ORDINANCE NO: 2021-474 Sponsored by: Committee on Agriculture, Fishery and Agrarian Reform AN ORDINANCE INSTITUTIONALIZING, PROMOTING AND DEVELOPING ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN PAGADIAN CITY AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES WHEREAS, Section 14 of RA 10068 recognizes the pivotal role of the Local Government Units (LGUs) as front liners in the implementation of the national organic agriculture program and enumerates the roles and responsibilities, such as, but not limited to the creation of local technical committees, and issuance of ordinances and/or resolutions approving and adopting organic agriculture program in their locality; WHEREAS, Rule 24.5 of the IRR of RA 10068 mandates the LGUs, together with the government financing institutes, to put up and provide guarantee funds for small organic farmers, artisanal fisher folks and indigenous people; WHEREAS, under Section 14 Local Executive Committees, Rule 14.2 of the Republic Act 10068 (known as "ORGANIC ACT OF 2010") Implementing Rules and Regulations," the Department of Agriculture shall assist the Local Chief Executives of LGUs in organizing a "Technical Committee on Organic Agriculture (TC/OA) which may be composed of members similar to that of the National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB), and which shall, in accordance with and assistance of the BAFPS/DA Regional Field Units, implement activities in line with the National Organic Agriculture Program within the city; Be it Ordained by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (13th City Council) of Pagadian in session assembled, that: SECTION 1. TITLE. - This Ordinance shall be known and cited as "Organic Agriculture Ordinance of Pagadian City." SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY. - It is the duty of the government to protect the life and advance the rights of all citizens to food sufficiency, sovereignty and safety, sustainable livelihood and social equity in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. Toward this end, the Local Government of Pagadian shall promote and practice organic agriculture; SECTION 3. DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES. - The practice of organic agriculture shall adhere to the following principles to guide the implementation of this Ordinance: The promotion and enhancement of the conservation and sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity shall prevail over any other activity on the agriculture sector; The empowerment of all small and marginalized farmers in the agriculture areas of the city is a priority which will include the value chain for organic agricultural products; The implementation of a strategy for mitigation and adaption to climate change is an urgent policy matter that needs to be integrated in all policies in all sectors; While unifying the initiatives and effort of all government agencies and instrumentalities in organic agricultural, the enhancement of the city's poverty reduction strategy should not be lost in sight; Organic agriculture is a contributor to the city's economy and the attainment of food security, ecological sustainability and the well-being of the people of Pagadian city; Organic agriculture cannot co-exist with genetically-modified crops, chemically produced crops and related organism both living and non-living; Organic agriculture is multi-functional and, in this sense, all existing policies of the government on agriculture should take this into account; and SECTION 4. DEFINITION OF TERMS. - As used in this Ordinance, the following terms shall mean: Buffer Zones - are defined areas on the boundary of an organic farm that has land use controls and allow only activities compatible with the protection of the organic farm. It serves as a barrier that surrounds or separates an organic farm from other traditional or conventional farms where plants are not designated as organic. The area of the buffer zones shall be determined in the Implementing Rules and Regulations depending on the total situation on the ground; Consumer Groups - are organized consumer group patronizing and advocating organic products; Conversion - is the process of transforming a traditional or conventional farm into an organic farm for period of three (3) to five (5) years; Food Security - is the ability of the individual, household and community to produce and/or access/acquire appropriate, abundant, nutritious and safe food on a regular basis using socially acceptable means; Organic Agriculture - is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather that the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, Organic Center - is a center with the following goals: Establish a strategic venue for consumer education, information and communication for a sustainable healthy lifestyle; Design as a showcase for organic products and farm technologies; Develop holistic and sustainable technology training programs; Small Farmers - are marginal and sub-marginal farm households and/or cultivating not more than three (3) hectares; SECTION 5. ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL ZONES. - For the effective implementation of this Ordinance, there are hereby set aside agriculture zones that will be protected from encroachment and contamination of using chemical-based farm inputs, mining, including contamination of genetically engineered crops and other similar activities. These zones shall be organized according to ecological districts based on existing categories of land tenure instruments and arrangements such as the ancestral domain, the protected area, the agrarian reform communities; the community-based forest management zones, and such similar instruments and arrangements, including the coastal and marine zones. These zones shall be set up according to the following minimum criteria: Presence of actual organic agriculture practitioners; Presence of natural or man-made water formations, including areas covered by irrigation and similar facilities; Identified buffer zone to shield organic agriculture from other land uses that impact in the integrity of the practice of