CPU’s “AgriTalk” features Organic Agriculture Act of 2010

By Hope G. Patricio

RACG Representative

Central Philippine University

The newly signed Republic Act 10068, also known as the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, was featured on the July 14, 2010 episode of “AgriTalk,” a weekly TV program produced by the Central Philippine University’s College of Agriculture, Resources and Environmental Sciences (CPU-CARES). On the said date, the program was broadcast over Channel 8 of SkyCable.

Approved by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on April 16, 2010, R.A. 10068 seeks to provide for the development and promotion of organic agriculture in the country that will cumulatively condition and enrich the fertility of the soil, increase farm productivity, reduce pollution and destruction of the environment, prevent the depletion of natural resources.

"AgriTalk" hosts (from left to right) Dr. Rey Dusaran, Engr. Romallosa and Dr. Peñaranda discuss the provisions in the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 that seeks, among others, to protect the health of farmers, consumers and the general public and save on imported farm input.

To implement provisions in the Act, a National Organic Agricultural Board (NOAB) was created to be the policymaking body that shall provide direction and general guidelines for the implementation of the National Organic Agricultural Program. NOAB will be headed by the Department of Agriculture.

One of the series of episodes piloted by AgriTalk, the said airing leads the way in order to promote and disseminate information on the implementation of this new law.

The weekly cable program is hosted by Dr. Reynaldo Dusaran and Engr. Aries Roda Romallosa, both of CPUCARES. Dusaran serves as Techno Gabay Team Leader and Romallosa functions as Regional Management Information System Group of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC). The host team includes Dr. Hector Peñaranda of the Department of Agriculture - Regional Field Unit 6.