1 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Successful agriculture depends on healthy soil and water.  Fertile soil and clean water 
are both non-renewable resources in natural systems and, when managed properly, can also 
be renewable resources in the context of agricultural production. Soil and water are required 
resources for life on Earth.  Most terrestrial life needs a continual source of water for 
sustenance and soil is an essential medium for plant growth in most terrestrial ecosystems, 
providing nutrients, water, physical support, and biological interactions with roots.  Soil and 
water are closely linked in nature, impacting each other through the hydrologic, geo-chemical 
and energy cycles.  In most cases, an impact on the soil system has a direct impact on water 
resources. 
According to the most recent estimates of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management 
of the Department of Agriculture, about 38% or around 11.45 million hectares of sloping areas 
in the uplands are vulnerable to land degradation consist of areas classified as either 
moderately or severely eroded due to massive deforestation and unsustainable land 
management practices in the upland areas. Moreover, land degradation is a major ecological 
problem in the Philippines. Degraded lands are widely seen as a major contributor to the 
frequent occurrence of heavy and catastrophic floods in the parts of Luzon, Mindanao and the 
Visayas.  
This legislative measure seeks to provide the conservation of soil and water resources 
in the country. It aims to mainstream, promote and support soil and water conservation in 
order to prevent and control erosion and land degradation, provide rational utilization of soil 
and water resources, increase farm productivity, improve ecological environment and mitigate 
the impacts of flood and drought. 
RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
November 11, 2022
4:53 pm
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
PROMOTING SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION FOR SUSTAINABLE LAND 
MANAGEMENT AND IMPROVING FARM PRODUCTIVITY IN THE COUNTRY AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Soil and Water Conservation 
Act". 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
mainstream, promote and support soil and water conservation in order to prevent and control 
erosion and land degradation, provide rational utilization of soil and water resources,  increase 
farm productivity, improve ecological environment,   mitigate the impacts of flood and drought, 
and enhancing people’s welfare 
For this purpose, the State shall: a) establish and support a National Soil and Water 
Conservation Program; b) strengthen soil and water conservation research, development and 
extension; c) provide regulatory measures to conserve soil and water resources; d) identify 
and map vulnerable areas and land degradation hotspots  as priority areas for soil and water 
conservation;  and d) unify and strengthen the support services of the national government 
agencies and local government units including the provision of funding support. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
(a)
Abandoned Mines-refers to mines or mineral processing sites where min
closure/rehabilitation  was not done  or incomplete and with no legal owner exists;
(b)
Critical watershed- refers to a drainage  area of a river system which supplies the major
water requirements of several irrigation systems, hydro- electric dams, and domestic,
as well as industrial water systems or existing  facilities needing  immediate protection
and rehabilitation;
(c)
Land degradation refers to the reduction or loss of the biological and 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, and biological
or economic properties of soils, and c) long term loss of natural vegetation;
(d)
Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) refers to a simple, applicable, low-cost
method of upland farming which consists of alley farming in which field and perennial
crops are grown in bands 4-5 meters wide between contoured rows of leguminous
trees and shrubs;
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(e)
Soil  and Water Conservation refers to the management of soil to prevent or reduce soil
erosion and depletion by wind and water, and  the protection, development. and
efficient management of water resources for beneficial purposes; 
(d)
Sustainable Land Management (SLM) refers to the use of land resources, including
soil, 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;
(e) `
Upland refers to the extensive portion of land located within 100-500 meters above sea 
level, gently sloping to undulating and general temperature of > 22.5 degrees Celsius; 
SECTION 4.  National Soil and Water Conservation Program- To prevent soil erosion 
and land degradation, a National Soil and Water Conservation Program, herein referred to as 
the Program is hereby established. The Program shall foment synergies between agricultural 
productivity improvement and sustainable land management through mainstreaming, 
promotion and implementation of soil and water conservation measures. These Soil and water 
conservation measures shall be planned, designed and applied in the cultivation and 
management of agricultural lands, watershed protection, development of grazing areas, farms, 
forests, fisheries, mine exploration, mining, digging of wells, construction and repairs of  public 
or private roads,  canals or ditches, slope land, forest areas, agricultural and waste disposal 
and to prevent erosion and landslides on coasts, the riparian zones around lakes and dams 
and on the banks of waterways. For this purpose, the Program shall have the following 
components: 
a) Appraisal of the status of soil and water resources- The Department of Agriculture (DA)
through the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) shall conduct a continuing
appraisal and assessment of the status of soil and water resources which shall include but
not limited to 1) soil health; 2) extent of land degradation hotspots; 3) capability and
limitations of soil and water resources  for meeting the current and future demands; 4)
extent of adoption of soil and water conservation measures and their impacts as bright
spots; and 5) priority areas for the adoption of soil and water conservation measures. The
appraisal shall be undertaken in cooperation with the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) and concerned local government units (LGUs) to identify both
areas of national and local concerns pertaining to soil and water conservation.
b) Establishment of Soil and Water Conservation Guided Farms- The Department of
Agriculture through the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), its Regional
Field Offices (DA-RFOs) and the Local Government Units (LGUs) shall  establish  soil and
water  conservation guided farms at least one in agricultural areas of  each barangay
nationwide to showcase sustainable land management best practices such as but not
limited to sloping agricultural land technology (SALT), organic-based agriculture,
conservation agriculture, farm waste and residue management, wastewater recycling and
re-use, rainwater harvesting or combination of two or more of these practices.
For purposes of this Act, Soil and Water Conservation Guided farms are farms 
established to showcase appropriate soil and water conservation technologies for possible 
replication and up-scaling. As an approach, they facilitate 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. 
In case of high impact areas such as watersheds, these soil and water conservation guided 
farms shall be established in cluster in accordance with the Soil and Water Conservation 
Farm Plan to be developed, farmers' capabilities and preferences, and available 
resources. 


