Awareness Conference on Organic Agriculture Act for Local Chief Executives Held
Asst. Secretary Salvador S. Salacup (standing 2nd from right), and Undersecretary Bernadette R. Puyat (seated center) both of the Department of Agriculture with Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. (seated 2nd from left) at the opening program of the Visayas-wide Awareness Conference on Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 for Local Chief Executives held at the Bacolod Pavillon Hotel in Bacolod City yesterday. With them are DA Reg’l. Dir. Larry Nacionales, Boyet Uychiat of NISARD, and Gov. Khalil B. Mitra of Palawan, among others. /Capitol photo
Local chief executives from Region VI, VII, and VIII attended the two-day Visayas-wide Awareness Conference on Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 (Republic Act 10068) at Bacolod Pavillon Hotel that kicked-off, yesterday.
According to Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup, National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB) secretariat and Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS) OIC-Executive Director, the primary objective of the activity is to advocate the organic agriculture act to all local government units to increase their awareness on the implementation of the program as well as promote efficient utilization of budget intended for the program.
Themed “Sama-sama nating kamtin ang kasapatan sa pagkain tungo sa mas masagana at maunlad na 2012”, the activity is jointly organized by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Interior and Local Government.
Gov. Marañon shared his experience on the organic agriculture initiatives of the provincial government. He said that in terms of organic agriculture, Negros is way ahead among other provinces, citing the Memorandum of Agreement signed by then Negros Occidental governor, the late Joseph G. Marañon and former Negros Oriental governor George Arnaiz in 2005 declaring Negros Island an “Organic Island”.
He also said Negros Occidental passed an ordinance banning all genetically-modified organisms (GMO) as part of its vision to become the organic food bowl in Asia.
Republic Act No. 10068 or the Philippine Organic Agriculture Act is a landmark legislation signed on April 6, 2010, for the development and promotion of organic agriculture in the Philippines. It is the culmination of long years of development efforts mostly by non-government, community based organizations and private groups pushing for agriculture sector reforms around ecologically sustainable, environment friendly and safer production systems, availability of safer and more nutritious staples and food, and increased farm productivity and income opportunities for the Filipino farmers.
Also present in the activity were DA Undersecretary Bernadette R. Puyat and Palawan Gov. Khalil B. Mitra. /Capitol News
