The Regional Development Council has approved several measures, including the much-debated 2010-2016 Food Security Plan for the region, and bid goodbye during its last full council meeting held in this city presided over by out-going chairperson Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia. The council has approved and adopted the regional food security plan “meant to facilitate decision-making on policies and programs that affect food security in all provinces, districts and municipalities of the region,”. A power point presentation was presented by DTI Regional Director Aster Caberte. She acted as the spokesperson of the Dept. of Agriculture regional office during the meeting.

But prior to its approval, the food security plan faced a rough sailing as it was not certain if it can secure the nod of the majority of the council. Dumaguete City Mayor Agustin Perdices raised the question on how to reconcile the conversion of agricultural lands to commercial use. A heated debate ensued prompting Garcia to call for a vote to the proposal because Perdices was dissatisfied with the response of DA Regional Director Ric Oblena. Later on, Perdices was amenable to change the “conversion” to “reclassification” in the proposal. Thus, his objection to the food security plan was withdrawn and the plan was adopted without the voting. Caberte noted that the rate of conversion of agricultural lands in the region was increasing adding that “we should go slow.” She stressed that the council may approve it but with fine tuning needed relative to the questions raised.

On the same vein, the council also unanimously approved the resolution urging Congress to investigate “in aid of legislation” the Commission on Audit regarding the pre-audit of government projects as proposed by Gov. Erico Aumentado. The resolution was originally raised by Aumentado that urged Congress “to abolish” the COA policy on pre-audit scheme. But he changed his mind after consultation with his colleagues in the council. Aumentado, who is re-elected to his old post as congressman in 2 nd district, pointed out that COA's pre-audit system caused so much delay on the project implementation. He also argued that such pre-audit system was a violation of anti red tape law and the citizen's charter to fast track public services.

Meanwhile, the council awarded the late Negros Oriental Gov. Emilio Macias with a posthumous certificate for his active participation and contribution to the RDC in the last three years. Perdices received from Garcia the plaque in behalf of the late Macias in the presence of Aumentado, RDC co-chair Norris Oculam, Cebu City Mayor Tommy Osmena, Rep. George Arnaiz of Negros Oriental and government directors of different agencies and other representatives. In what she described as her “final opening remarks,” Garcia expressed gratitude to all those who made her stewardship in RDC garnered the tangible and intangible achievements. She said that she kept her promise to make the region as “the rising star,” giving the impression that “hordes and hordes of tourists from all over the country and the world” come to Bohol. One concrete achievement of Garcia's stewardship was the launching, for the first time, of the recent Climate Change Summit in Cebu to address the brewing phenomenon even as she also cited the unity and collaboration among the council members “to work together to shape our future.”

Food security plan strategies

The council has adopted some strategies needed to address the insufficiency of some food production and other commodities, such as low production of rice in the provinces of Cebu and Siquijor; or insufficient supply of corn and vegetables for Bohol ; or inadequate major crops production in Negros Oriental. These strategies include clustering of farms and to promote cultivation of idle lands for underutilized lands. Another point raised as one of the strategies is the refocusing of fishery courses towards agriculture entrepreneurship and incorporate agri-fishery courses in undergraduate curricula to address the ageing farmer population. It has been observed by a lot of schools that those taking up agri-related courses are getting fewer every year. This is being felt by schools because of some new courses that offer high-paying jobs abroad, such as nursing or hotel and restaurant management.

The improvement and support of existing farm equipment and support infrastructure and development of farm implements are also being considered to replace the ageing or insufficient farm equipment, according to the six-year plan. As to the market and funding requirements, the plan has proposed to develop sustainable and simplified micro-finance schemes for organized farmer-fisherfolk with marketing options. The plan also takes into account in the review of policies on climate change adaptation and mitigation programs and on organic farming policies as well adoption of integrated water resources management system, as Bohol is doing now apparently to respond to the growing need to address the global problem on climate change and diminishing water supply as the population soars. (RVO)