LGUs urged to craft Food Security Plan

To address food accessibility and availability in the locality, the Department of Agriculture in Central Visayas (DA7) urged Local Government Units (LGUs) to craft or revisit/update their own localized Food Security Plan (FSP).

DA7 Regional Executive Director Atty. Salvador Diputado, during the DA-LGU Harmonization of Agricultural Initiatives in Balamban, Cebu, informed the Local Chief Executives (LCEs) that they need to craft or revisit their FSP for them to know if their municipality is food-secured.

Diputado said that the FSP is the umbrella of the DA that will guide food implementers on the food requirement in their respective areas by aligning their priority programs and interventions to the national programs and the actual needs of their farmers.

He said that the FSP provides information and data on town's total population, consumption needs of the populace per commodity, existing agricultural crops present in the locality, crop and livestock production, areas planted and production yield as well as the existing and potential areas for growing food, and the needed production interventions.

"With these available data and information, the LGUs can identify if they have surplus or deficit on agricultural commodities," Diputado said.

Diputado also shared that the FSP will help identify possible sources of food if a certain municipality cannot produce enough food for its population.

Diputado went on by encouraging the LCEs to enact ordinances that will help address food production as well as environmental protection. One ordinance he requested is the establishment of rainwater impounding system.

Impounding the rainwater will prevent or lessen street flooding. It will also serve as potable drinking water and for watering of plants and other agri related activities.

The DA7 chief also asked for other ordinances such as the single-use plastic and the buy-back scheme of farmers' produce. He explained that the LGUs will give incentives to its constituents by buying the plastic bottles in the form of cash or in-kind. "With this, you have already implemented the Solid Waste Management and at same time help your people earn," he added.

"On the buy-back scheme, since you have campaigned for the establishment of the Gulayan sa Barangay or edible landscaping under the Plant, Plant, Plant Program (4Ps), all produce of your farmers, you (LGU) will buy and sell it to the markets. When you buy direct to farmers at a price set by the LGUs based on current market price, you are now trimming down the layers of commissioners and your consumers will enjoy a much cheaper price of commodities", Diputado said.

Diputado bared that on the concern of fund source, the LGU can tap their cooperatives to manage the buying and selling of produce. The DA can also assist the cooperatives avail of financial loan assistance through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC).

Mayor Alex Binghay of Balamban informed the participants to observe and be keen enough to know the problems of their locality, especially on food availability. "The DA is here with their attached agencies to help us," Binghay said.

Cebu 3rd District Representative Pablo John Garcia shared that this pandemic has affected the livelihood of the people. This he said, is an opportunity for every municipality to think of strengthening their food production.

"This event is the start of a stonger collaboration among government agencies, as we bring these agencies closer to you. Let's help one another in ensuring food security", Diputado said.