ORGANIC AGRICULTURE ACT OF 2010: Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, principal sponsor and author of RA 10068 or the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 turned over on April 20 the signed copies of the law to the various stakeholders held at Padilla Room, Senate of the Philippines. The law aims to encourage and promote organic farming throughout the country, and to lessen dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture production.

Zubiri flashes a thumb up sign along with (L-R) Cresencio Selispara, Landbank SVP; Pablito Villegas, OPTA; Mara Pardo De Tavera, OPTA President; Jerry Pacturan of the National Organic Board; Joey Papa and Annette Papa of Bangon Kalikasan; (2nd row L-R) Hermeo Bautista, LBP ; Chito Medina of MASIPAG; Karen Roscon and Joeve Calleja of Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards; Rita Fabro and Adoracion Armada of PCCRRD-DOST; Paraluman Zulueta, Senate Committee Secretary; Rosario Mercader and Linda Lazaro of Sentro ng Manggagawang Pilipino; Director Ted Solsoloy of Bureau of Agricultural Research; Aida Solsoloy; Beth De Castro, OPTA; Desiree Segovia, Agri-Aqua Network International; Leilani Limpin, OCCP; (3rd row L-R) Henry Custodia, OPTA; Joseph Gloria, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement; Joselito Gonzales of PRRM; and Antonio De Castro of OPTA during the ceremonial turn-over of the copies of Organic Agriculture Act. Sen. Loren Legarda is also a co-author and co-sponsor of the new Organic Agriculture Law.