AN ordinance declaring Barangay Sibulan in Toril District as an agricultural organic area and for other purposes was approved on its third and final reading in the city council Wednesday, December 12.
Along with its passage was the proposal to give incentives to those who will convert to organic agricultural practices instead of penalizing them.
“Instead of penalties, incentives scheme nalang para medyo positive and atoang approach to motivate them (Instead of penalties, we offer incentives to make it a positive approach in motivating them),” committee on food and agriculture executive assistant Kristine Datanagan told reporters.
Davao City Councilor Marissa Salvador Abella authored the incentives which could be in the form of awards and financial support to individuals, farmers and schools that would pursue and promote organic farming.
The said incentives will be detailed in its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).
The penalty was first proposed to be P1,500 for first offense, P3,000 for second offense and P5,000 for third offense. However, Dayanghirang and some of the councilors objected the penalties to be imposed.
Item 1364 was on its third and final reading last month when Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang questioned the feasibility of an organic agriculture policy in the barangay. Hence, the ordinance was relegated to second reading since there are still amendments proposed.
Meanwhile, Interface Development Interventions (IDIS) executive director Chinkie Golle said on a text message to SunStar Davao yesterday that they are happy with the approval of the long-awaited declaration of Sibulan as organic zone.
“Regarding the incentives, it is commendable because we want to encourage more farmers to convert to organic farming. It’s a positive way of implementing the ordinance than imposing policies,” she added.