organic agriculture; and Areas suited for agricultural production as defined in the Pagadian City Land Use Plan. SECTION 6. ORGANIC CENTERS. - The City Government of Pagadian, through the City Agriculture Office, shall establish, recognize and/support Organic Centers including those initiated by the private sector that will promote, market, and develop organic agriculture. The City Agriculture Office may also recognize or support market centers which are established for the purpose of marketing organic products. SECTION 7. CONSERVATION OF INDIGENOUS FARM PRACTICES. - Measures shall be established, by the farming communities, including Indigenous People's communities, to conserve and protect indigenous knowledge relating to organic agriculture, including those that relate to seed conservation and propagation and the various ways in which on-farm and ex-situ mechanisms are established and sustained. SECTION 8. SUPPORT SERVICE TO ORGANIC FARMERS. - The City Government of Pagadian shall ensure support to organic farmers who wish to engage in organic agriculture, such as training, production, marketing and branding, including financial management and accounting, among other necessary skills to develop an organic agriculture product that will secure a market niche, including the practice of fair trade. Support services shall also be primarily extended to small and marginalized farmers and women's groups including the promotion, enhancement and fulfillment of their rights as defined in national laws. SECTION 9. ACCESS TO CREDIT FOR SMALL AND ORGANIC FARMERS. - Small and organic farmers, through the assistance of the City Agriculture Office, shall have access to credit facility and financial services through organized groups of small farmers preferably those cooperatives registered with the City Cooperative Development Office; SECTION 10. BIOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL CONTROL. - Organic Farmers shall practice and utilize biological and botanical methods, which relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory or other natural mechanisms in the control of pests and diseases in their organic farm; SECTION 11. IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISMS. - The City Government of Pagadian, through the City Agriculture Office, shall ensure the implementation of this Ordinance guided by the principles of organic value chain. It shall ensure the marketing of organic products by providing centers for selling, transport and other necessary services. It shall also ensure that organic products have certified organic branding in accordance with the Philippine National Standards; SECTION 12. CREATION OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE LOCAL TECHNICAL COMMITTEE (OLTC). - The City Government may institute the formation of an Organic Agriculture Local Technical Committee, headed by the City Mayor that will assist in the implementation of the Ordinance and the formulation of an Organic Agriculture Plan for Pagadian City. The Committee, to be composed of appropriate national government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), People's Organization (POs), academe and such other appropriate offices engaged in or advocating organic agriculture, shall have the following functions: Identify and recommend organic agriculture zones as established in Section 5 of this Ordinance; Perform such other functions as may be necessary for the realization of the policies as well as the principles enunciated under this Ordinance. SECTION 13. COMPOSITION. The Organic Agriculture Local Technical Committee shall be composed of the following: Chairman : City Mayor Vice Chairman: City Agriculturist Member : SB Member Committee on Agriculture; Representative from Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) City Environment and Natural Resources Officer School District Superintendent City Agrarian Reform Program Officer Representative from DTI Chairman of the City Agricultural and Fisheries Council (CAFC) Organic Agriculture Program Coordinator City Planning Officer City Budget Officer Three (3) Representatives from Small Farmers Non-Government Representative SECTION 14. APPROPRIATION. - The City Government of Pagadian shall appropriate substantial budget to ensure the implementation of this Ordinance and to support the organic agriculture activities of the city. SECTION 15. INCENTIVES TO FARMERS, SCHOOLS AND BARANGAYS. - The City shall give incentives, awards and financial support to farmers, schools and Barangay Local Government Units which pursue, promote and practice organic farming. The City Agriculture Office shall formulate guidelines for developing incentive programs, award systems and/or financial support. SECTION 16. STANDARD-SETTING. - The City Mayor, through the City Agriculture Office or the Organic Agriculture Local Technical Committee, in case it is established, shall formulate an organic agriculture standard appropriate for Pagadian City Small Farmers; The standard to be formulated by the city shall be anchored on the utilization of biodegradable waste as a resource for organic agriculture system; SECTION 17. PROMOTION OF URBAN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE. - The City Agriculture Office shall promote urban organic agriculture even in urban areas utilizing new technologies and taking advantage of ecological solid waste; SECTION 18. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. - If any part of this Ordinance is declared unconstitutional, the remaining parts unaffected thereby shall continue to remain valid and in effect; SECTION 19. REPEALING CLAUSE. - All ordinances, executive orders, rules and regulations of parts thereof inconsistent with this Ordinance are hereby repealed or modified accordingly; SECTION 20. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. - This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon approval. ENACTED AND APPROVED by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (13th City Council) during its 78th Regular Session on 14 April 2021 at the SP Session Hall, 4th Floor, City Commercial Center, Barangay Santiago, Pagadian City.