An Ordinance Promoting Organic Farming and Providing Tax Incentives Thereof

October 19, 2015 Excerpt from the Minutes of the 110th Regular Session of the 13th Sangguniang Bayan of Tanauan, Leyte Held on October 19, 2015 at the Session Hall, Tanauan Town Hall, Tanauan, Leyte. Present: Hon. Mark Giffren E. Merilo Sangguniang Bayan Member-Presiding Hon. Quintin T. Octa, Jr., D.M.D. Sangguniang Bayan Member Hon. Bernardita V. Gobenciong, M.D. Sangguniang Bayan Member Hon. Bianito M. Fiel, Jr. Sangguniang Bayan Member Hon. Engr. Ernesto N. Cumpio Sangguniang Bayan Member Hon. Archie Lawrence R. Kapunan Sangguniang Bayan Member Hon. Atty. Asterio Mario A. Villero Sangguniang Bayan Member Hon. Ma. Martina L. Gimenez Sangguniang Bayan Member/ABC Fed. Pres. On-Official Travel: Hon. Ronald E. Flores, M.D. Municipal Vice Mayor On-Forced Leave: Hon. Michelle R. Tiu-Sumayod Sangguniang Bayan Member Absent: None RESOLUTION NO. 268-15 A RESOLUTION ENACTING AN ORDINANCE: AN ORDINANCE PROMOTING ORGANIC FARMING AND PROVIDING TAX INCENTIVES THEREOF WHEREAS, Organic Farming is embodied in Republic Act No. 10068, An act providing for the development and promotion of organic agriculture in the Philippines and for other purposes; WHEREAS, Organic Farming will cumulatively condition and enrich the fertility of the soil, increase farm productivity, reduce pollution and destruction of the environment, prevent depletion of natural resources, further protect the health of the farmers, consumers and the general public, and save program for the promotion of community based-organic agriculture systems; WHEREAS, Organic farming proves to be more profitable than the age old traditional farming methods. It has been found that organic farming reduces the production coat by about 25-30%, as it does not involve the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which thus makes organic farming coat effective; WHEREAS, Soil is the most important component in farming and organic farming preserves soil by reducing soil erosion up to a large extent. Organic farming also enables the farmers to use the soil for a longer period of time to grow crops as soil fertility is maintained for a long time; WHEREAS, Organic farming has a positive effect on the ecosystem, as it proves vital in supporting the survival of wildlife in the lowlands. It even provides safe pasture land for grazing animals. This practice is not only beneficial for farmers, but it also proved useful for the dairy industry. Cattle grazing on organic farmlands have been found to be less prone to diseases and yield more milk. These are definitely good signs for a consumer if these dairy products from health perspective and for a daisy organization from the profit perspective; WHEREAS, the original nutritional content of food is preserved due to the absence of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides; WHEREAS, Organic products moreover, are tastier than the products yielded from traditional farming. Scientific studies have proven that organic farming foods are healthier than the inorganic one; WHEREAS, Eating organic foods may in fact reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and cancer for individuals who abstain from consuming products produced through conventional farming methods. Thus, this ordinance is created for purposes of promoting organic farming; WHEREFORE, the Sangguniang Bayan of Tanauan, Leyte, on motion of Hon. Atty. Asterio Mario A. Villero, and with the unanimous accord of the rest of the Members present; RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED to enact, as it is hereby enacted, an Ordinance promoting organic farming and providing tax incentives thereof, to wit: ATICcS TANAUAN MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE NO. 010-15 AN ORDINANCE PROMOTING ORGANIC FARMING AND PROVIDING TAX INCENTIVES THEREOF Introduced by: Hon. Michelle R. Tiu-Sumayod LLB, RN-MAN, author Hon. Atty. Asterio Mario A. Villero, co-author Be it enacted by the Sangguniang Bayan of Tanauan, Leyte in session assembled that: SECTION 1. Title. An ordinance promoting Organic Farming and Providing Tax Incentives Thereof. SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. As used in the Ordinance, the following Terms are defined as follows: A. Organic Farming includes all agricultural systems that promote the environmentally, socially and economically sound production of foods and fibers. These systems take local soil fertility as a key to successful production, by respecting the Natural Capacity of Plants, animals and the landscape. The method dramatically reduces external inputs by refraining from the use of chemo-synthetic fertilizer, pesticides and pharmaceuticals. B. Organic Production System is a system to 1. Enhanced biological diversity within the whole system. 2. Increase solid biological diversity. 3. Maintain long-term solid fertility. 4. Recycle wastes of plant and animal origin in order to return nutrients to the land, thus minimizing the use of non-renewable resources. 5. Rely on renewable resources on locally organized Agricultural systems. 