This document summarizes the soil management activities in the Philippines from 2016 to 2018 based on a presentation by Ms. Angel C. Enriquez, the BSWM Director. It discusses the country's efforts under five pillars: 1) sustainable soil management, 2) investments in soil, 3) soil research and development, 4) soil data collection and analysis, and 5) enhancing soil laboratories. Key activities included identifying best soil management practices, creating soil fertility maps, assessing barriers to adoption, developing a national monitoring system, and expanding soil testing and training laboratory staff in accredited analysis methods. Priorities for 2018-2019 focused on further developing policies, expanding education programs, evaluating returns on research, and strengthening laboratory infrastructure and accreditation.

1. Country Report
December 2016 – May 2018
Country: PHILIPPINES
Presenter: Ms. Angel C. Enriquez
BSWM Director

2. Pillar 1: Promote sustainable management of soil resources
for soil protection, conservation and sustainable
productivity activities:
1. Identification, documentation and packaging of appropriate SSM practice
 22 Sustainable Land Management Technologies
 9 Sustainable Land Management Approaches
2. Identification of priority areas for soil fertility and development of guidelines
and tools for decision making support for fertilizer application at the field
level.
Priority rice growing provinces -identified in 2017.
Soil fertility maps (including nutrient deficiency maps) with Fertilizer Guide Maps-
prepared for the priority provinces.
3. Barriers preventing Sustainable Soil Management (SSM) application are
assessed and policy and technical solutions are recommended through the
“Sustainable Land Management Adoption and Implementation Constraints”
initiated by the economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia
(EEPSEA) and the Economics of Land Degradation Initiative. Policies related to
land use were done through the Philippine National Action Plan to Combat
Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought 2015-2025

3. Pillar 1: PRIORITIES FOR 2018-2019
1. Development of a National Monitoring System in the
implementation of SSM
This can be anchored on the LDN Target Programs and Projects that requires
a dedicated National Monitoring System to assess the achievement of the
LDN targets (in support to SDG Target 15.3) until 2030
2. Development of a capacity building strategy SSM promotion
It is proposed that at capacity building capacity strategy at the regional level
be pursued through existing Regional Network particularly the Asia Soil
Conservation Network for the Humid Tropics (ASOCON). A possible entry
point to Soil Management Center that could be linked to WOCAT.

4. Pillar 2: Encourage Investments, Technical Cooperation,
Policy, Education Awareness and Extension in Soil
1. The awareness of key political stakeholders on soil functions and soil-related
ecosystem services increased
a) BSWM initiated Island-wide Technical Briefing & Consultation for the Local
Government Units on BSWM Programs & Projects including the value of soils and the
ecosystem services it provides .
b) National consultation-workshop undertaken for the Updating of the National Soil and
Water Resources Research and Development/ Extension 2017-2022.
c) ASP session attended by National & Pillars 1 & 2 Focal in Dec. 2017
d) Techno-demonstrations, field visits/ cross visits promoted through National program
like Sloping Corn Program for Sustainable Agriculture (SCOPSA)
e) BSWM celebrated 2017 World Soils Day with elementary students from the Adopt-a
school program of the IYS 2015, parade of employees and their pledge of commitment
as principal agents of transformation to care for Philippine Soils

5. Pillar 2: Encourage Investments, Technical Cooperation,
Policy, Education Awareness and Extension in Soil
2. Society sensitized on the role of soils for life on Earth
a) World Soils Day celebration but limited to the National agency; BSWM
celebrates Soil Conservation Month and World Desertification and
Degradation in limited scale due to funds availability
b) Soil Museum at BSWM depict the soils of the Philippines; open to
students, teachers and other clients
3. Scientific and technical cooperation promoted and strengthened
a) Participation to regional trainings & annual soil science and technology
conference support extended to professionals & students
b) Participation to established platform for technical and scientific
cooperation established e.g. ESAPS, APEC, Philippine Society for Soil
Science and Technology

6. Pillar 2: PRIORITIES FOR 2018-2019
1. Policy development supported – organize advocacy events for
decision makers and support staff particularly in the legislative branch
of the governmentl; promote and advocate for the implementation of the
Revised World Soil Charter and the Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable
Soil Management
2. Education on soil promoted – “Soil for youth” programme to be run
during the summer holidays; Essay competition/ soil photo contests and
other interactive events on soils

7. Pillar 3: Promote targeted soil R & D focusing on
identified gaps, priorities and synergies with
related productive, environmental and social
development actions
1. Encourage inter and trans disciplinary research and
development
• National Soil and Water Resources Research & Development/ Extension
Agenda (NSWRRD/E) 2017-2022-Developed in consultations with various
stakeholders and disciplines
• Continuing soil resources research in partnership with State Universities and
Colleges (Central Luzon State University and Benguet State University) and
other national government agencies (e.g. Philippine Nuclear Research Institute,
Department of Environment & Natural Resources- Environmental
Management Bureau)

