'Bible' for organic farming gets nod of Bohol PB

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — The Bohol Provincial Board has approved the so-called "bible" for organic farming in the province.

The Board approved Provincial Ordinance No. 019-2011 dubbed "The Bohol Organic Agriculture Code of the Province of Bohol" after months of deliberation and public consultation. The passage of the ordinance was spearheaded by the Board's agriculture committee chaired by Board Member Abeleon Damalerio.

The Code will serve as the "bible" for farmers advocating environment-friendly and ecologically-sound agriculture.

Organic farm advocates said the passage of the ordinance is the first in Bohol in terms of local legislation. The provincial government through the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is said to be the first to enact the "The Bohol Environment Code of 1998" and the Provincial Ordinance No. 2003-010, known as "The Bohol GMO-Free Ordinance," that have been replicated in other provinces.

The approval of the new Code was contained in committee report No. 2011-02 signed by Damalerio and Board Members Brigido Imboy and Bienvenido Molina, vice-chair and member of the agriculture committee, respectively.

The Code provides framework on how to go about organic farming principally based on four principles: health, ecology, fairness and care. It is also anchored on what the authors described as "Growing in Rhythm with Ecologically-Vibrant Economy, Nourished by Life-centered, Integral Farmlands and Eco-systems or the acronym "GREENLIFE" Program.

The said Ordinance has 10 sections, including the policy statement in apparent promotion and development and the implementation of organic farming, not only to increase the lot of farmers but for health and environment reasons.

The said measure is a counterpart of the RA No. 10068, "An Act Providing for the Development and Promotion of Organic Agriculture in the Philippines of 2010" and consistent with the thrusts of International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM).

It provides components to effectively carry out its objectives, including production enhancement, research and development, marketing, policy advocacy and organic certification system.

The measure attempts to provide for the mechanism, including the creation of the Bohol Organic Agriculture Board, Bohol Organic Agriculture Executive Committee and the Secretariat with their compositions and defined functions/duties.

One of the salient features of the Ordinance is the provision of funding requirements to carry its mandate. Under section 6, an amount of PhP3 million from the 20% development fund is being appropriated every year.

Labor component got the lion's share with 30% of the total budget and administrative costs, 8%.

Other components — production enhancement, research and development each got 15% and 12%, respectively, while marketing, policy advocacy and organic certification system has 10% apiece.

Section 7 provides that each LGU "shall adopt appropriate versions of the ordinance."

It was not immediately known when the governor will sign the ordinance to formally make it into a local law. — Ric V. Obedencio/JMO (THE FREEMAN)