By: Enrique Cañizares III (FSN Researcher)

Last September 17 and 18, 2019 the 7^th Regional Organic Agriculture Congress for Western Visayas was held at Casa Real of the Provincial Capitol.

Farmers and organic agriculture advocates from all over the region came together to take a closer look at the Organic Agriculture Roadmap for Western Visayas.

The program started with opening remarks by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. of the Province of Iloilo. The governor also an advocate of organic agriculture states that one of his intentions is, for organic food to be the center piece of tourism, and that organic agriculture should elevate into a thriving business because of the opportunities brought by farm tourism.

To address the challenge of sustainability is to provide support especially to young Agri-Preneurs for them to generate their interest to go back in agriculture. The Governor plans to have further dialogue with the farmers about their needs so that the province can align its program to meet these needs.

1. Requiring NOAB Government Permanent Representatives to Designate Organic Agriculture Focal Persons in their Departments
   
   
2. Recommending the NOAB FY 2020 Plan and Budget
   
   
3. Recommending the Approval of the Guidelines for the Preparation of the National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP) FY 2020 Plan and Budget Proposal
   
   
4. Requiring NOAB Government Permanent Representatives to Attend the Regular Meetings
   
   
5. Adopting the 15^th National Organic Agriculture Congress (NOAC) Resolutions
   
   
6. Approving Camp Benjamin in Alfonso, Cavite as the Official Venue and November 11 – 15, 2019 as the Official Date of the 16^th National Organic Agriculture Congress with the Theme

1. Recommending the Approval of the Revision of the National Organic Agriculture Achievers Awards (NOAAA) Guidelines
   
   
2. Recommending the Approval of the Guidelines for the National-On-the-Spot Essay Writing and Poster Making Contest
   
   
3. Recommending the Approval of the Guidelines for Organic Agriculture Research Category
   
   
4. Recommending the Approval of the Guidelines for Kabataang OA 2019
   
   
5. Requiring National Organic Agriculture Board NOAB Government Permanent Representatives to Designate Regional Organic Agriculture Focal Persons in their Department
   
   
6. Adopting the Recommendations of the End of Program Assessment Report for the National Organic Agriculture Program
   
   
7. Recommending the Department of Education through its Gulayan sa Paaralan Program to establish organic gardens based on the provisions of the Philippine National Standards on Organic Agriculture
   
   
8. Recommending the Department of Interior and Local Government Units through its Gulayan sa Barangay Program to establish organic gardens based on the provisions of the Philippine National Standards on Organic Agriculture
   
   
9. Recommending the Department of Interior and Local Government to include the implementation of Organic Agriculture Program as one of the Criteria for the Seal of Good Local Governance
   
   
10. Recommending the Department of Health to instruct all accredited hospitals to serve organic food
    
    
11. Recommending the Department of Social Welfare and Development to integrate the organic agriculture program in its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program
    
    
12. Recommending the National Organic Agriculture Program – National Program Coordinating Office to explore the adaptability of the Information Technology Enabled Maturity Assessment of the Department of Agrarian Reform to the implementation of the National Organic Agriculture Program
    
    
13. Recommending the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Offices to conduct random monitoring of organic farms and surveillance of markets retailing organic produce, and use the Rapid Bio-assay for Pesticides Residue in the analysis of organic produce.
    
    
14. Recommending the Department of Agriculture to include organic rice production in the Philippine Rice Industry Roadmap 2040
    
    
15. Recommending the Approval of the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations on Accreditation of Private Organic Agriculture Extension Service Providers, and
    
    
16. Requesting the Conduct of Value Chain Analysis of Organic Agriculture by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry

1. Institutional Development and Strengthening and Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation
   
   
2. Research and Development
   
   
3. Extension and Capacity Building, Promotion, Advocacy and Education
   
   
4. Production and Post-Production Support
   
   
5. Market Support Services
   
   
6. Regulatory Support Services