Republic of the Philippines PROVINCE OF TARLAC Municipality of San Clemente SANGGUNIANG BAYAN ORDINANCE NO.

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An Ordinance Strengthening the Organic Fertilizer Complex of Brgy. Doclong 2nd, Appropriating Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes
Author: SB Member Hon. Ryan P. Laranang

Co-Authors: SB Member Hon. Jesus S. Rosete Jr. SB Member Hon. Herman D. Palada WHEREAS, it is envisioned that the Municipality of San Clemente will become a premier agri-industrial center and eco-tourism destination in the Province of Tarlac inhabited by healthy, educated and peaceful citizenry living in a pristine, ecologically-balanced and sustainable environment with well-planned, adequate and efficient infrastructure and a competitive, progressive and green economy while being led by transparent, accountable and responsive local government; WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 10068, otherwise known as the "Organic Agriculture Act of 2010" declared it a policy of the State "to promote, propagate, develop further and implement the practice of organic agriculture in the Philippines that will cumulatively condition and enrich the fertility of the soil, increase farm productivity, reduce pollution and destruction of the environment, prevent the depletion of natural resources, further protect the health of farmers, consumers, and the general public, and save on imported farm inputs; WHEREAS, the said law states that towards this end, a comprehensive program for the promotion of community-based organic agriculture systems which include, among others, farmerproduced purely organic fertilizers such as compost, pesticides and other farm inputs, together with a nationwide educational and promotional campaign for their use and processing as well as adoption of organic agriculture system as a viable alternative shall be undertaken; WHEREAS, the said law established a comprehensive organic agricultural program through the promotion and commercialization of organic farming practices, cultivation and adoption of production and processing methods which have already been developed, or to be developed, continuing research and upgrading thereof, the capacity building of farmers and the education of consumers thereon, the extension of assistance to local government units (LGU's), peoples' organizations (POs), nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders including individuals and groups who are practicing and promoting these methods as well as those who are willing to do other pertinent activities, and documentation and evaluation of the program. WHEREAS, it is also defined therein that organic agriculture includes all agricultural systems that promote the ecologically sound, socially acceptable, economically viable and technically feasible production of food and fibers. Organic agriculture dramatically reduces external inputs by refraining from the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and pharmaceuticals. It also covers areas such as, but not limited to, soil fertility management, varietal breeding and selection under chemical and pesticide-free conditions, the use of biotechnology and other cultural practices that are consistent with the principles and policies of this Act, and enhance productivity without destroying the soil and harming farmers, consumers and the environment;

WHEREAS, organic production system is a system designed to: (1) enhance biological diversity within the whole system; (2) increase soil biological activity; (3) maintain long-term soil fertility; (4) recycle wastes of plant and animal origin in order to return nutrients to the land, thus minimizing the use of nonrenewable resources; (5) rely on renewable resources in locally organized agricultural system; (6) promote the healthy use of soil, water and air as well as minimize all forms of pollution thereto that may result from agricultural practices; (7) develop and promote the use of biotechnology in agriculture; (8) handle agricultural products with emphasis on careful processing methods in order to maintain the organic integrity and vital qualities of the product at all stages; and, (9) become established on any existing farm through a period of convention, the appropriate length of which is determined by site-specific factors such as the history of the land, and type of crops and livestock to be produced. WHEREAS, the Municipality of San Clemente joins the efforts of the National Government in promoting, implementing and strengthening this national policy as well as the State's strong recognition and support of the central role of the farmers, indigenous people, people's organization, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders at the grassroots in this program; WHEREAS, Section 23, Article II of the 1987 Constitution declares that "The State shall encourage non-governmental organizations, community-based or sectoral organizations that promote the welfare of the nation. WHEREAS, Mr. Santiago G. Santiago, a former barangay captain of Brgy. Doclong 2nd, San Clemente, Tarlac, together with several alumni of the University of the Philippines and other pro-organic agriculture advocates, organized and founded the OFW Alliance (Alyansa ng mga Pinoy para sa mga OFW, Inc.), an non-governmental organization committed, among others, in undertaking and engaging in the formulation, identification, advocacy, passage or approval and implementation of any program or policy at promoting, protecting and advancing the rights, welfare and well-being of all overseas contract workers, both current and past, as well as their families and dependents; WHEREAS, the said organization is also committed in pursuing effective reintegration programs for former OFWs---a policy also supported by the National Government through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO); WHEREAS, Mr. Santiago is also currently the President of the Doclong 2nd FSS Farmers Association, an organization of farmers also committed in the promotion and advancement of organic agriculture in San Clemente and other scientific systems of agricultural systems and strategies aimed at improving the productivity of farmers and the judicious utilization of land and environmental resources; WHEREAS, on April 2014, the said NGO through the leadership of Mr. Santiago and the self-help initiative of its officers and erected a four-bed backyard production organic fertilizer complex which primarily utilizes biodegradable wastes (organic matter for compost/ organic fertilizer for the organic cultivation, farming of food crops and includes discards segregated farm nonbiodegradable wastes coming from the kitchen/household [leftovers, vegetables and fruit peelings and trims, fish/fowl cleanings, seeds, bones, soft paper used as food wrap and the like], yard or garden [leaves, grasses, weeds and twigs], market [wilted, decayed or rotten vegetables and fruits, fish/fowl cleanings, bones] and farm wastes [grass clippings, dead or decayed plants, leaves, fruits,

