Bantayan creates council seat for agriculture sector

CEBU, Philippines - The Municipality of Bantayan in Cebu is eyeing a seat for the agricultural sectoral representative in the Sangguniang Bayan.

Mayor Ian Christopher Escario approved an ordinance passed by the municipal council creating the seat as provided under Section 457(B) of the Local Government Code of 1991.

The law provides that there shall be an additional three sectoral representatives in the sanggunian, one each from women, agricultural or industrial workers and from urban poor, indigenous communities or disabled persons.

The ordinance, however, is still subject for review and approval of the Provincial Board after it was submitted last November 15, 2012.

The Municipality of Bantayan is an island municipality and derives its livelihood mostly from agriculture like fishing, farming, poultry and hog raising.

It is also famous for its dried fish products like the incomparable danggit, aside from the fact that their poultry farms are one of the top producers of eggs in the country.

This prompted the municipal officials to create the position, seeing the need to install an agricultural sectoral representatives to the sanggunian.

The representatives shall initiate legislative measures for better programs, regulations, preservation activities and development of the agriculture sector in the municipality as well as the island of Bantayan.

To be nominated to the position, the organization that seeks to be selected must be in existence for at least three years prior to the selection, accredited by the local government unit, has at least 25 members residing in the locality and has proof in active involvement in addressing sectoral and community issues.

The ordinance provides that the first selection shall be held 30 days after posting of list of qualified sectoral organizations.

There shall be a selection committee to be composed of the representatives of the Local Development Councils, academe, Department of Interior and Local; Government, offices of the mayor and vice mayor, legal officer and SB.

The succeeding selections shall be held every first Monday of October after the local elections.

The term of office of the selected representatives shall be co-terminous with the term of office of the regular members of the sanggunian bayan. —/JPM (FREEMAN)