(Photo courtesy of PNA)
BAGUIO CITY — The Baguio City government is calling on all 128 barangays to establish functional Barangay Agriculture and Fisheries Committees (BAFCs) to strengthen local agricultural development, improve coordination with city authorities, and support food security programs.
City Council information officer Jordan Habbiling said Monday that the council approved Resolution No. 802-2026, reinforcing the implementation of Resolution No. 115-2018 and Ordinance No. 113-2020, which institutionalized agriculture committees at the barangay level.
The move followed a report from the City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO) showing that only 13 barangays had established BAFCs as of August 2023, with just a few actively coordinating with the office on agricultural programs and projects.
According to the CVAO, some barangays had integrated agricultural concerns into existing committees, while others had not designated personnel to oversee agriculture-related activities.
The lack of dedicated committees and focal persons has affected the implementation, coordination, and monitoring of agricultural initiatives at the community level.
Habbiling said the resolution also emphasizes the importance of barangay participation in assessing and documenting agricultural damage during and after disasters.
Accurate reporting and validation of agricultural losses are essential in determining appropriate government interventions, planning recovery programs, and allocating resources to affected communities.
“The CVAO continues to allocate funds annually for programs to improve the city’s agriculture, such as farmers’ summits, skills enhancement training, capacity-building activities, information and education campaigns, and planning workshops,” Habbiling said.
Under the resolution, barangays without established BAFCs are encouraged to organize their respective committees and appoint designated focal persons to oversee agricultural concerns.
Barangay officials are also urged to strengthen coordination with the CVAO in implementing agriculture-related projects, training activities, and other development initiatives.
The measure seeks to increase community participation in agricultural planning and promote sustainable urban farming practices to strengthen the city’s food supply.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture in the Cordillera Administrative Region has been providing support to expand urban agriculture and encourage households to establish edible gardens.
Among the interventions are smart solar greenhouses, quality planting seeds, organic fertilizers, and technical training on crop production and organic farming.
These initiatives aim to improve local food production, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and help households maintain access to fresh and nutritious food.
The city government hopes that establishing functional agriculture and fisheries committees in every barangay will improve the delivery of agricultural services and strengthen Baguio’s long-term food security efforts.
