Food security pushed in Siargao
Work gets underway to ensure that food security is attained in Siargao, one of the most pristine islands in the Philippines.
Leading the efforts are Marinduque-based social enterprise AGREA and United States conservation group RARE, two internationallyacclaimed organizations known for their advocacy in promoting agriculture and fishery conservation. They are teaming up with the different local governments of Siargao to ensure that the world famous island will be self-sustainable in terms of its food and fishery supplies amid the growing number of tourists visiting the island all year round.
At the launching of the Food Sustenance and Security Project over the weekend, Surigao Del Norte Dist. 1 Rep. Jose Francisco “Bingo” Matugas II said it is about time to start working on the food sustainability due to the huge influx of both foreign and local tourists visiting the island.
Rep. Matugas noted that most of the food supplies in Siargao being consumed by the locals, especially the resorts and restaurants, are being sourced from outside the island, the nearest of which is Surigao City.
“Our rationale is to make the island sustainable for the benefit of our children and the generation to come,” the congressman said.
AGREA chief executive officer Cherrie Atilano, for her part, expressed optimism about the potentials of Siargao in becoming a “one island economy” that is “zero waste, zero hunger, and zero insufficiency.”
With the cooperation of all the stakeholders, Atilano, who was awarded by the Asia Pacific CSR Council and UN Global Compact the Global Responsible Business Award 2017 for Agriculture Excellence, said the island can start a movement of a farm-to-table on a massive scale which is happening in Manila.
To start with, she said her organization has to first work with the farmers and the business owners to determine the basic ingredients needed in the island.