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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 as inputs in the preparation of Soil and Water Conservation Farm 
Plan, and 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 
of farmer-cooperators to manage the farm. 
The DA Regional Field Offices (DA-RFOs) and the Agriculture Offices of the 
LGUs shall provide the necessary technical support and extension services to farmer-
cooperators for the establishment of soil and water conservation guided farms. 
 
c)  
Establishment of Rainwater Harvesting Systems - To collect, accumulate, and store 
rainwater and surface runoff for purposes of supplemental irrigation, inland fish 
production, and other agricultural purposes, small scale rain water harvesting program 
shall be formulated and implemented by the Department of Agriculture and the LGUs. 
Small- scale rainwater harvesting system/structures or reservoir storage 
facilities with a height of not more than 5 meters and a surface area of not more than 
2, 500 sq. meters shall be established in all barangays nationwide, and in cluster to 
store rainwater and surface runoff 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 and its field distribution 
system/facilities shall be implemented in accordance with the approved engineering 
plans and design and the Philippine Agricultural Engineering Standards. 
The BSWM and DA-RFOs shall turn over the small-scale rainwater harvesting 
structures to the concerned LGUs wherein said structures are located. Subject to the 
requirements to be set, the LGU shall accordingly entrust and delegate the operation 
and maintenance of structures to duly organized farmers associations as recipients. 
Appropriate cropping pattern and calendar that will optimize the use of stored rainwater 
shall be prepared by farmers with technical assistance from the LGUs. 
 
c) 
Promotion of Bio-engineering Technologies-  Bio-engineering technologies  such as 
the  use of coconet shall be promoted and applied as fender to soil erosion control, 
slope protection/stabilization, embankment and shore protection, and in the 
rehabilitations of mined areas. This shall be integrated in the design and construction 
of infrastructure projects of the DPWH, irrigation projects of NIA specifically on the 
irrigation canal linings and embankment of small water impounding projects of DA and 
LGUs. 
 
