Local farmer groups have successfully lobbied for the passage of barangay ordinances recognizing community seed registries in Murcia, Kabankalan City, and Bago City.
Executive Director Normita Ignacio of SEARICE (Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment), a non-profit development organization that advocates for farmers’ rights and agricultural biodiversity, said the lobbying efforts resulted in several barangays passing resolutions this May to support farmers’ seed systems.
The six participating barangays and their adoption dates include:
Barangay Camingawan, Kabankalan City (May 8)
Barangay Tagukon, Kabankalan City (May 8)
Barangay Tabunan, Bago City (May 11)
Barangay Bacong-Montilla, Bago City (May 12)
Barangay Mailum, Bago City (May 13)
Barangay Minoyan, Murcia (May 14)
Many farmer leaders view the ordinances as a positive step toward protecting their seed varieties from misappropriation or monopolistic ownership.
Jerry Dionson, president of the Tabunan Small Farmers and Irrigators Association (TSFIA) in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City, said that these measures highlight a critical need for policy and implementation support from barangay and local government units.
“It is better to be protected because we suffer in the end; we are the ones who develop the seeds suited to the topography, yet we have no protection against big individuals or companies,” Dionson said.
Officials from the six barangays have expressed their backing, noting that the ordinances protect farmers’ rights and ensure local food security.
Tabunan Barangay Captain Maria May C. Suarez said the responsibility of local leadership to sustain community food systems.
“With our signature, we ourselves have a duty or responsibility to protect the seeds. We will be the ones to protect and campaign for the programs of the government and non-government organizations like SEARICE,” Suarez added.
The initiative has also gained traction at the city level. During a courtesy call on May 12, Bago City Mayor Marina “Mayette” Javellana expressed her full support for initiatives promoting the rights and welfare of farmers in Bago City, which is recognized as the rice granary of Negros Occidental.
“It’s really very exciting to hear stories of what our farmers are undergoing, like formulating their own seed,” Javellana said.
“Whatever way we can protect our city, we will support it and will endorse this to the city council so they could study what is best for our farmers. We will do that.”
A community seed registry (CSR) is an inventory list of seeds maintained by farmers and formally recognized through a barangay ordinance.
Under Section 72 of the Philippine Plant Variety Protection Act (RA 9168), farming communities and bona fide farmer organizations are encouraged to maintain these inventory registries to safeguard local seeds against misappropriation.*PR
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