BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance institutionalizing the creation of Barangay Agriculture and Fisheries Councils in the city.
The ordinance authored by all the members of the city legislative body states that the creation of Barangay Agriculture and Fisheries Councils in the city will be institutionalized to help in advancing the agriculture and fisheries sector in the highly urbanized city.
The ordinance adds that in the spirit of promoting participatory processes and good governance in the agriculture and fisheries sector, the barangays in the city, whoever applicable, will be mandated to coordinate with the City Veterinary and Agriculture Office, the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries and the Department of Agriculture to formulate sound policies, recommendations and programs for sustained development in the city’s agriculture and fisheries sector.
Earlier, the research division of the City Council conducted legislative monitoring and evaluation of Resolution No. 057, series of 2018, which requested the agricultural division of the City Veterinary and Agriculture Office to conduct an information education and communication campaign in the city, and City Veterinarian Dr. Brigit Piok, in her letter to Vice Mayor Faustino A. Olowan dated December 9, 2019, stated among others, that it is suggested to institutionalize the creation of agriculture and fisheries council in the barangay level, if applicable or necessary, as it will be the voice and bridge of farmers supported by the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries which promotes participatory processes and good governance in the country’s agriculture and fisheries sector.
Moreover, the agriculture and fisheries council also serves as the monitoring arm of the agriculture department and acts as a special advisory body that formulates sound policy recommendations and programs for sustained development in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
Due to the increasing demand in the provision of agriculture-related programs and services as a result of the information and education campaign conducted in the different barangays, the recommendation to institutionalize the agriculture and fisheries sector is necessary to augment the few human resources of the agricultural services division of the City Veterinary Office to assist in the implementation of programs, and the said councils are needed to closely monitor the implemented agricultural projects and programs in all concerned barangays for sustainable purposes.
The previous administration recognized the importance of the agriculture sector in the increased economic activities and improved sources of livelihood of most of the populace in identified agricultural areas in the different parts of the city, and that part of the interventions being done by the city government is the recognition of urban gardening as one of the major thrusts in the overall development of the city.
The ordinance was referred by the City Council to the appropriate committee for study and recommendation on the step to be taken.
By Dexter A. See