• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
An ordinance adopting the urban agriculture and community gardening ordinance of Bacolod City, was recently passed on first reading by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Em Ang and co-authored by Councilors Jude Thaddeus Sayson and Jason Villarosa, said the City Government of Bacolod recognizes the importance of promoting urban agriculture and community gardening as a means to improve food security, enhance environmental sustainability, and promote community health and well-being.
The City aims to encourage residents and local organizations to participate in sustainable urban farming activities that utilize available spaces such as vacant lots, rooftops, and other underutilized areas, it said.
The adoption of a comprehensive ordinance will provide guidelines, support mechanisms, and incentives to foster urban agriculture and community gardening initiatives in Bacolod City, it added.
To be known as the “Bacolod City Urban Agriculture and Community Gardening Ordinance”, the measure aims to promote safe, sustainable, and organized urban agriculture and community gardening activities; allocate and designate urban agriculture zones within the city; encourage community participation through capacity building, training, and resource support; establish policies and guidelines for land use, access, and management of urban gardening areas; and develop partnerships between the City government, barangays, non-government organizations, and urban farmers.
It provides that the City, through the Office of Agriculture and other relevant agencies, will designate specific areas for urban agriculture and community gardening. These areas shall be identified based on land availability, accessibility, and suitability for farming activities.
Unauthorized use or occupation of designated urban agriculture zones will be subject to fines, penalties, or eviction in accordance with existing laws and relevant ordinances of Bacolod City, it added.*
