DA7 challenges LGU-Daanbantayan to enact ordinances for agri sector

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Created on Thursday, 10 September 2020

The Department of Agriculture in Central Visayas (DA7) challenged the Local Government Unit of Daanbantayan, Cebu to enact ordinances that will both benefit the municipality and the farming sector.


This was the message of DA7 Regional Executive Director Atty. Salvador Diputado during the Corn Harvest Festival and Graduation in Barangay Bitoon, Daanbantayan, Cebu. Diputado posed the challenges to the Local Chief Executive and officials present in the said event.
He exhorted the local officials to make ordinances or executive orders that will help the agriculture sector and the municipality.
The ordinances that he was discussing include the regulation of land conversion in the area, purchase of household plastics such as bottles to minimize garbage, compost pit and water catchment in every household, and the establishment of a multipurpose cooperative that will purchase local produce of the farmers.
Mayor Sun Shimura, accepted the challenges saying that these (challenges) will have positive impact to their locality.
Shimura cited that DA7 promised him to provide solar powered irrigation system and that a team of technical experts will be sent to them once a proposal is received by the DA regional office.
"I will ask our Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) to look for an area where source of water is available and abundant and that proposals will be prepared," he said.
The mayor also praised all the farmers for their noble deeds.
"Our farmers are the most helpful and they have the noblest employment," Shimura said.
He also shared that the LGU has allocated P2 Million that will be used to purchase locally-produced corn as part of the relief assistance.
Diputado welcomed this development saying that purchasing the farmers' produce is a good move of the LGU.
He added that once they have created a coop, it will now be the coop's role to purchase and market the produce of the farmers.
"The coop must be duly registered with Securities and Exchange Commission, DOLE, and the Cooperative Development Authority so that assistance can be easily facilitated," Diputado explained.
The DA7 Chief also reiterated the call for the farmers to register with the RSBSA (Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture) while becoming members of the cooperative.
"Once your coop is organized, we can provide you with capital of P500,000 or up to P3M at no collateral, no interest and payable in 5 years through DA's credit and loan program," Diputado said.
He added that with a cooperative, farmers are assured of ready market and that they will be inspired to plant more.
Farmer-graduate Anisio Lanurias and the rest of the graduates were very happy to know of the developments.
They said that they are very happy for their corn training and extended their gratitude to DA and the LGUs for the assistance and support they received.
"Natabangan jud mi ug nadugangan ang among kahibalo," Lanurias said.