BAGUIO CITY – In support of the Farmers and Fisherfolks in the country’s Summer Capital, the city government, in coordination with the Cordillera office of the Department of Agriculture Cordillera (DA-CAR) together with its attached agencies organized the Urban Agriculture Technology Exhibition and Harvest festival at the Melvin Jones Grandstand at Burnham Park features agricultural products coming from 12 barangays and 15 Small and Medium Agricultural Entrepreneurs in the city.
President Corazon Aquino issued a presidential proclamation. No. 33 in 1989, designating May as Farmers and Fisherfolk Month.
The city government approved Resolution No. 75 series of 2017 “Declaring the Month of May 2017 and every year thereafter as Urban Farmers Month” in support of the aforementioned Presidential Proclamation.
Even though the aforementioned decision is regarded as comprehensive, there are still numerous locations in the city that can be used for agricultural purposes, according to Councilor Arthur Allad-iw, the Committee Chairman on Agriculture of the City Council.
“For the city government to help more farmers and its interested residents, Ordinance No. 35 series of 2018 was passed to institutionalize the conduct of “Urban Farmers Month” every May.
Through its passage, farmers and agricultural practitioners in Baguio City can actively participate in the celebration, and benefit through the assistance coming from various programs, projects, and activities of the government,” Allad-iw said.
Even though Baguio is a highly urbanized city, the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council Chairman (RAFC) and Farmer Regional Executive Director (FRED) Ryan Palunan, who spoke on behalf of DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Atty. Jennilyn Dawayan, highlighted the city’s agricultural and fisheries activities by showcasing its agricultural products and adaptable new technologies for the communities in Baguio.
“The presence of our urban farmers is a testament that agricultural activities are happening in the city, however, we should also know how to upscale and innovate the things we do in our sector. The department is thankful to our city officials for giving the agriculture sector a chance to shine by linking our farmers with the Department of Agriculture and its attached bureaus and agencies that provide trainings and seminars, aside from acquiring farm machinery and equipment, seeds, fertilizers, and other interventions to improve our agricultural practices,” Palunan stated.
The Farmer Regional Executive Director added the importance of the youth not being left behind by considering agriculture as a course in college that is profitable and a good source of income in the future.
As part of the Farmer’s Month observance, the city government received PhP5 million from DA-CAR to establish a KADIWA store in the city market and as a trading capital. By JTLlanes
