Laws Governing BPI
The Bureau of Plant Industry as created through series of laws – Republic Acts, Presidential Decrees, Executive and Administrative Orders, has the primary task of promoting the development of plant industries through research and development, crop production and protection and effective technology promotion and transfer. It is the main agency in the Department of Agriculture, which sets the directions for the accelerated development of modern crop technologies, proper packaging and dissemination to the end-users that would increase their farm productivity and ultimately improve the living standards of the farmers. This has been the Bureau of Plant Industry since it had been created.
On January 1, 1930, the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) by virtue of Act No. 3639 of the Philippine Legislature was created to take over the tasks on plant research and crop production. BPI role in the development of the Philippine plant industry is further strengthened by Act No. 4007 also known as the Reorganization Law of 1932. The divisions of Plant Investigation, Agricultural Extension, Plant Sanitation and Plant Propagation were created defining BPI functions to include not only plant research and crop production but to also include crop protection and technology transfer. To strengthen BPI Research and Development function for the development of the plant industry, in August 1, 1936, under General Memorandum Order No. 186 of the Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce, the Home Economics Division of the Bureau of Science was merged with the Agricultural Chemistry Section of BPI to form Plant Utilization Division thus establishing BPI crop utilization research and development function.
Realizing the importance of mechanization in agricultural development, on January 16, 1957, Reorganization Plant No. 30-A as implemented by Executive Order No. 216, the Farm Operation Division was created to plan and program research on utilization and assignment of farm machinery, to introduce effective farm crop practices and to provide assistance in efficient management of the bureau’s farms, thus defining BPI function on agricultural mechanization research and development. Also created is the Production Division to handle planning and programming of seed production and seed certification and propagation. These are in addition to the BPI established functions on plant research & D, crop utilization R & D, production and technology transfer.
Through the years, other laws have been passed affecting BPI as an organization, laws which either strengthen BPI as an organization and/or which recognizes BPI inherent functions thus mandating the bureau to implement said laws and they are as follows:
1. E. O. 116 on placing BPI as a staff bureau under the Production Group
– Production planning of improved planting materials;
– Protection of agricultural crops from pests and diseases;
– Development and improvement of farm equipment and other related structures to the Plant Industry;
– Prepare a program for the selection, production and certification of improved planting materials as well as guidelines for its implementation;
– Recommend plant quarantine policies and prescribe rules and regulations for the prevention, control and eradication of pests, diseases and injuries to plants and plant products; and
– For the plant industry sector recommend plans, programs, policies, rules and regulations to the Secretary and provide technical assistance in the implementation of the same.
2. P. D. 1433 – The Plant Quarantine Law Plant Quarantine being an activity necessary in crop protection specifically mandates BPI “to prevent the introduction of exotic pests in the country and prevent further spread of plant pests already existing from infested to pest-free areas and to enforce Phytosanitary measures for the export of plants, plant products and regulated articles.”
3. R. A. 7308 – The National Seed Industry Development Act Cognizant of the BPI role in the development of the seed industry and its inherent function seed and plant material certification, the act strengthen the Seed Quality Control Section to become the National Seed Quality Control Services and given control supervision over existing field inspections and control services and seed testing laboratories and those which shall have to be established. Further, the act mandates BPI to:
Supervise, coordinate and monitor production, purification and maintenance of breeder and foundation seeds of all recommended cultivars and
Accreditation of seed growers and plant nursery operators.
4. P. D. 936 and L.O.I. 987 on the Creation of Regional Crop Protection Centers To strengthen BPI crop protection function, P. D. 936 established seven (7) Regional Crop Protection Centers (RCPC) under BPI to serve the research and protection needs of areas they encompassed. L.O.I. 987 established five (5) additional RCPCs thus making the number of RCPCs twelve (12) covering all regions at the time.
5. L.O.I. 986 on Pesticide Residue Analysis and Monitoring
The LOI mandated BPI to: Establish Pesticide Laboratories all over the country
Monitor the levels of pesticide residue in crops to protect the local and international consumers from possible health hazards
Check on possible indiscriminate use and application of pesticides on food crops and other agricultural products
Determine pesticides degradation rates for different crops to be able to establish “waiting times” and
prepare recommendations to improve/change agricultural practices and Determine and evaluate practices on the use of pesticides for possible modification resulting in acceptab -le low residues in agricultural products.
6. P. D. 1144 on Analyses of Formulated Pesticide Products The decree which created the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority recognizing BPI mandate on pesticide residue analysis and having the expertise and facilities specifically mandates BPI to perform technical analyses on formulated pesticide products.
7. R. A. 7394 – Consumer Act of 1992 This Act reiterates BPI functions by specifically mandating BPI to:
Ensure safe supply of fresh agricultural crops
To improves the quality of local fresh agricultural crops and promote its export
8. R. A. 7607 – Magna Carta for Small Farmers This Act recognizing BPI expertise and inherent functions on pesticide residue analysis and pesticide formulation, seed production and certification, research, technology transfer and crop protection made BPI as the sole agency mandated to: