SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
JUL 22 P5 :15 
SENATE 
___________________ 
S._N_O_. __ 1_0_3_6 __________ 
!j_):._, _____ 
:,_y:~ \. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Sewage sludge is an end product of the wastewater treatment process. This 
material can be a wonderful source of nutrients for the soil. Using this material as a 
fertilizer can benefit the environment by turning wastes into valuable resources. 
These sludges would otherwise have to be disposed of by landfilling, lagooning, 
incineration, or ocean dumping. On the other hand, heavy metals sometimes found 
in sewage sludge may present environmental problems ... Concerns about applying 
sludge to land include the potential for applying too much or too little of each 
nutrient; the presence of toxic constituents; and the possible detrimental effects on 
water quality from leaching, erosion, or runoff losses. l 
In addition to the environmental problems they pose, the United States Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) has said that sewage sludge has constituents which "may include 
volatiles, organic solids, nutrients, disease-causing pathogenic organisms (bacteria, viruses, etc.), 
heavy metals and inorganic ions, and toxic organic chemicals from industrial wastes, household 
chemicals and pesticides. " 
Hence, although sewage sludge - after. it is treated properly in wastewater treatment 
plants - can be useful and potent fertilizer, it is still important for food produced using fertilizer 
from such sewage sludge to be labeled accordingly for the information of consumers? 
1 http://www.aces.edu/crd/publications/ANR-7.2hltml 
2 This bill was originally filed during the Fourteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 
I 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
JUL 22 [15 :14 
SENATE 
S.No. 
1036 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
REQUIRING THE PROPER LABELING OF FOOD PRODUCED FROM THE USE OF 
3 
FERTILIZER MADE FROM RECYCLED SEWAGE SLUDGE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
4 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "Use of Sewage Sludge 
5 
Fertilizer in Food Awareness Act." 
6 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote the 
7 
general welfare of the people. Pursuant to this policy, this Act requires the proper labeling of 
8 
food produced from the use of fertilizer made from recycled sewage sludge. 
9 
SECTION 3. Labeling Required for Food Produced with Fertilizer Derived from 
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Sewage Sludge. - No food shall be offered or exposed for sale without being so labeled if 
11 
such food was produced from the use of fertilizer made from recycled sewage sludge. 
12 
The provisions of this section shall apply to all plant foods produced from such 
13 
fertilizer and all animal foods or products, including but not limited to meat and dairy 
14 
products, derived from animals which has been fed any feed product derived from such 
15 
fertilizer. 
16 
SECTION 4. Procedure in Cases of Violation. - Whenever there shall be a violation 
17 
of this Act, an application may be made by the Secretary of Health or his or her authorized 
18 
agent, to the court having jurisdiction by a special proceeding to issue an injunction, and 
1 


1 
upon notice to the respondent of not less than five (5) days, to enjoin and restrain the 
2 
continuance of such violations; and if it shall appear to the satisfaction of the court that the 
3 
respondent has, in fact, violated this Act, an injunction may be issued by such court 
4 
enjoining and restraining any further violation, without requiring proof that any person has, 
5 
in fact, been injured or damaged thereby. 
6 
SECTION 5. Penalties. - Whenever the court shall determine that a violation of this 
7 
Act has occurred, the court may impose a fine of Two Thousand Pesos (I!2,OOO.OO) for each 
8 
day that such violation occurs, but in no event shall the total penalty exceed Fifty Thousand 
9 
Pesos (P50,OOO.OO). 
10 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
11 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
12 
remain valid and subsisting. 
13 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. -
Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
14 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule; or regulation contrary to or 
15 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
16 
accordingly. 
17 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
18 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
2