Philippines: House panel approves bill promoting urban agri
Party-list Rep. Orestes T. Salon of AGRI, one of the principal authors of the proposed Integrated Urban Agriculture Act, said the measure seeks to avert “a possible crisis brought about by food insecurity”.
Under the bill, an Office of Urban Agriculture (OUA) shall be established by the Department of Agriculture. The OUA will formulate implementing guidelines, programs and operating principles consistent with government policies and the objectives of the measure.
The office will also study and make recommendations regarding the impact of urban agriculture and vertical farming in metropolitan communities, carry out the implementation of the law and submit and report to Congress its findings and recommendations.
The bill added the OUA shall develop the research agenda on urban agriculture in the country’s metropolitan areas, in coordination with the departments of Science and Technology, Environment and Natural Resources and Health.
Read more at BusinessMirror (Jovee Marie de la Cruz)