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. Biotechnology is the use of biological processes, organisms, or systems to manufacture products intended to improve the quality of human life 8. Handle Agriculture products with emphasis on careful processing methods in order to maintain the organic integrity and vital qualities of the product at all stage; and 9. Become established on any existing farm through a period of conversion, the appropriate length of which is determined by site-specific factors such as the history of land and type of crops and livestock to be produced. C. Conventional Agriculture Farming systems dependent on the input of artificial fertilizers and/or pesticides. D. Conversion Period Refers to the time between the start of the organic management and the certification of crops, animal husbandry or agriculture products as organic. E. Labeling Any written, printed, or graphic presentation that is affixed to a product. F. Farm Uhit An agriculture area or production managed organically, which a farmer or a group owns or in any other way responsible for. G. Certified Organic Product A crop or livestock production that is certified by the Municipal Agriculture and utilizing a system of organic production. SECTION 3. Regulation. Every Farmers in the Municipality of Tanauan is encouraged to practice Organic farming method. It shall use purely organic fertilizers such as compost, pesticides and other farm inputs. SECTION 4. Registration. Every Farmers in the Municipality of Tanauan implementing the Organic farming method shall register with the Municipal Agriculture office. The farmer shall indicate its farm produce and the date it started the conversion to organic farming method. The Municipal Agriculture Office shall make validation as to the farming methods. SECTION 5. Registration. Accreditation. Process of Accreditation: a. The Farmer will apply at the Municipal Agriculture office for certified organically grown product (COP). TIADCc b. The office of the Municipal Agriculture shall inspect the farm unit and will issue certified organically grown product (COP) if it passes the standard of organic farming. c. If the items are ready to the Market, the farmers or dealers will label the products as witnessed by Municipal Agriculture representative. SECTION 6. Labelling of Farm Products. False or Misleading Marks and Labels. a. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, foundation or corporation to sell products which claim or labelled as Organically grown product without the approval of the Municipal Agriculturist. b. No article shall be sold or offered for sale to any person, natural or juridical, under any name or other marking/labelling which is false or misleading. SECTION 7. Creation of Organic display center. The Municipality shall provide a space for the farmers or producers producing organic products. The following shall be given priority in the display center: a. Production of compost and its pricing. b. Production of organic traditional rice such as; white, red and black rice. c. Preparation of concoction for natural farming system. SECTION 8. Incentives. the farmer or dealer using the organic farming method shall avail the incentives of: Based on the Section 22 (b) IRR of RA 10068/ and Rule 24.4 a. Shall be exempted from the payment of taxes and other miscellaneous fee charged by the Municipality of Tanauan, Leyte but not to exceed five (5) years from the start of the operation. b. Discount of 20% on the vermi-compost purchased from Tanauan, Leyte. SECTION 9. Penalty Clause. Any person violating the preceding sections shall be meted a fine of P1,000.00 or imprisonment of not more than ten (10) days at the discretion of the court and in addition thereto, forfeit the benefits granted by the ordinance. SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. All Municipal Ordinances or parts of any municipal ordinance inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. SECTION 11. Separability Clause. if any provision of this ordinance is held invalid or unconstitutional, the other provision or section not affected thereby shall continue to be in operation. SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause. Based on Sec. 511 of the Local Government Code this ordinance with penal sanctions shall take effect either on the day following its publication, or at the end of three (3) consecutive weeks period of posting, whichever occurs later. A copy of the ordinance shall be provided to Municipal Agriculture Office, Municipal Treasurers Office, Business Licence Office and the 54 barangay Chairman for information. ENACTED: October 19, 2015. CERTIFIED TRUE AND CORRECT: (SGD.) ATTY. BENJAMIN M. GRANADA Sangguniang Bayan Secretary ATTESTED: (SGD.) HON. MARK GIFFREN E. MERILO SB Member Presiding (SGD.) HON. QUINTIN T. OCTA, JR., D.M.D SB Member (SGD.) HON. BERNARDITA V. GOBENCIONG, M.D. SB Member (SGD.) HON. BIANITO M. FIEL, JR. SB Member (SGD.) HON. ENGR. ERNESTO N. CUMPIO SB Member (SGD.) HON. ARCHIE LAWRENCE R. KAPUNAN SB Member (SGD.) HON. ATTY. ASTERIO MARIO A. VILLERO SB Member (SGD.) HON. MA. MARTINA L. GIMENEZ SB Member/ABC Fed. Pres. APPROVED: (SGD.) HON. PELAGIO R. TECSON, JR. Municipal Mayor Date: December 4, 2015