THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLI 
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OF THE PHILIPPINE 
First Regular Session 
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S E N A T  
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S. No. 
Introduced by Senator S. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The continued importation and use of chemical or inorganic fertilizers, 
pesticides, weedicides, and other farm inputs has long been a source of protest 
and debate within the agricultural sector. It is well known now that increased use 
of chemical pesticides and fertilizers have created a chain of problems of soil, 
environment and water degradation. 
The intensive chemical agriculture is 
causing heavy pollution of our food, drinking water and air. The life expectancy 
has improved but the quality of life has substantially deteriorated. 
This bill seeks to establish a comprehensive bio-organic farming program 
as an alternative to chemical agriculture. 
Bio-organic farming is defined as an agricultural production system which 
avoids the use of chemical or inorganic farm inputs, pesticides, weedicides, and 
feed additives and relies on biological means of conditioning and enriching the 
soil, and controlling pests. 
The program is aimed at reducing the possible damage caused by 
chemical or inorganic farm inputs which may have irreparable or irreversible 
effects on the environment and living organisms in the ecosystem. Moreover, the 
program seeks to help farmers reduce their expenses by decreasing their 
dependence on inorganic fertilizers and thereby increase farm yield and income. 
To provide the direction and guidelines for the program as well as 
supervise its implementation, the Bio-Organic Farming Authority (BOFA) shall be 
created under the Office of the President, with the Secretary of the Department of 
Agriculture as Chairman, and the Secretaries (or their representatives) 'of the. 
following as members: Department of Science and Technology, Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Education, Department of 
Interior and Local Government, as well as representatives of small farmers, non- 
government organizations, and state colleges and universities. 


It would be to the advantage of our environment, our economy, and 
ultimately our people to adopt this measure providing for the promotion of bio- 
organic farming in the Philippines. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
- k 
SERGIO OSMENA ill 
Senator 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLI 
b 
First Regular Session 
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B 
“04 JUN 30 P a  :05 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
S E  
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S. No. 
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introduced by Senator S. R. Osmeiia 111 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE PROMOTION OF BIO-ORGANIC FARMING IN THE 
PHILIPPINES 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy- It is hereby declared the Policy of 
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the State to promote, propagate and assist the practice of bio-organic farming in 
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the Philippines that will cumulatively condition and enrich the fertility of the soil, 
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increase farm yields, reduce pollution and destruction of the environment, 
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prevent the depletion of 
natural resources, and reduce our dependents on 
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imported farm inputs. Towards this end, a comprehensive program for the 
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production and distribution of bio-organic fertilizers, pesticides and other farm 
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inputs shall be undertaken in order to meet the countryk requirements. 
SEC. 2. Bio-Organic Farming. - For purposes of this Act, “bio-organic 
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farming” shall mean an agricultural production system which avoids the use of 
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chemical or inorganic farm inputs, pesticides weedicides and feed additives and 
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relies on biological means of conditioning and enriching the soil, and controlling 
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pests, such as but not limited to the use of beneficial organisms, the utilization of 
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plant and animal wastes through composing, crop rotation, intercropping, multiple 
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cropping, and the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) or pesticide- 
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free community ecology approach to pest management , It also covers areas 
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such as but not limited to, soil fertility management, varietal breeding and 