 
Moreover, the DA and DENR in partnership with State Colleges and 
Universities, DOST and LGUs shall formulate and implement a National Biogas 
Extension Program to prevent and control ground water contamination and river 
pollution due to livestock and bio-waste disposal, and convert these biowaste into 
fertilizer and bioenergy. 
 
d) 
Aquifer Characterization and Re-Charging- The BSWM, DA- RFOs, and the Mines and 
Geo-sciences Bureau of DENR shall undertake aquifer characterization in all production 
areas nationwide as basis in the establishment of shallow tube wells and other pump 
irrigation projects. 
The construction of small-scale rainwater harvesting structures as provided under this 
Act will also form part of the program to recharge the aquifer.  
e)        Water Management – The BSWM, DA-RAEDs and LGUs shall promote among farmers 
to adopt appropriate water management in their farm operations based on the crop’s 
water requirement and consumptive use, rainfall pattern and other agro-meteorological 


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consideration, and for this purpose, shall engage the professional services of 
agricultural and Biosystems engineers. 
 
f)      Knowledge Management - As a part of the National Soil and Water Conservation 
Program, the promotion and exchange of knowledge on soil and water conservation 
and sharing of lessons and experiences from the implementation of the Program shall 
be pursued to enable broader adoption of soil and water conservation measures and 
ensure program sustainability. Knowledge products such as overview books and IEC 
materials on soil and water conservation shall be developed. The BSWM, ATI, DA-
RFOs and concerned SUCs shall formulate mechanisms and strategies to implement 
this knowledge management component of the Program. 
 
 SECTION 5. Research, Development and Extension. The Department of 
Agriculture through the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) and the Agricultural Training 
Institute (ATI), Ecosystem Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) of the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in consultation with concerned State and Private 
Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Local Government Units and other stakeholders shall 
formulate and implement a National Soil and Water Conservation Research, Development 
and Extension Program which  shall : 
a. 
Conduct of research and development (R & D) in key areas pertaining but not limited 
to rainwater harvesting design methods, runoff management, soil moisture 
conservation impacts, soil erosion vulnerability and soil and water conservation 
impacts assessment; and groundwater recharge enhancement.  
 
b. 
Capacitate the LGUs for the provision of training and institutional development of 
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. 
Farmer-cooperators and program recipients shall be organized into associations and/ 
or cooperatives and shall be capacitated on soil and water conservation. The BSWM, 
ATI and DA-RFOs shall train the LGUs  on soil and water conservation, assist them in 
accessing available credit windows to sustain the operation and maintenance of soil 
and water conservation facilities to be established and facilitate the registration of such 
associations and/ or cooperatives for purposes of participation in the National Soil and 
Water Conservation Program; 
 
c. 
Capacity development of agricultural engineers and soil technologists of the DA and 
LGUs; and 
 
d. 
Establishment of Soil and Water Conservation Demonstration Farms in concerned 
Research and Extension Centers of BSWM, DA, LGUs and DENR; 
 
     
SEC. 6.  Soil and Water Conservation Plan - All projects and activities pertaining to 
mining exploration, digging of wells for pump  irrigation, excavation of soils for buildings and 
infrastructure projects,  and in cultivating slope land areas for agriculture production, as 
additional requirement for the issuance of Mining Permits and Environmental Clearance 
Certificates by DENR, Water Permit by the Water Resources Board, Building Permit, and in 
the  accreditation for Good Agricultural Practices by the Department of Agriculture must have  
Soil and Water Conservation plan duly prepared and certified  by a registered and licensed 
Agricultural  Engineer. The implementation of the Soil and Water Conservation plan shall be 
monitored by the Department of Agriculture. 
 
