Tublay- LGU, DA Establishes Concoction Center By: Jerine Caycayen BSU DevCom ntern

TUBLAY, BENGUET - In addition to the award of the local government of Tubla a! an out!tanding munici"alit in organic agriculture, the National #rganic Agriculture Board $N#AB%, a "olic -ma&ing bod on organic agriculture, facilitated the allocation and relea!e of 'h"()* million from the +e"artment of Agriculture $+A% for the con!truction of an #rganic ,oncoction ,enter to be con!tructed at ,entral, Tubla ) A! defined b the Tubla - -unici"al Agriculture #ffice $-A#% and the -a or.! #ffice during the conce"tuali/ation facilit .! "ro0ect "ro"o!al, 1the ,oncoction ,enter i! a facilit for the formulation, "roce!!ing and "ac&aging of natural and organic in"ut! !uch a! fermented fruit 0uice, fermented "lant 0uice, indigenou! microorgani!m!, oriented herbal nutrient, lactic acid and bacteria 2ualifie! under the 'hili""ine !tandard for organic agriculture3 4urther, 1it aim! to "roduce 2ualit and effective organic and natural in"ut! for the farmer!, to increa!e the number of farmer! who "ractice organic farming, and to enhance the agricultural "roductivit and income of farmer!) It i! a facilit that would "roduce farm in"ut! that are almo!t e2uivalent to the effectivene!! of the commerciall ! nthetic in"ut!)3) The +e"artment of Agriculture - ,ordillera Admini!trative 5egion $+A-,A5% and Tubla - LGU !erve a! the im"lementing agencie! of the !aid "ro0ect) The Benguet 'rovincial Government and Benguet 6tate Univer!it $B6U% will hel" in the o"eration and management of the "ro0ect after it! com"letion) The "ro0ect wa! conce"tuali/ed la!t

ear, but the con!truction !tarted thi! -arch and i! targeted to be fini!hed thi! 7ul ) A counter"art fund for the !aid "ro0ect will al!o be relea!ed b the Tubla -LGU) 1I believe that the "ro0ect will "ro"el the "rogre!! and develo"ment of organic agriculture in the munici"alit becau!e we will be "roviding !ufficient and 2ualit organic in"ut! which are a! effective a! the commercial fertili/er! but it will be lower in co!t) Antici"ating more farmer! to "artici"ate in the advocac of organic agriculture will be boo!t livelihood, environmental "rotection, and the nutrition !tatu! of Tubla re!ident!,3 !aid Engr) 7effre 6otero, -unici"al Agricultural #fficer--A#) 6otero added that in order to attain the !u!tainabilit of the "ro0ect, there !hould be continuou! "romotion of organic agriculture, im"lementation of communit -ba!ed a""roach of !eminar! and training!, "artici"ation of !ta&eholder!, regular "lanting of cro"! needed a! !ource of material!, conduction of regular monitoring and a!!e!!ment, and overall, the im"lementation of 5e"ublic Act 899:; &nown a! the #rganic Agriculture Act of <989 and the munici"al organic agriculture ordinance) 1Indeed, the facilit will hel" the "ur!uance of the -A# !logan, which i!= #rganic 4arming= Be!t for Nature, Be!t for "eo"le3, ended 6otero)