Agri workers reminded anew their mandates towards food security
Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Larry M. Pamugas has reminded anew all employees of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) the mandates of the office to ensure food security in the province of Bohol.
During the OPA Christmas party last Wednesday held at the Panda Tea, Dao, Tagbilaran City, Dr. Pamugas said that as the year about to end, the OPA employees must ready to face the challenges in agriculture that hang on their shoulders in the coming year under the new brand of governance in Gov. Arthur C. Yap and Vice Gov. Rene Relampagos.
The creation of the OPA has a legal basis as provided for by the Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as Local Government Code of 1991, Article 12, Section 1 that mandates the following: formulate measures for approval of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and provide technical assistance and support to the governor; develop plans and strategies on agricultural programs and projects and implement them upon approval by the governor; ensure that maximum assistance and access to resources in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural and aquacultural and marine products are extended to farmers, fishermen and local entrepreneurs; Conduct or cause to be conducted location-specific agricultural researches and assist in making available the appropriate technology arising out of and disseminate information on basic research on crops, prevention and control of plant diseases, and other agricultural matters which will maximize productivity; assist the governor in the establishment and extension services of demonstration farms or aquaculture and marine products; coordinate with NGAs and NGOs which promote agricultural productivity through appropriate technology compatible with environmental integrity;
Be in the frontline of delivery of basic agricultural services particularly those needed for the survival of the inhabitants during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural disasters; recommend to the Sangguniang and advise the governor, as the case may be, on all other matters related to agriculture and aquaculture which will improve the livelihood and living conditions of the inhabitants; exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS
Dr. Pamugas during the OPA year-end assessment and 2020 operational plan last December 5, 2019 held at the Panda Tea and Garden, Dao, Tagbilaran City introduced the so called “Pag-atiman sa mga Kabus/Makalolooy Program”.
Under the program, the OPA is tasked to identify the poorest and most medically ignored barangays, establish the Bohol Soils and Water Center, update farmers registry divided into crops and animals groups concentration, list consolidated rice and corn areas with legitimate and dependable farm coops, identify the rice and corn areas that will be given mini service facilities, identify the High Value Commercial Crops (HVCC) areas that will be given mini service facilities, establish a Bohol Farm Mechanization and Processing Center which will be a rental center for farm equipment and select processing machines, building a vigorous nursery program for Bohol’s agricultural crops including nurseries for indigenous medicinal plants;
Integrate the microfinance and a buyback program for all our commodity programs, integrate the culinary experience with agri producers, integrate the public markets with the culinary experience of Bohol, trees and fruit trees planting programs, and palengke program.
The six divisions of the OPA such as Agribusiness, Research and Agri-Support Services (RASS), Planning, Crops and Productivity, Fisheries, and Administration have tasked to carry on the new program that would be integrated to the existing programs of the OPA.
Usually, before the year ends, the provincial agriculture office would hold a Christmas party and conduct a year-end assessment to determine how far the office has gone through with its targets for this year and to formulate operational plan for the next year. (Atoy Cosap)