 
SEC. 7. Priority Areas for Soil and Water Conservation- The following areas shall 
be mapped as priority areas for the National Soil and Water Conservation Program:  
 
1. 
 Critical watershed areas including reservoir watersheds 


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2.  
Areas immediately above the waterline of reservoirs and lakes; river banks 
side slopes of roads and canals,  and other excavated or disturbed areas that 
need slope protection; and coastal areas; 
4. 
Sand dune areas, beaches, and other areas which are especially susceptible 
to wind erosion; 
5.  
Upland and hilly lands under agricultural cultivation and/or being utilized for 
production purposes;  
6. 
Abandoned mines; and 
7.  
Other land degradation hot spots areas identified and mapped by the BSWM. 
 
The DA, DENR and concerned LGUs shall jointly be responsible in protecting these 
areas through the development and implementation of soil and water conservation programs 
and projects. 
 
SECTION.8. Creation of National Soil and Water Conservation Inter-Agency 
Committee- A National Soil and Water Conservation Inter-Agency Coordinating  Committee is 
hereby created which shall be chaired by the  DA and its members are the duly designated 
representative  from DENR, DILG, DOST, DPWH and  DAR which shall oversee, coordinate, 
integrate and monitor the  implementation of the National Soil and Water Conservation 
Program established under this Act. The BSWM shall serve as the Secretariat to this Inter-
Agency Committee. A counterpart Regional Inter-Agency Soil and Water Conservation 
Committee is hereby also established in all administrative regions of the country which shall 
be chaired by the Regional Agricultural Engineering Division of the Department of Agriculture. 
 
SECTION. 9.  Role of the Local Government Units- The Local Government Units, 
pursuant to the provisions of the Local Government Code and through its Agricultural 
Engineering Division/Section shall be responsible in the planning and implementation of Soil 
and Water Conservation Program at the provincial, city and municipal levels,  and shall: 
 
a) 
Formulate  Provincial, City and Municipal Soil and Water Conservation 
Program which shall form part in the Local Development Plans and Land Use 
Plans and shall be adopted and approved through an Ordinance by the 
Sangguniang Bayan; 
 
b) 
Prepare and/or evaluate  plans,  designs and specifications of small water 
impounding projects, small farm reservoirs and other soil and water 
conservation structures, facilities and projects; 
c) 
Supervise the construction, implementation, operation and maintenance of 
small water impounding projects, farm reservoirs and other soil and water 
conservation structures, facilities and projects; 
 
d) 
Conduct of training and extension and  promotion  of appropriate soil and water 
conservation technologies; and 
 
e) 
Evaluate  soil and water conservation plans; 
 
To effectively carry out these duties and tasks, the LGUs shall further strengthen and 
transform these Agricultural Engineering Division/Section into Agricultural and Biosystems 
Engineering Office. 
  
SEC 10. Incentive Mechanism. In order to encourage the active participation and 
engagement of farmers on the Program, a market-based incentive mechanism (e.g. Payment 
for environmental services) shall be formulated jointly by the DA and the DENR. Within the 
context of a watershed, this mechanism shall be designed to provide duly organized farmers 
associations or cooperatives incentives either in form of securing market access, revolving 


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funds or favorable terms of credit, farm implements and equipment, and community benefits 
such as farm-to-market roads, barangay trading post, and other projects that address their 
needs, as a reward or payment for their improved soil and water management. As part of the 
mechanism, a contract agreement shall be entered between the farmers groups and the DA 
and DENR or private sectors that demand the services. Appropriate and acceptable incentive 
mechanism at the farm level shall also be formulated.  
   
SEC 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department of Agriculture 
together with the DENR and DILG and in consultation with other concerned agencies and 
stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act 
within five (5) months upon the enactment of this Act. 
 
SEC. 12. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of 
this Act shall be charged to the budget of the Department of Agriculture and the Department 
of Environment and Natural Resources 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. 
 
SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws or parts thereof, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
 
SEC. 14. Separability Clause. - If any of the provisions of this Act are declared invalid, 
the other provisions which are not affected thereby shall remain to be in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 15. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect immediately following its 
publication in a newspaper of general circulation or in the Official Gazette, whichever comes 
first.  
 
Approved,