Presidential Decree No. 1435 (PD 1435) — "Authorizing the Bureau of Soils to Supervise, Regulate and Control the Establishment and Operations of All Soil Laboratories in the Philippines"
WHEREAS, the present thrust of government is centered on
increasing food production for our growing population as well as commercial
crops for dollar earnings, etc.;
WHEREAS, intensification of food production is premised on
the proper identification of production inputs as fertilizers, soil amendments,
and high-yielding varieties;
WHEREAS, the accurate and timely determination of soil
fertility expressed in terms of fertilizer and soil amendment requirements can
adequately be provided by soil testing laboratories;
WHEREAS, improper identification and utilization of the
aforementioned production inputs will result in depressed yields and/or
excessive costs thereby causing low farm productivity detrimental to small
farmers as well as to the national economy;
WHEREAS, there is a need to standardize soil testing
methodologies, integrate and coordinate soil laboratory activities for maximum
efficient utilization of resources;
WHEREAS, the Bureau of Soils is by law, the agency
responsible for the maintenance and operation of soil laboratories throughout
the country and possesses the technical expertise and facilities to adequately
execute such services;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution, do hereby
order and decree the following:
Title.
SECTION 1. Title.—This decree shall hereinafter be
referred to as P. D. No. 1435 "Authorizing the Bureau of Soils to Supervise,
Regulate and Control the Establishment and Operations of all Soil Laboratories
in the Philippines".
Additional Powers and Functions of the Bureau of Soils.
SEC. 2. Additional Powers and Functions of the Bureau of
Soils.—The Bureau of Soils shall have the following additional powers and
functions so as to be able to carry out the objectives of this Decree:
Formulate and set comprehensive guidelines for the establishment of soil
laboratories in the Philippines;
Formulate and establish soil testing standards and methodologies;
Supervise and coordinate the technical operations of all private and
government soil laboratories;
Assist and integrate the soil testing activities of the private sector with
that of the government sector;
Call on any department, bureau, office, agency and instrumentalities of the
government in the form of personnel, facilities and other resources as the need
arises in the performance of its functions;
Establish data banking system for efficient technological transfer and data
utilization;
Grant licenses and impose fees on private soil laboratories; and
Perform such other functions as may be necessary to attain the objectives of
this Decree.
Establishment of any government soil laboratory will be allowed only upon the
recommendation of the Bureau of Soils and the approval of the Secretary of
Agriculture.
Power to Issue Rules and Regulations to Implement the Decree.
SEC. 3. Power to Issue Rules and Regulations to
Implement the Decree.—The Bureau of Soils in hereby authorized to issue or
to promulgate rules and regulations to implement and carry out the purpose and
provisions of this Decree.
Appropriations.
SEC. 4. Appropriations.—The Commissioner of the
Budget is hereby directed to appropriate immediately the amount of One Million
Pesos (P1,000,000) to the Bureau of Soils for purposes of carrying out this
Decree. Additional funding needed by the Bureau of Soils shall be submitted to
the President of the Philippines, through the regular Budget process, for
consideration and inclusion in the annual Appropriations Act.
Any provision of existing law to the contrary notwithstanding, the Bureau of
Soils may receive and retain for its operation, grants, subsidies, donations, or
contributions from any entity.
Separability Clause.
SEC. 5. Separability Clause.—The provisions of this
Decree are hereby declared to be separable, and in the event any one or more
provisions are held unconstitutional, the validity of other provisions shall not
be affected.
Repealing Clause.
SEC. 6. Repealing Clause.—All laws,
decrees, acts, executive orders, ordinances, rules and regulations which are
inconsistent with the provisions of this Decree are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.
Effectivity.
SEC. 7. Effectivity.—This Decree shall
take effect upon approval.
Done in the City of Manila, this 10th day of June, in the year of Our Lord,
nineteen hundred and seventy-eight.
(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the
Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.) JACOBO C. CLAVE
Presidential Executive
Assistant
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
