TACLOBAN CITY -- In consonance with the provisions of RA 10068 otherwise known as Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, a Composting Facility for Biodegradable Wastes (CFBW) worth P952,000 was turned over on Thursday, July 29, by the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Soils and Water Management to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) - Region 8, as its main beneficiary.
In turn, TESDA-8, represented by Regional Director Gamaliel Vicente Jr. through Assistant Director Renato de la Cruz handed over this facility to Pitahaya Farm, owned and managed by Mr. Jose L. Castillejos Jr. of Brgy. Salvacion, this City.
The CFBW units consisting of shredder machine and a Rotary Cultivator worth P380,000 and P571,200, respectively, were funded under the DA’s National Organic Agriculture Program.
Mr. Castillejos or simply called "Boyen" by friends personally received the certificates of turnover and witnessed by TESDA scholars who are presently undergoing on-the-job training at Pitahaya Farm being an accredited farm school for Practical Agriculture.
Castillejos thanked DA for the project as it will help his farm in proper biodegradable waste disposal and home-based production of organic fertilizer.
In behalf of DA-8's Regional Executive Director Angel C. Enriquez, the turnover certificate and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between concerned parties was initialed or countersigned by Regional technical Director Elvira C. Torres. Same is true with TESDA-8 Assistant Director dela Cruz who represented Regional Director Vicente.
As proxies of each head of agencies, Director Torres in her message jestingly called themselves as members of the "House of Representatives."
According to Mr. Leolito D. Siases, BSWM SWAC for Region 12 who accompanied Engr. Armando Bello Arcamo, BSWM-SWAC for Region 8, the said composting facility has a rotary cultivator and a shredder with a loading capacity of more or less one ton or 1,000 kg per load.
With the presence of this facility, the BSWM Staffers assured that all farm waste in the area will be eliminated and turned into organic materials from the waste stream and, could help save money in protecting the environment. Also, compost can help create a very robust and sustainable agriculture system since it can enrich soil structure and nutrients.
When asked of his comments about this newly acquired farm machine, Castiillejos, Pitahaya Farm owner, couldn't believe he has another high impact facility inside his farm. As such, the only words that came out from his mouth is "Thank you, DA, BSWM and TESDA and finally, to our God up there for these wonderful blessings." (Francis Rosaroso/DA-8)
