At 88 years old, Potracio Laguinday, chairman of the Organic Agriculture Industry for Cagayan Valley expressed his continuous support in producing healthy food for the Filipinos during the opening program of the 4th Regional Organic Agriculture Congress (ROAC) at the University of LaSallete in Santiago City, today.

He urged the local chief executives and local officials to push local ordinances in strengthening the Republic Act 10068 or Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 that promotes and develops organic agriculture in the country.

“This year, we already accomplished 3.4 % of the total 5 % target that was devoted to organic agriculture. It means that in the 27, 040 has the region’s target until the year 2022, we have 18, 580 has solely converted for organic agriculture,” said Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office No. 02 (DA RFO 02) Executive Director Narciso A. Edillo.

According to him, notable accomplishments were seen during the start of the program in 2011.

The agency also supported interventions and products and support services like the distributions of machines, the establishment of product facilities, provision of shredder machines, greenhouses and solar-powered irrigation systems.

The conduct of pieces of training led to the increase of total volume of organic produce, increase the number of certified organic farms, and increase the number of organic farmers and adopters.

On this year’s ROAC with a theme OA4K: “Organikong Agricultura sa Kumikitang Kabuhayan para sa Kalusugan at Kapaligiran,” that also featured a two (2) day trade fair and product exhibit will be opened until tomorrow.

The actors took the pledge in making a difference by supporting and promoting organic agriculture to sustain a well-balanced eco-system and a healthy nation.

Edillo thanked the participants in their continuous support in this advocacy.

“I commit myself being as an individual and council president that we will try our best to do our best to help DA to reach more people because organic agriculture is the hope of our country. This is the ope of our children,” lamented Laguinday.