Senate OKs on 3rd reading bill boosting organic agriculture in Philippines

Voting 23-0, the Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a measure seeking to strengthen organic agriculture in the Philippines.

Senate Bill No. 1318, an amendment to the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, seeks to beef up the national organic agricultural program and promote the consumption of organic products by launching a nationwide educational awareness campaign for consumers.

Moreover, the proposed measure puts in place the Participatory Guarantee System—a locally focused quality assurance system—which will be used to certify producers and farmers as active practitioners of organic agriculture. This aims to make the certification process more accessible to small farmers and fisherfolk.

It encourages the participation of indigenous organic farmers to promote their sustainable practices. Local government units are also enjoined to enact ordinances that would protect organic farming zones and practices.

Incentives for those who are compliant to organic agriculture standards are likewise provided for in the said bill.

Regulation and registration of organic produce and inputs will be handled by the government's Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards, Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Animal Industry, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

The Food and Drug Administration, on the other hand, shall be mandated for product registration of organic pre-packaged and processed food. — BM, GMA News