Angara pushes for bill promoting agroforestry

Responding to the challenges of forest lost and degradation, Senator Edgardo J. Angara pushes for the enactment of Senate Bill 2201 or the Philippine Agroforestry Act of 2007 which seeks to enhance the practice of Agroforestry in the country.

"Agroforestry is the key to resource rehabilitation, sustainable development and preservation of our natural resources."

He stressed that through agroforestry, our country can achieve more market opportunities and investments, sustainable agriculture, land stewardship, improved water quality, and diversified farm income.

"The Philippines is one of the first countries to practice agroforestry. And for a country with roughly 24 percent of its population living in the uplands, the magnitude of the practice of agroforestry cannot be overstressed. So much so that I, in consultation with farmers, local settlers, and technical experts, am working on an agroforestry approach to make my hometown, Aurora, self-sufficient in food and the eventual food basket of Central Luzon," he added.

This bill seeks to establish the Board of Agroforestry under the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) which will regulate and sustain the practice of agroforestry in the country. They Board shall conduct a national board examination to all graduates of a four-year degree program in agroforestry or its equivalent and promote the development of agroforestry research in the country.

Agroforestry practices help landowners to diversify products, markets, and farm income; improve soil and water quality; reduce erosion, non-point source pollution and damage due to flooding; enhance land and aquatic habitats for fish and wildlife; and improve biodiversity while sustaining land resources for the next generation.

"This measure shall be given utmost priority in order to rehabilitate and restore the productivity of denuded and degraded lands as well as increase the income of the marginal sectors of the society."