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selection under chemical and pesticide-free conditions, and other cultural 
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practices that enhance productivity without destroying the soil and harming 
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farmers, consumers, and the environment. 
SEC. 3. Program. - There is hereby established a comprehensive bio- 
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organic farming program which shall adopt and develop the propagation of bio- 
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farmers thereon, the extension of assistance to individuals and groups who are 
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practicing and promoting these methods as well as those who are willing to do 
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so, other pertinent activities, and documentation and evaluation of the program. 
SEC. 4. Bio-Organic Farming Aufhorify. - To carry out the policy and 
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the program provided in this Act, there is hereby created a Bio-Organic Farming 
Authority (BOFA) under the Office of the President. The BOFA shall have a 
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juridical personality and shall consist of a Board Members (hereinafter referred to 
as the Board) which shall provide the direction and general guidelines for the 
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program, with an Executive Directorate which shall implement the program in its 
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various aspects in accordance with the direction and guidelines of the Board. The 
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various government departments and agencies and the officials thereof named in 
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this Act, in collaboration with private individuals and groups also herein named, 
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are hereby directed to intensify and coordinate their activities with the program of 
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the BOFA. 
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The BOFA shall ensure the full participation of people’s organizations 
(POs), non-government organizations (NGOs), and the general public through 
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mechanisms, such as but not limited to, public hearings, meetings, and joint 
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projects. 
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SEC. 5. The Board. - The Board shall consist of: 
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the Secretary of Agriculture and Food, Chairman; 
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the Secretaries (or their representatives) of the Department of Science 
and Technology, Environment and Natural Resources Education, Culture and 
Sports, and the Interior and Local Government; 


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two (2) representatives of small farmers; 
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the Chairman of the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (PFA); 
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two (2) representatives of non-government organizations involved in 
sustainable agriculture for at least three (3) years; and 
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two (2) representatives of agricultural state and private colleges and 
universities, Members. 
The representatives of small farmers and of NGOs, and of agricultural 
state and private colleges and universities, shall be chosen by the Secretaries of 
Agriculture and Food and Science and Technology, respectively, from among 
nominees submitted to the agency concerned by their respective national 
organizations. They shall be conversant with bio-organic farming and committed 
to the policies and program provided under this Act. 
SEC. 7. Organizafion of the Board. - Within sixty (60) working days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the national organizations of small farmers, of 
NGOs, and of agricultural colleges and universities submit their respective 
nominees to the Secretary of Agriculture and Food and the Secretary of Science 
and Technology, as the case may be, who shall evaluate the qualifications of the 
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nominees and appoint the most qualified members to the Board 
The Chairman shall call the members of the Board, or a majority thereof if 
not all have been designated, to a meeting to organize themselves and prescribe 
its rules and procedures for the attainment of the objectives of this Act. A majority 
of all the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. 
The Board shall also determine its budget, including travel expense, 
allowances and per diems of its non-governmental members when attending 
official Board meetings or attending to matters assigned to them, and costs of 
office space, equipment and supplies. 
The Board may appoint full-time assistants, Secretaries, and other 
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employees, subject to existing Civil Service rules and regulations. 


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SEC. 8. Executive Directorate.- The Executive Directorate, hereinafter 
referred to as the Directorate, shall be headed by a full-time Executive Director 
who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines not later than thirty 
(30) working days after the Board’s organizational meeting and whose 
compensation shall be fixed by the Board. The Executive Director shall be 
assisted by the members of the Directorate, who shall be composed of the 
following public officials and representatives of private groups, and who are 
hereby directed to extend full support and cooperation; 
- The Director, Bureau of Soils and Water Management, DAF; 
- The Director, Bureau of Plant industry, DAF; 
- The Director, Agricultural Training Institute, DAF; 
- The Director, Bureau of Agricultural Research, DAF; 
- The Executive Director, Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) 
- A representative, to be designated by the Secretary of the Department 
of Science and Technology; 
- A representative, to be designated by the Secretary of the Department 
of Environment and Natural Resources; 
- A representative, to be designated by the Secretary of the Department 
of Education, Culture and Sports; 
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- A representative, to be designated by the Secretary of the Department 
of the Interior and Local Government; 
- The Executive Director, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and 
Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD); 
- A representative from the Farmers Cooperative Sector; 
- Two (2) representatives of other NGOs involved in sustainable 
agriculture or development for the past three (3) years to be chosen by the 
Secretary of Agriculture and Food from among the nominees of the NGO sector; 


