Law on organic agriculture is being crafted for competitiveness

30 September 2008
Marlowe U. Aquino, PhD

The concern of the Philippines to be globally competitive in terms of its production and processing agricultural practices and assured quality products has again taken center stage by key players and stakeholders in agriculture and fisheries development. This time, the Organic Agriculture is now being formulated by the Committee on Agriculture and Food of the Philippine Senate.

Five Philippine senators, namely: Jose "Jinggoy" P. Ejercito, Rodolfo G. Biazon, Loren Regina B. Legarda, Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, and Manuel B. Villar have signified support for and authored Senate Bills on the promotion and application of organic agriculture in the Philippines. In order that the proposed law will be formulated, approved, and implemented properly, the Committee on Agriculture and Food is coordinating the technical working group preparing the law.

Overall, it is envisioned to address the appropriate, effective, and efficient use of organic agricultural practices and the production and processing of organic products by farmers, manufacturers, and producers. Also, it will encourage stakeholders to adhere to international standards and practices in order that Philippine agricultural and fishery products will be globally competitive.

Technical inputs and support from the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), including their respective units and attached agencies as well as representatives from non-governmental organizations, civil societies, industries, and private sector are provided to the Committee to come up with a comprehensive and integrated law.

To date, the Committee and the Technical Working Group in charge of the drafting and preparation of the law will be presented during zonal public consultations and forums and to solicit pertinent inputs for better policy development and implementation. Strategic plans for zonal consultations are now being prepared with commitments coming from key players and stakeholders as host and sponsor of the activities.

The draft law will cover among other things, regulation, certification, and accreditation,; research, development, and extension (RDE); information dissemination and promotion; and marketing of organic agriculture.

Hopefully, the approval and implementation of the Organic Agriculture law will ensure that Philippine farms, manufacturers, producers, and consumers will be consciously aware of the organic production and processing management for local agricultural produce to be domestically and globally competitive