A productive partnership of Municipal Government of Pilar thru the Office of the Municipal Agriculture and LIngap para sa KAlusugan ng Sambayanan, Incorporated (LIKAS) is fostered in the latter’s current program on Building Resilient and Healthy Farming Families in Bicol Region through Sustainable Agriculture and Agro-Enterprise Development (Phase 2)" which aimed at improving the living condition of small farming families in Bicol Region , particularly in Pilar in a Resolution No. 048-A Series of 2021 passed by the Sangguniang Bayan authorizing Mayor Carolyn C. Sy-Reyes to enter into a MOA with LIKAS-BCDI.
In an Executive Order No. 23-A, Series of 2021”, Expanding the Membership of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the program…”, Ms. Elsa Blanquisco is designated as Focal Person for Organic Agriculture and Mr. John Rey Excija as TWG Focal Person.
Technical assistance from the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist through provision of Resource Person with expertise in Organic Agriculture was provided for the conduct of two day-training in the barangays with at least thirty (30) farming families to participate with emphasis on the young farmers who are willing to explore opportunities in organic farming.
The conduct of 2-day training has been designed to be finished within June 2021.It aims to involve and engage younger generations to participate and acquire knowledge into local farming that will be handed down by the older farmers. The training was also done to educate the young farmers about the importance and benefits of organic farming and how it can help them productively in consideration of its health benefits.
Barangay-Beneficiaries are Lumbang, Lourdes, Calpi, Sta. Fe, Pinagsalog, Mercedes, Mabanate and Naspi which were identified by the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist and profiled by LIKAS Personnel. About 80% of these beneficiaries were able to complete the training requirement.
Along this line, a SOIL ANALYSIS in partnership with the Bureau of Soil and Water Management is administered by the office in order to come up with a Soil Fertility Map for crop suitability.
Soil Analysis is a set of various chemical processes that determine the amount of available plant nutrients in the soil. To determine the level of nutrients found in a soil sample, it can aid in the diagnosis of plant problems and in quality plant production.
In the long run, both LIKAS and Office of the Municipal Agriculture hope to integrate the benefits and advantages of conversion from conventional to Organic Agriculture and fully understand why implementation of RA 10068, “An Act providing for the Development and Promotion of Organic Agriculture in the Philippines and for other purpose is imperative to be practiced in the grassroots.
As Thomas Jefferson said; "Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will, in the end, contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness."