8. Pillar 3: Promote targeted soil R & D focusing on identified
gaps, priorities and synergies with related
productive, environmental and social
development actions
2. Identify global, regional and local emerging priorities
•Island-wide consultative workshops were conducted to identify priority researchable
areas for the next 6 years. Among the identified top national priorities are soil biodiversity
conservation, mitigation of soil pollution and soil health management;
•Developed a database with all the R&D initiatives and outputs on soil and land organized
by sub-disciplines, carried out by research institutions across the country.

9. Pillar 3: Promote targeted soil R & D focusing on
identified gaps, priorities and synergies with
related productive, environmental and social
development actions
3.Promote active collaboration between universities, research
institutions, extension services, end-user communities and
donor agencies.
Seminar-workshops were completed (August 29 & 30, 2017)
wherein national & regional partners, SUC, LGUs and funding agencies
participated to discuss and share concerns on a) soil amelioration in
zinc deficient areas and b) improving nutrient use efficiency using
tracer techniques to address concerns on optimization of fertilizer
application

10. Pillar 3: PRIORITIES FOR 2018-2019
1. Provide evidence in the Return of Investment (ROI) in
Soil R & D
Preparation of a project proposal on identifying indicators and
measuring the economic cost of land degradation in the
Philippines.
It is suggested that a technical cooperation should be put in place
at the Asian level to come up with harmonized methodology
on assessment of economic cost of soil degradation.
2. Encourage inter and trans disciplinary research and
development
Establish the center of excellence for soil research in the
Philippines

11. Pillar 4: Enhance the quantity and quality of soil data and
information: data collection (generation),
analysis, validation, reporting , monitoring and
integration with other disciplines
1. Conduct of the National Soil Sampling and Testing (NSST)
on rice growing areas of the Philippines and translate
them into Soil Fertility and Fertilizer Guide Maps.
Phase I (2016): 47 Provinces
Phase II (2017): 35 Provinces
2. Updating of the Network of Protected Areas for
Agriculture and Agro-Industrial Development (NPAAAD)
embedded under SAFDZ. 2018 Target: 21 provinces
3. Land Resources Evaluation and Suitability Assessment of
Strategic Production Areas for Cacao and Coffee
2016-2018: 29 Provinces

12. Pillar 4: PRIORITIES FOR 2018-2019
1. NSST for Corn Areas:10 provinces
2. Soil Characterization of Sugarcane Mill Districts of the Philippines:20
Sugarcane Mill Districts
3. Conduct of semi-detailed soil classification and sustainability
assessment of Surigao Del Norte province: 20 municipalities, 1 City
4. Continuation of the Land Resources Evaluation and Suitability
Assessment of Strategic Prod’n areas of Major Commodities (cacao,
coffee, rubber, abaca and cassava): 57 provinces

13. 1. Participated in ASPAC/SEALNET Proficiency Program
1.1 ASPAC Proficiency Program
2016 – Proficiency in the following soil
parameters: Air-Dry Moisture Content, pH
Extractable P (Bray 1), Electrical Conductivity,
Exchangeable K, Extractable P (Olsen), Organic Carbon,
Total N%
2017 – Proficiency in the following soil
parameters:
Air-Dry Moisture Content, pH, Extractable P (Bray
1), Electrical Conductivity, Exchangeable K,
Extractable P (Olsen), Organic Carbon, Total N%
2018 – Expanded proficiency test in ASPAC to
include other bases such as Ca, Mg, Na and
other micronutrients such as Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn
1.2 Participated in the SEALNET Ring Test for the
following parameters:
2018 – pH, OC, N, P, K
Pillar 5: Enhance the quantity and quality of soil data and
information: data collection (generation), analysis,
validation, reporting , monitoring and integration with
other disciplines

14. 2. Participated in the 1st
Laboratory Managers Meeting held in Bogor, Indonesia on October
2017 with the following output:
2.1 Shared the SOP for the following tests: pH, OC, N, P, K
2.2 Elected as the Vice Chairman for Regional Soil Laboratory Network for Asia
(Soil Sampling & Analysis)
• Provide input to the development of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) for Asia Region
• Provide input to SOP for the standardized laboratory methods
Pillar 5: Enhance the quantity and quality of soil data and
information: data collection (generation), analysis,
validation, reporting , monitoring and integration with
other disciplines

