An ordinance optimizing the use of Bacolod City’s vacant or idle agricultural lands for the city’s organic farming and food security projects, was approved on first reading by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod Wednesday.

The ordinance authored by Councilor El Cid Familiaran and co-authored by Councilor Sonya Verdeflor, said the City of Bacolod owns several agricultural lands that have remained idle and vacant and not made available for productive use for a long period of time.

These properties, which are classified as agricultural lands have potentials for productive use for grains, vegetables, tubers and fruit trees farming and source of livelihood for the city’s farmers, informal settlers and the unemployed marginalized sector, it said.

The ordinance said the city through its Agriculture Office, has started the implementation of its organic farming and food security programs and projects pursuant to C.O. No. 572 Series of 2011 or the Organic Agriculture Ordinance of Bacolod City and R.A. 10068 or An Act Providing for the Development and Promotion of Organic Agriculture in the Philippines.

It said the city government through the City Agriculture Office will provide technical support and assistance for the beneficiaries under the ordinance, as well as, extend them marketing assistance through the City Cooperative and Livelihood Development Office.

To sustain the program, the City Agriculture Office will conduct research and development initiatives to strengthen its technical and technological capacities in organic farming and food security in coordination with the Department of Agricultural and other private entities undertaking the same programs on agriculture, the ordinance said.

Upon passage of this ordinance, a budget of P700,000 will be allocated from the Budget of the City Agriculture Office, for its implementation to include expenses for research and development, it added*CGS.

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