Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco urged organic farmers to demand for a strengthened organic agriculture ordinances from their local government units.
Evasco, who pioneered the implementation of organic farming when he was the mayor of Maribojoc, Bohol, admitted that the existing organic agriculture ordinances in provinces like Cebu lacks tooth to adequately support and promote the organic way of farming.
Evasco explained that the government needs to support the industry of organic farming for it to thrive and be able to compete with foreign and synthetic fertilizer-laiden produce.
Higher price
According to Evasco, organic produce are less patronized in the market because of their higher price. This is due to the higher cost of production.
He said that the government should support organic farmers to lower the cost of production and thereby lower the selling price of organic products to make them competitive in the market.
“I am into organic farming because I am concerned of the well-being of my grandchildren and the well-being of the other children. Makita man na sa statistics ,” Evasco said as he lamented the health effects of consuming produce that grow out of synthetic fertilizers.
“Why wouldn’t the mayors adopt it (organic agriculture) if that is for the good of the people? It’s a question of letting the government be reminded what is really needed,” Evasco said during his consultation with members of the Cebu Organic Agriculture Cooperative (COAC) on Friday.
He said that COAC farmers should present to the LGUs their position for better implementing rules of the organic farming ordinances.
“Sila ang manawagan nga iimplement gyod ang organic agriculture to promote the healthy well-being of our children. Kami sa gobyerno, gisweldohan mi sa buhis gikan sa mga tawo. So, the government should always be responsive kung unsa may maayo para sa mga tawo,” said Evasco.
During the consultation, Lawyer Garry Maninggo, a member of COAC, proposed that higher taxes should also be imposed on non-organic produce.
Amend Organic Act
Evasco advised the group to communicate to the Committee on Agriculture in the lower house to seek for the amendment of the Organic Act or RA 10068.
In a letter addressed to the Cebu Provincial Board, COAC have laid down their proposed amendments to the existing Organic Ordinance of the provice including subsidizing legitimate organic farms which could serve as demonstration sites to encourage organic farming.
The group also asked the province to appropriate funds to have organic trading posts in Cebu and to issue guidelines that would adhere to the implementing rules and regulations of the current Organic Act.