by Representative TEDDY A. CASINO

AN ACT.

RECOGNIZING THE PARTICIPATORY GUARANTEE SYSTEM (PGS) AS A
FORM FOR CERTIFICATION FOR LABELLING ORGANIC PRODUCTS
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 10068, ALSO KNOWN AS
‘THE ORGANIC AGRICULTURE ACT OF 2010, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Section 3 of the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 (R.A, 10068), is hereby

amended to read as follows:

“(a) Organic refers to the particular farming and processing systems described in the

chemical sense. The

standards and not in the

“organic” is synonymous

in other languages to “biological” or “ecological”, It is also a labeling term that
denotes products considered organic based on the Philippine National Standards for

organi

agriculture.
“(n) PARTICIPATORY GUARANTE

FOCUSED QUALITY ASSU!
THEY CERTIFY PRODUCERS BAS



STAKEHOLDERS AND ARE BUILT ON A FOUNDATION OF TRUST,
SOCIAL NETWORKS AND KNOWLEDGE E}

SEC. 2.

ction 15 on accreditation of organic certifying body in R.A, 10068 is hereby

amended as follows:

“The BAF

'S is hereby designated and authorized to grant official accreditation to

organic certifying body or entity. The BAFPS is tasked to formulate the necessary
ules and procedures in the accrediation of organic certifying body: Provided, That

there shall be at les

one (1) accredited organic certifying body each in Luzon,

nd Mindanao or in ited, it

of only (1) organic certifying body is

ave at least one (1) satellite office or processing unit each in Luzon,

yas

and Mindanao.

“PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT IN ACCREDITING A CERTFYING BODY
OR ENTITY, THE BAFPS SHALL RECOGNIZE PARTICIPATORY
2MS AS VALID CI ATION MECHANISMS AND.

"ABLISH PROG! JEN AND DEVELOP THE

GUARANTE

SHALL I

RAMS
SAME.”

SEC. 3. Section 16 of R.A. 10068 is hereby amended as follows:

(a) The name, address and emergency contact information of each organic food or

input establishment that the

istrant Owns or operates;
ee

ING TO CONSUMERS,

RED WITH BAFPS

x
“(g) IN THE CASE OF DIRECT SEI DONE BY
SMALL OR FAMILY FARMERS, PREVIOUSLY REGIS:

OR LGU COUNTERPART, CERTIFICATION IS OPTIONAL.”

SEC. 4. Section 17 of R.A. 10068 is hereby amended as follows:

he label of organic produce shall contain the name, logo or seal of the organic

certifying body and the accreditation number issued by the BAFPS. {Only third party


certifi

ion is allowed to be labeled as organically produced] THE ORGANIC
LABEL SHALL ALSO INCLUDE THE TRADE NAME AND THE ORIGIN,
ADDRI OF THE PRODU!

SEC. 5. Sections 24 through 32 of R.A. 10068 are hereby amended as follows

“SECTION 24. PROTL
AGAL
CROPS AND LIVE

URCES
SRITY OF ORGANIC
INSURED AND

MONITORED. RISK OF ©
CROPS AND LIVE

|ON FROM ENGIN
ALL BE PREVE D AT ALL TIM
SHALL MONITOR ALL APPLICATIONS FOR FIELD-TESTINGS/
PRODUCTION OF ENGIN’ D CROPS AND LIVESTOCK, AND SHALL
HAVE THE POWER TO DENY ANY APPLICATION IF IT FINDS
FICIENT CAUSE.

D
BAFPS

“ALL FIELD TESTING, PLANTING OR RAISING OF GENETICALLY-
MODIFIED ORGANISM LOWED IN THE VICINITY
WHERE ORGANIC FARMING IS BEING CONDUCTED, BAFPS, IN
COORDINATION WITH NOAB, SHALL IMPLEMENT AN ORGANIC
ZONE TO ESTABLISH THE RADIUS WHERE THE ORGANIC PRODUCE,
IS NOT IN DIRECT OR IMMEDIATE CONTACT OR INFLUENCE OF
ENGINEERED ORGANISMS.

HOULD NOT B

“IN THE EVENT OF CONTAMINATION BY GENETICALLY-MODII
ORGANISM, PATENTED OR OTHERWE

ED
AND/OR
‘TOWNER
IR ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGES.

‘THE LGU, BAF]
ORGANIC INPUT PRODUCER MAY HOLD THE GMO PAT!
LIABLE



TION 25. RECOGNITION OF LOCAL ORDINANCES AND OTHER
IAN SONSISTENT WITH ITS MANDATE UNDER SECTION 16 -
RAL WELFAI 7160, LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUS)
HAVE THE POWER TO ENACL ORDINANC

GE

FR.

'S FOR THE GENERAL.

NT TO THIS, LOCAL. ORDINAN
ISSUANCES ON AGRICULTURE, INC
ORGANIC AGRI

ND/OR

DING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
L-TURE AND PROHIBITION OF
MODIFIED ORGANISMS, SHALL BE, RECOGNI
GOVERNMENT AGE!

ENETICAL

“LGUS, IN COORDINATION WITH BAFPS SHALL.
THE CONDUCT OF AGRICULTURE IN ORDER TO
QUALITY AND INTEGRITY OF ORGANIC PRODUC: s
FIELD TRIALS OF ANY TYPE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODL
METHOD SHALL REQUIRE LGU
REQUIREMENTS SET

ING OR

oT OR

= APART FROM THE:
AGENCY CONCERNED,

SC. (24) 26. Incenti

‘SEC

5] 26. Appropriations.

“SEC. [26] 27. Penal Provision, Section 26, Penal Provision. - Any person who

willfully and deliberately

“(@) obstructs the development of propagation of organic agriculture, or the

manufacture, production, sale or use of organic agricultural inputs;

“(b) refuses without just cause to extend the support and assistance required under

this Act;


SEC. 6. Hjltivity Clause, This Ac

“(©) mislabels or claims

ait the product is organic when it is not in accordance with
the existing standards for Philippine organic agriculture or this Act (shall, upon

conviction, be punished by J; or

“(D) VIOLATES ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS ACT SHALL, UPON
CONVICTION, BE PUNISHED BY IMPRISONMENT OF NOT 11
ONE (1) MONTH NOR MORE THAN SIX (6) MONTHS, OR A FINE OF

NOT LESS THAN FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P30, 000.00), OR BOTH, A‘
THE DISCRETION OF ‘THE COURT. I
CORPORATION OR A JURIDICAL
ORDERED OR ALLOWED TH
BE PUNIS

by INDER IS A
SNTITY, THE OFFIC
COMMISSION OF THE OFFENSE SHALL
ME PENALTY. IF THE O1

AL WHO

ED WITH TH

ENDER IS IN

THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE, HE OR SHI
DISMI

SHALL IN ADDITION, BE
FROM THE OFFICE.

[27] 29. Implementing Rules and Regulations. x x x

“SEC. [28] 30. Annual Report. sx x

“SEC. [29] 31. Congressional Oversight Committee. x x x

“SEC.

30] 32. Separability Clause. xxx

. [SI] 33. Repealing Clause. x x x

32) 34. Effectivity. xxx”

I take effect immediately after its complete

publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the

Philippines.

Approved.