WHEREAS, zoning is one regulatory measure which is important in the implementation of Comprehensive Land Use Plan;

WHEREAS, a zoning plan which shall embody distances between farms is important achieving economic development in the field of agro-industry in the different municipalities of the country;

WHEREAS, it is necessary to establish policies to regular distances between farms to avoid inter-farm contamination of diseases;

WHEREAS, this order is issued to protect the existing livestock and poultry farms as well as prospective livestock and poultry farms, especially those which are intending to export livestock and poultry in the future;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, LUIS P. LORENZO, JR. Secretary of Agriculture, by the powers vested in me by law, do hereby promulgate the following guidelines regulating the establishment of livestock and poultry farms in the Philippines:

1. That the distance of the farms from the center of the national highway shall be one (1) kilometer for poultry farms and three (3) kilometers for commercial swine and cattle feedlot farms.  However, with the application of advanced waste management technology, exceptions may be granted.

2. That all swine and poultry farms shall have a distance of at least one (1) kilometer from each other and from the boundary of built-up areas as determined by the concerned Local Government Unit (LGU).

3. The basis for measurement of distance between farms, from the national highway and from the built-up areas shall be the waste management facility;

4. That the waste management facility shall be constructed in compliance with the Environment Clearance Certificate (ECC) requirements of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);

5. That the farms are subject to inspection by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) thru the Regional Field Unit (RFU), in coordination with the LGU's

and special bodies created for the purpose.  However, the biosecurity protocol of the farm concerned should be observed;

6. That anyone violating this order shall be penalized in accordance with the existing rules and regulations under Section 3 of Republic Act 8485 known as An Act to Promote Animal Welfare in the Philippines or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.

7. This shall not apply to poultry and swine farms constructed before the approval of this order;

8. This shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Adopted: 23 Feb. 2004


(SGD.) LUIS P. LORENZO, JR.
Secretary