EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
NoSEm
rf sljc 
:larp
Introduced by SENATOR IM EE R. MARCOSj^ 
JUL 18 
P4 ;16
AN ACT PROMOTING THE USE OF AEROPONICS, HYDROPONICS A N D k ^ L  
AQUAPONICS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HIGH V A L l/^ T IS H , C R O P S T tW ^  
VEGETABLES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
U
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Despite the advances in modern agriculture, which includes high-tech farm 
mechanization, modern irrigation system, and advanced controlled environment 
agriculture, food production remains at the mercy of nature and is subject to various 
destmctive elements of the changing climate.
The Philippines experience extreme weather events. Around 19 tropical 
cyclones or storms enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility yearly, not to mention 
the regular ocxurrenoe of El Nifk) and La Nina in the country. In fact, the Philippine 
Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has 
warned o f a "full-blown" El Nino this 2019, which means below normal rainfall, with 
dry spell or drought conditions in most parts of the country.
For this reason, there is now massive importation o f crops and vegetables, and 
even fish in the country to augment local supply and tame its increasing and erratic 
prices in the market.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority's (PSA) Price Situationer o f 
Selected Agricultural Commodities fox the first week of July 2019, prices of vegetables 
are lower in selected regional centers. For example, the price of a kilogram of carrots 
was lower by PIO.OO in Cagayan de Oro City and by P20.00 in Baguio City and San 
Fernando City. On the contrary, it picked up by PIO.OO in Batangas City, Legaspi City 
and Butuan City. Similarly, price movements in some fish species are noted in selected 
regional centers. Price declines from P5.00 to P20.00 per kilogram of bangus were 
registered in five regional centers. On the contrary, it was priced higher by PIO.OO per 
kilogram in NCR and Kidapawan City. A kilogram o f galunggong was cheaper by 
PIO.OO in Cebu City and Cagayan de Oro City, and by P20.00 in Naga City. On the 
other hand, it climbed by PIO.OO per kilogram in Baguio City, Batangas City and 
Cotabato City.


However, there have been news reports warning the public against the 
consumption of imported fish because it contains hamiful substances and are unsafe 
-- round scad (galunggong) tainted with formalin, and cream dory and milk fish 
(bangus) that are double dead.
In view of the foregoing, and with the ever-increasing population and therefore 
huge demand in food supply, we must utilize advanced systems to grow more food 
while conserving earth's limited resources.
The country must devote more research and development in the use of state- 
of-the-art technologies aimed at improving agricultural production and ensuring food 
security and safety. Fortunately, new trends and innovative methods in fish and 
vegetable farming have evolved and is being used now locally and abroad.
Specifically, the adoption of soilless agriculture technologies such as 
aeroponics, hydroponics, and aquaponics are widely perceived as innovative measures 
to increase agricultural productivity.
Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment 
without the use o f soil or an aggregate medium. Hydroponics is the cultivation of 
plants by placing the roots in liquid nutrient solutions rather than in soil. Lastly, 
Aquaponics combines aquaculture and hydroponic plant production in a closed-loop 
water system that simultaneously grows both plants and fish.
This proposed measure seeks to promote the use of aeroponics, hydroponics, 
and aquaponics technology in agricultural production of high value fish, crops and 
vegetable to further increase volume of agricultural production and ensure food 
security and safety.
In view o f the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested.
lEE R. MARCOS
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
S. No
SENATE
629
il ' V  ■) r
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS'19 
JUL 18 
P4 '•16
AN ACT PROMOTING THE USE OF AEROPONICS, HYpi^OPONICS AND 
AQUAPONICS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HIGH VALUE FISH, CROPS AND 
VEGETABLES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it  enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
SECTION 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Soilless Agricultural 
Production Act of 2019."
Sec. 2. Declaration o f  Policy. -  It is hereby declared to be the policy o f the 
State to reaffirm the fundamental right of every person to food security. The 
attainment of self-sufficiency in the field of food production is therefore adopted as a 
primary State policy. For this purpose, key reforms for the advancement of, and 
support to agricultural advancement in technology adaptation are hereby promoted 
in order to ensure the food security of the country.
Furthermore, the State commits itself to the adoption of state-of-the-art 
technologies and the active development o f modern, appropriate and cost-effective, 
and environmentally safe agricultural technology in order to ensure and provide food 
security and safety.
Sec. 3. Definition o f  Terms -  For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
shall mean or be understood as follows:


3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
1
2
"Aeroponics" shall refer to the process of growing vegetation in an air or mist 
environment without the use o f soil or an aggregate medium. Aeroponic growing is 
considered to be safe and ecologically friendly for producing natural and healthy 
plants and crop.
"Hydroponics"shall refer to the method of growing plants in a water based, 
nutrient rich solution. The basic premise behind hydroponics is to allow the plant 
roots to come in direct contact with the nutrient solution, while also having access to 
oxygen, which is essential for proper growth.
"Aquaponics" shall refer to the integration of aquaculture and hydroponic 
plant production in a closed-loop water system that simultaneously grows both 
plants and fish. In a symbiotic relationship, the waste that is produced by fish in 
water tanks, which could become toxic for the fish if not cleaned, is used directly or 
converted by bacteria into useful nutrients for plants.
Sec. 4. Use o f  Aeroponics, Hydroponics, and Aquaponics Technologies. -  The 
Department o f Agriculture (DA) is hereby mandated to promote the use of 
aeroponics, hydroponics, and aquaponics technologies as instruments to further 
improve the production of high value fish, crops and vegetables in the country and 
address food security concerns.
Idle government lands owned by either national or local governments or 
available land resources in state universities and colleges shall be considered for fish 
fanning and growing crops and vegetables using aeroponics, hydroponics, or 
aquaponics technology, whichever is applicable.
Sec. 5. Comprehensive Research on Aeroponics, Hydroponics, and Aquaponics 
Technologies Applied in Agricultural Production. 
-  For purposes of this Act, the 
Secretary of the DA is hereby mandated to conduct a comprehensive research and 
information drive on aeroponics, hydroponics, and aquaponics technologies applied 
in agricultural production.


3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
The DA is further enjoined to support research activities aimed at expanding 
the knowledge and understanding of aeroponics, hydroponics, and aquaponics 
technologies and to invest in advance technology research in order to adopt state- 
of-the-art technologies to promote agricultural production o f high value fish, crops 
and vegetables.
Sec. 6. Inclusion o f Aeroponics, Hydroponics and Aquaponics Technologies in 
Agricultural Training. -  Aeroponics, Hydroponics, and Aquaponics technologies, as 
used in agricultural production, shall be integrated in the academic curriculum for 
secondary and tertiary level students of both 
public and private academic 
institutions, who are studying courses on Agriculture, Practical Arts, 
Home 
Economics and/or other subjects related to agriculture.
The Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the Commission 
on Higher Education (CHED), shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations 
for the implementation of this section within ninety (90) days from the date of 
effectivity hereof.
Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within ninety (90) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the DA, in consultation with the Department of 
Science and Technology (DOST), shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules 
and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 10. Appropriation. -  The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of 
this Act shall be included and incorporated in the annual general appropriations of 
the DA, DepEd, and Commission on Higher Education (CHED).


3
4
5
6 
7
1
2
Sec. 11. Separability Clause. -  If any portion or provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional, the remainder o f this Act or any provision not affected 
thereby shall remain in force and effect.
Sec. 12. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following the completion o f its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a 
newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,