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- A representative each of agricultural state and private colleges and 
universities, to be chosen from among the nominees of national organizations of 
said colleges and universities; and 
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- Three (3) representatives of small farmers to be chosen by the 
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Secretary of Agriculture and Food from among the nominees of national 
organizations of small farmers; 
All the members or representatives in the Executive Directorate shall be 
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conversant with bio-organic farming and committed to the policies and program 
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provided under this Act. 
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The Executive Director is hereby empowered to call upon any government 
agency for assistance in the performance of his tasks. 
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The Departments of Agriculture and Food and of Science and Technology 
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shall jointly provide an office and staff for the Directorate. 
The s a h y  and office expenses of the Executive Director and the 
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members and staff of the Directorate as well as the travelling expenses, 
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allowances and per diems of private representatives in the Directorate attending 
official Directorate meetings and performing other tasks assigned to them, shall 
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be taken from the appropriations provided under this Act. 
SEC. 
9. 
Apportionment of Tasks. - the Executive Director shall 
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apportion and coordinate the tasks embraced by the program provided in this Act 
among the various members of the Directorate according to their field(s) of 
specialization. Such tasks shall include, but are not limited to, research,. 
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education, extension, training of farmers, training of trainors including the giving 
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or acquisition of scholarships and observation grants here and abroad, pesticide- 
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free IPM, small scale and commercial production of organic farm inputs, an 
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accreditation system to insure their quality, and sustained promotional 
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campaigns. The members of the Directorate shall at all times observe 
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cooperation with one another, complement andlor supplement each other tasks, 


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and involve their offices and/or organizations in the accomplishment of such 
tasks. 
SEC. I O .  Work Plan. - Within sixty (60) working days after assuming 
office and after the first organizational meeting of the Directorate, the Executive 
Director shall submit to the Office of the President for approval; 
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a) A report on the setting-up and organization of the Directorate and staff; 
b) A scheme of distribution and complementation of functions among the 
members of the Directorate; 
c) A plan of bringing the program down to the grassroots, utilizing 
available personnel and facilities on the local level and those of local 
government u n its; 
d) A pattern of cooperation and mutual assistance with local government 
units, POs and NGOs, which will maximize people empowering and 
participatory approaches to program formulation, implementation and 
monitoring; and 
e) A schedule of short-term, medium-term and long-term targets. 
SEC. 1 I .  Bio-organic Farming and Protection of the Environment. - 
The BOFA shall constantly devise and implement ways and means not only of 
producing bio-organic fertilizers and other farm inputs and needs on and off the 
farm but also of helping to alleviate the problems of industrial waste and 
community garbage disposal through appropriate methods of sorting, collecting 
and composting. 
Likewise, the BOFA in coordination with the Department of Education, 
Culture and Sports shall set-up Bio-Organic demonstration farms in various 
schools nationwide. 
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The Executive Director shall conduct continuing studies, with cons u Ita t ions 
among the people and officials involved as well as POs AND NGOs, in order to 
advise local governments, from the Barangay to the Provincial level, on the 


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collection and disposal of garbage and waste in such a way as to provide raw 
materials for the production of organic fertilizer and other farm inputs 
SEC. 12. Incentives. - The Government shall extend incentives for the 
manufacture and propagation of bio-organic farm inputs by maximizing their use 
in all government and government-supported agricultural production, research 
and demonstration programs. The Department of Agriculture and Food (DAF), 
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) , Department of Education, 
Culture and Sports (DECS), Department of the Interior and Local Government. 
(DILG), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Land Bank, and other 
government lending and non-lending institutions shall also assist organic input 
producers through the provision of adequate financial, technical, marketing and 
other services and resources. 
SEC. 
13. 
Appropriations. - The sum of Fifty million pesos 
(P50,000,000.00) for the effective implementation of this Act is hereby 
appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise 
appropriated. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the continuous 
implementation of the program shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act. 
At least seventy-five percent (75%) of the BOFA’s budget shall be allotted 
for holistic and integrated scientific research, information, education, and training 
of farmers and demonstration on the farm level, including the provisions of full- 
time bio-farming extension workers who will work with farmers’ associations and 
cooperatives, POs, NGOs, barangay assemblies, rural communities, and other 
groups. 
SEC. 14. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or the 
application of such provision to any person or circumstance is held invalid for any 
reason, the other provisions or their application to other persons or 
circumstances not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 
15. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, 
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repealed or amended accordingly. 
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SEC. 16. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon ifs approval 
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Approved,