BONTOC, Mountain Province – With its determination to promote and strengthen organic agriculture (OA) in Mountain Province, the Provincial Organic Agriculture Board (POAB) has organized the Provincial Local Technical Working Group/Committee (PLTC) on OA during its meeting this morning at the JBA Building, Samoki.
In his opening statement, POAB Chairperson, Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. expressed his appreciation to the members of the board for their commitment to making sure that OA in the province is being sustained.
As stipulated the Governor’s Executive Order No. 8, series of 2023, there is a need to create the PLTC-OA in order to (1) effectively implement the various activities of the Organic Agriculture Program (OAP), (2) assist the Provincial Local Chief Executive in setting direction for the identification and implementation of its priority plans, programs and activities relative to OA, and (3) regularly conduct review and assessment for improvement.
Moreover, section two of the said order states that the PLTC-OA shall establish a collaborative mechanism for the development, review, consolidation, and endorsement of the OAP in line with the National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP); assist the Municipal LTC-OA in the implementation of the NOAP; review, consolidate, and endorse the short, medium and long-term Local OAP; support the promotion and formation of the Participatory Guarantee System within the locality; develop a Local OA Industry Profile; assist in policy formulation and enactment of ordinances for the monitoring and regulation of organic produce and products which were sold within its respective jurisdiction; supervise or oversee the organic livestock, poultry and fisheries program in its respective jurisdiction; assist in the conduct of massive awareness and information campaign on OAP in the barangay level; and perform other functions as may be directed by the POAB.
Meanwhile, Provincial Agriculturist Dominga A. Cabatu informed that the POAB will be conducting a training on technology advancement for OA practitioners and will also be spearheading the celebration of the Provincial Organic Agriculture Month on August 2023.
In response, the different farmers from various farmer’s organizations/associations expressed their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the POAB for continuously supporting the constituents of the province who are engaged in OA.
“Salasalamat sinan tuloy-tuloy ay suporta yo ken dakami ay farmers. Asup kuma ta adadu pay nan ma arem ay men organic farming tay adu nan benefits na beken lang ken dakami ay farmers, nu di ket pati sinan nay da consumers,” a farmer from the Bauko Organic Practitioners Credit Cooperative said. By MP Press Release