vegetables, branches, twigs and the like] ); WHEREAS, this facility was visited and inspected by various muncipal agricultural officers of the Province of Tarlac and also by Dr. Philip Ibarra, Tarlac Provincial Agricultural Consultant and Adviser of Governor Victor Yap; WHEREAS, the vermicast output of the said complex is regarded to be of a very superior grade of organic fertilizer, and is said to surpass the current standards in Tarlac and even that of the organic fertilizer output of the Municipality of Llanera, Nueva Ecija which was featured several times in national agriculture magazines for its organiz fertilizer technologies; WHEREAS, in order to institutionalize the production of organic fertilizers in the municipality to promote farmers productivity, environmental awareness, agricultural-related backyard livelihood activities and the myriad benefits of organic agriculture, it is of paramount importance to strengthen existing organic fertilizers facility in the municipality; WHEREAS, this complex has not received any national government assistance in consonance with the State policy and program of promoting and institutionalizing organic agriculture and farm practices; NOW THEREFORE, be it enacted and ordained by the Sangguniang Bayan of the Municipality of San Clemente in regular session assembled: SECTION 1. The Organic Fertilizer Fertilizer Complex of Brgy. Doclong 2nd shall be supported and strengthened by the Municipal Government of San Clemente in accordance with State policies and programs in organic agriculture, and towards this purpose, a fund amounting to EightyThousand Pesos (P80,000.00) is hereby appropriated for the construction of a four-bed infrastructure that will be added and/or incorporated to its existing facility. SEC. 2. The said fund shall be released to the Municipal Agricultural Office which shall primarily undertake the implementation of this expansion and upgrading program of the said complex. SEC 3. The Muncipal Agricultural Office of the Municipality of San Clemente shall coordinate with the Department of Agriculture, agricultural-based state universities and colleges (SUCs), other local government units (LGUs), including private research organizations, to develop, enhance, support and consolidate activities and related technologies for the formulation and implementation of a unified and integrated organic fertilizer making systems and strategies which shall include, among others, research, development and commercialization of appropriate, innovative and viable organic fertilizer making technologies and municipal-wide promotion of developed and commercially viable biodegradable farm wastes and by-products through various extension strategies to accelerate the production, use and distribution of organic fertilizers. SEC. 4. Establishment of a Pilot Trading Post for Organic Inputs.-- In consonance with the national policy of establishing at least one (1) trading post for organic inputs for every LGU in the area of jurisdiction, the Municipal Agricultural Office, in coordination with the Muncipal Planning and Development Office, shall also include in its developmental plan and its requisite budget for the succeeding fiscal year the establishment of a pilot trading post for such purpose in any suitable place within the muncipality that may be selected. SEC 5. Separability Clause. If, for any reason or reasons, any part or provision hereof shall be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected hereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC 6. Repealing Clause. All ordinances, resolutions or laws of local application inconsistent hereto are hereby modified, superseded and repealed accordingly. SEC.7. Supplementary Clause. On matters not provided in this ordinance, any existing applicable laws and their corresponding implementing rules and regulations, executive orders and relevant issuances issued therefore shall be applied in a supplemental manner. SEC 8. Effectivity. This Ordinance shall take effect upon approval and compliance to the mandatory posting and publication requirement prescribed under R.A. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991. . APPROVED during the ______ Regular Session of the Sangguniang Bayan of the Municipality of San Clemente, Province of Tarlac, this _____ day of ____________, at San Clemente, Philippines.

CERTIFIED CORRECT: ________________________ Secretary to the Sanggunian ATTESTED: HON. ______________________ Presiding Officer, Municipal Vice Mayor Hon ._______________________ Hon._______________________ Hon. _______________________ Hon. _______________________ Hon. ________________________ Hon. ________________________ Hon. ________________________ Hon. ________________________ CERTIFICATION I HEREBY CERTIFY that I presided over the ____ Regular Session of the Sangguniang Bayan of Municipality fo San Clemente, Province of Tarlac and that the foregoing legislative measure has been approved and enacted during the aforesaid session.

HON. ____________________________ Presiding Officer and Municipal Vice-Mayor APPROVED by His Honor, the Municipal Mayor, on __________________, 2013, in the Muncipality of San Clemente of the Province of Tarlac, Philippines.

HON. _____________________________ Municipal Mayor