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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator S. R. OsmeAa 111 
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 in 1989 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 73 provinces 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. These measure will be powerful tools in advancing the government's 
major goals of poverty alleviation, environmental protection and sustainable 
development. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
SERGIO OSMENA 111 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF TH 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINE 
1 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator S. R. Osmeiia 111 
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AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE 
SLOPING AGRICULTURAL 
LAND TECHNOLOGY 
FARMING PROGRAM, 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 I, 
Short Tifle. - This Act shall be known as the “Sloping 
Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) Act of 2004.” 
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 area 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. Definifion. - 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, 
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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. 
Sec. 4. 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. 
Sec. 5. Lead Agency. - The Department of Agriculture shall, jointly with 
the Department of Agrarian Reform and in Coordination the local government 
units concerned and other non-government organizations, plan and program the 
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: 
a) irrigation facilities, especially dry season facilities; 
b) infrastructure development and public works projects that fall under 
the program, including but not limited to the preparation of physical 
development plans; , 
c) availment of existing government subsidies for irrigation facilities; 
d) price support for agricultural produce; 
e) long-term, low-interest credit, loans and grants, especially to 
landowners, farmers and farmers organization; 
9 all crops suitable for the implementation of the program; and 
g) development of cooperative management skills through intensive 
training . 


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Sec. 7. lncenfive. - 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. 
Sec. 8. 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. 
Sec. 9. Implementing Rules. - 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. 
Sec. 
10. Appropriafions. - 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. 
Sec. 11. 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 
Sec. 12- 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. 13. Eflecfivify Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its complete publication in at least (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved, 
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