Gov’t agencies back JV Ejercito’s push for barangay food security
September 08, 2022
Various government agencies have expressed
their support for the Barangay Food Security Bill recently filed by Senator
Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito.
The Department of Agriculture (DA), Department
of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd),
and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Thursday stated their “full
support” for the proposed measure during the hearing of the Senate Committee on
Local Government, where Ejercito sits as chair.
“For the proposed bill, we are a hundred
percent pabor po. We are supporting this bill kasi ito po ay isa sa mga kulang
din na legislation na dapat ipush,” said Bien Saint Garcia of the DA’s
Legislative Liaison Office.
Garcia added that the bill will strengthen the
department’s recent initiatives to promote urban farming.
Meanwhile, DepEd Youth Formation Division
officer-in-charge Rovin James Canja said his department’s Gulayan sa Paaralan
Program can be integrated into the implementation of the measure.
Ejercito encouraged the DepEd to devote idle
lands located in public schools to farming and help students develop an
appreciation for agriculture.
“In this modern age, sa basic education, our
children have to be exposed to farming, to planting. Kasi dati noong panahon
natin, meron pa nun. Ngayon, ang alam nalang ng mga bata, panay computer, panay
Farmville. ‘Yon nalang ata experience nila sa farming,” the lawmaker said.
Vice Mayor’s League of the Philippines (VMLP),
Philippine Councilors’ League (PCL), and Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas
(LMB) also backed Ejercito’s proposed measure.
“This is one of the laudable bills po na
makakatulong po sa bawat barangay. We fully support this bill at ipapaabot po
natin (ito) sa lahat ng barangay,” said LMB national president Eden Pineda
In line with President Bongbong Marcos’
directive on food sufficiency, Senate Bill
No.395 aims to mandate local government units to identify idle lands,
public parks, public school grounds, and idle private lands that are suitable
for growing vegetable crops.
For areas where such lands are unavailable,
the bill proposes the construction infrastructure for vertical gardening and
hydroponic systems.
The Department of Agriculture will be required
to provide the seeds and tools for the implementation of the measure.
“Ito po ay aking personal na ihinain upang
masolusyunan ang food shortage na problema ngayon na tumataas na presyo ng mga
bilihin at upang makatulong na makamtan natin ang food security in line with
the President’s direction,” Ejercito said.
“Kung atin pong matatandaan, isa po sa mga
prayoridad ni President Bongbong Marcos ang food security sa bansa. Ang atin
pong panukala ay pag-tugon at ambag sa panawagan na ito ng ating Pangulo,” he
added.
