The Visayan Daily Star
Monday, June 29, 2020

Mayors of the Third District in Negros Occidental were introduced to the Municipal Agriculture Information System that started in Iloilo province.

Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) recently led a teleconference with the mayors and Iloilo Provincial Administrator Suzette Mamon, who briefed the local officials on the system.

The program is a computer data-based system that collates and inventories available agricultural commodities and produce, including fisheries and livestock, collected by municipal agriculture workers, then consolidated in both city/municipal and provincial levels that provide linkages through the information highway to market outlets. It also guides farmers on crop planning.

The office of Benitez will facilitate and coordinate with Iloilo province and the office of Rep. Lorenz Defensor (Iloilo, 3rd District) so that information sharing on the program among local government units will be ensured.

Benitez and the Metro Third mayors have also agreed to pilot the agriculture information system program to help boost food security in their areas, especially amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Present during the meeting were mayors Francis Palanca of Victorias City, Mark Golez of Silay City, Marvin Malacon of E.B. Magalona, and Gerry Rojas of Murcia, Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino, and other local officials.

Meanwhile, Benitez’s House Bill 3412, which urged the use and development of idle government lands and open spaces for community gardens for food production, was recently passed by the House Committee on Agriculture.

He also co-authored with Defensor a bill on agriculture information system and was tasked as a technical working group head to finalize the bill.*
(Photo from Kiko Benitez FB page)