KABACAN, Cotabato Province (PIA) -- President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., represented by Undersecretary Joana Paula Domingo of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President, encouraged Filipinos to promote organic farming and practices that would take the country towards a competitive and sustainable organic industry. 

This is one of the highlights of the president’s message, delivered by Domingo, during the opening ceremony of the 17th National Organic Agriculture Congress (NOAC), held at the University of Southern Mindanao in Kabacan, Cotabato on Tuesday, March 21.

The president, in his messge, emphasized that the promotion of organic agriculture (OA) is one of the most holistic solutions in addressing the challenges in both food security and sustainability, and environmental conservation.

President Marcos Jr. also lauded the contributions of organic practitioners and innovators in the OA industry. “You are not only our partners in combating the challenges in the agri sector but also our champions in achieving our shared goals in various aspects of our society.” 

Moreover, the president highlighted the importance of the 17th NOAC in coming up with more strategic, integrated, and decisive solutions which will pave the way to achieving a locally reliant and globally competitive OA industry.

President Marcos Jr. said that the government prioritizes the well-being of farmers and consumers thus the establishment of composting facilities for biodegradable wastes (CFBW) and small-scale composting facilities (SSCF) which convert agricultural and other biodegradable wastes into organic compost or fertilizer without the use of harmful chemicals.

To date, there are 1,088 units of CFBW and 896 units of SSCFF in the country as one of the priority thrusts of the National Organic Agriculture Program.

“As we move forward to celebrate another milestone for our organic agriculture industry, I have my highest hope that through this congress, through the researchers’ findings and innovations, we could create, discover, and adopt more practices for the benefit of the Filipino people and the environment,” the president said.

President Marcos Jr. is optimistic that the application of the lessons and realizations through the 17th NOAC will not only bring the organic agriculture industry forward but will also create a better future for Filipinos. (PIA Cotabato City)