DAVAO City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang questioned the feasibility of an organic agriculture policy in Barangay Sibulan, Toril District.
On the supposed to be the third and final reading of item 1364 or “an ordinance declaring Barangay Sibulan as an agricultural organic area and for other purposes”, Dayanghirang requested for further discussion as it would affect commercial farming in the area.
“Mahirap yun kasi may right of ownership. Malay natin may mga commercial farms na doon, you’re killing them. Kapag pinatay mo yung commercial farming, it will create unemployment,” Dayanghirang told reporters on Tuesday, November 27.
“It is a matter of property rights. Kahit anong gawin niya sa property niya kanya ‘yon as long as it does not affect [others]. It might violate the property rights of the person especially ‘pag may penalty,” he added.
The ordinance under Davao City Councilor Marissa Abella was withdrawn to the second reading since there are still amendments proposed.
Abella said that the penalties will be P1,500 for first offense, P3,000 for the second offense and P5,000 for third offense.
Dayanghirang said that there is no need for an ordinance to show support to organic farmers, hence, it will be a problem to force other farmers to get into organic agricultural farming through the implementation of penalties.
He, however, does not have a problem with making Barangay Sibulan as an organic agriculture area as long as the City Agriculturist Office (CAO) can provide the map of the area, the number of families that are practicing organic farming and other data that may help in coming up with a win-win situation.
“I want to see what the practices of organic farming are. It is easy to say [it]. Does anybody know organic farming? It is not easy and it is very expensive,” Dayanghirang said.
He also underscored the capacity of farmers to avail organic fertilizers over commercial fertilizers.