AT LEAST 13 local government units (LGUs) in Region-8 were identified as recipients of the Composting Facility for Biodegradable Waste this year from the Bureau of Soils and Water Management of the Department of Agriculture (DA-BSWM).
The DA-BSWM said this project is in support of Republic Act 10068 or the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 where among of its important features is the establishment of composting facilities for biodegradable waste under the National Organic Agriculture Program.
It likewise advocates the utilization of organic fertilizers as one of the methods to minimize ground water pollution, restore soil fertility, reduce the vulnerability of marginalized farmers on the high cost of chemical fertilizers and promote the gradual adoption of organic agriculture nationwide.
Armando Arcamo, BSWM Soil and Water Area Coordinator for Region-8, said since the start of the program’s implementation in 2015, there were already more than 30 units of CFBW distributed in Eastern Visayas.
“This project aims to help the LGUs and the communities to adopt and practice proper segregation of wastes and promote sustainable agriculture through the production of fertilizers using biodegradable market and farm materials, which would essentially help our farmers in fertilizing their crops and the bagging of seedlings for the nursery farms,” Arcamo said.
“For this year, 13 units are additionally allocated for our region and each consists of a rotary composter and a size reduction machine with per package value of P950,000 for a total of P12.4 million for the entire project package,” added Arcamo.
The LGUs identified to receive the composting facilities for 2020 were identified as: Abuyog, Albuera, Capoocan, Kananga, Pastrana, San Miguel, all in Leyte; Maripipi in Biliran; Hinundayan in Southern Leyte; Dolores in Eastern Samar; Lavezares and Lapinig in Northern Samar; Jiabong and Paranas in Samar.
Incidentally, DA-8 Regional Executive Director Angel C. Enriquez was the former BSWM director who pioneered and pushed for the vigorous implementation of such project. Hence, she beamed with pride as she welcomed and witnessed the arrival of truckloads of the facilities for the region.
Enriquez thanked the BSWM, now under the leadership of Director Sonia Salguero for continuously pursuing this noble project in partnership with the DA and the office of Sen. Cynthia Villar.
The distribution and awarding of the facilities within the region was held with the BSWM team closely collaborating with concerned LGUs, ensuring that facilities are established pursuant to the implementing guidelines of the project.
The DA-RFO 8 will assist the BSWM in monitoring the status of the project, including the production data and overall sustainability of the facility.
Meanwhile, the recipients will establish and operate the composting facilities pursuant to the project’s protocol; provide a place to house the equipment as their counterpart; ensure security and proper care and maintenance of all components of the facility; provide the manpower necessary for the operation and management; and submit to BSWM and DA-RFO 8 for inspection, evaluation and monitoring of the status of the project and the production data and overall sustainability of the facility./PN