15. Pillar 5:
3. Enhanced Capacities of BSWM as the National Reference Laboratory for the FAO-ASP
3.1 ISO/IEC: 17025:2005 Accreditation
2016 – ISO/IEC: 17025:2005 Accreditation of BSWM Laboratory Services Division effective
on June14, 2016 – June 15, 2021 for a total of twelve parameters; Eight parameters in soil:
pH, EC, OM (Organic Carbon by Walkley-Black Method), N, Avail. P (Bray 1 and Olsen),
Exchangeable K, CEC, Four parameters in water: pH, EC, P, K
2017 – Additional parameters accredited ISO/IEC: 17025:2005 for a total of seventeen
parameters, Additional parameters in soil: OC (Walkley Black: Colorimetric Method), Avail.
Zn, Avail. Fe, Particle Size; Additional parameters in water: Na
3.2 Conduct of regular training to Laboratory Services Division and Regional Soil Laboratories
staff on the following:
Test Procedures and Laboratory Techniques
Soil, Water and Fertilizer Chemical Analysis on major and micronutrients
ISO/IEC: 17025 Orientation

16. Pillar 5:
3.3 Funding the implementation of P.D. 1435 which mandates the leadership role of
BSWM to supervise, regulate and control the establishment and operation of soils
laboratories in the Philippines
2017 – Approved funding of the project: 860,000 USD
2018 – Project launching and involvement of sixteen DA Regional Soils Laboratory
and all other DA laboratories covered by DA Administrative Order No. 4 on
Harmonization of all DA Laboratories
 Adoption of Standardized Methods on Soil Analysis
 Participation by DA Laboratories in addition to BSWM to the GLOSOLAN
Survey
 Updated the inventory of existing facilities and manpower of DA Regional
Soils Laboratories and Assessment of Capacities
 Technical Working Group Meeting – “Strengthening the Capacities of
BSWM and RSLs in the Operation and Establishment of Soils Laboratories
as per PD 1435

17. 2014-2015
Acquisition of equipment
thru PHILCCAP-WB, ACIAR,
OAP
April 13, 2015 – Start
ISO/IEC 17025:2005
implementation
2016
June 15, 2016 - ISO/IEC 17025: 2005
Accreditation for 12 parameters
Acquisition of equipment thru GEF5-
UNDP-SLM
2017
Continuous Upgrading of Laboratory Facilities
and Equipment thru GEF5-UNDP-SLM
Additional parameters for ISO/IEC 17025: 2005
for a total of seventeen parameters
Approval of the Tier 2 proposal for 2018-2020
implementation:
Upgrading of Laboratory Facilities and
Equipment of the BSWM Laboratories
 Strengthening the Capacities of
BSWM and RSL in the Operation and
Establishment of Soils Laboratories as
per PD 1435
2018
Start Implementation of Tier 2 Programs
 Expansion of laboratory
services to the Bulacan &
Bukidnon Research Centers
(Phase 1)
 Island-wide Consultation &
Capacity Building of LSD and
RSLs
2019
Establishment of Laboratory Facilities
and Expansion of Services at BSWM
Research Center in Tanay
IRR developed for PD 1435
All RSL lab capacitated and
stakeholders consulted
Expansion of Services to include
Heavy Metal Analysis in soil, water and
fertilizer. 2020
All soil & water parameters
accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005
BSWM Research Centers and
RSLs
capacitated for ISO/IEC
17025:2005
Transition for the adoption of
ISO/IEC:17025:2017
Implementation of RA 10657 (Chemistry Law)
Establishment of Laboratory Facilities and
Expansion of Services at BSWM Research
Centers in Bulacan and Bukidnon
Additional parameters accredited in
micronutrients and bases and inclusion of
biological test in soil and water.
Draft of IRR and guidelines for implementation of
PD 1435
Vision
Center of ExcellenceCenter of Excellence
in Soil and Waterin Soil and Water
Testing in AgricultureTesting in Agriculture
and Environment byand Environment by
20202020
Mandate
To provide analytical services of soil,
water, plant and fertilizer samples to all
clients at the highest quality and
accuracy and oversee the
establishment and operation of all Soils
Laboratory in the country.
Functions
1. Provide technical support services through the
conduct of laboratory analysis on soils and water
[plant tissues, fertilizer and compost].
2. Provide fertilization guides and
recommendations.
3. Provide support services to the technical
divisions of the bureau, public and private sectors,
academe, NGOs and farmers.
4. Provide trainings in chemical testing of soil,
water, plant tissue and fertilizer.
5. Provide leadership role in the implementation of
PD 1435 - AUTHORIZING THE BSWM TO
SUPERVISE, REGULATE AND CONTROL THE
ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATIONS OF ALL
SOIL LABORATORIES IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Pillar 5: PRIORITIES FOR 2018-2019

18. Thank you for
your kind
attention