Davao City—The Surigao provincial government should buy the produce of farmers to ensure the sustainability and development of local agriculture, the Caraga office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
Top-ranking government leaders of Surigado del Norte are likely to heed the call of the DA as they said agriculture has the potential to uplift the lives of their constituents.
In an agricultural development meeting in September, DA-Caraga Regional Director Ricardo M. Oñate Jr., said local chief executives “being at the forefront in agriculture development or food czar may directly, through their local government unit [LGU], procure farmers’ produce based on the Sagip Saka Act.”
Section 11 of Sagip Saka Act which was signed into law in 2019 authorizes all government offices and LGUs to directly buy goods and produce from accredited farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives, the DA said.
“Agriculture projects are a big investment on the part of the government, we must ensure its sustainability and it should be located in a strategic location based on the Comprehensive Land Use Plan of every LGU concerned,” Oñate said.
He briefed LGU officials on the projects and programs of the DA, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the DA and LGUs in achieving the common goal of having a sufficient food supply.
In that meeting, Governor Robert Lyndon S. Barbers said agriculture “is one of his priority agenda.”
“We’ve been experiencing the pandemic, in which agriculture is the only sector that remains standing. During calamities, our immediate need is food, hence, agriculture is very important for all,” he said.
Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said he noted “the importance of constant dialogue with agricultural stakeholders to ensure joint and unified agricultural directions between the LGU and the national government.”
“It is high time to focus more on agriculture to uplift the lives of our constituents.”
Local chief executives from municipalities, other provincial and municipal officials, and representatives from OneDA family in the region attended the said meeting.
Jodel Tabada, deputy project director of DA-Philippine Rural Development Program also discussed the salient points of a special project and its implementation milestones.