The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) today underlined the importance of having healthy soils in achieving food security, alleviating poverty and achieving environmental sustainability.
BSWM Director Silvino Tejada underlined that 38 percent or more than 11 million hectares of the Philippine soils is degraded.
“Considering that majority of the 100 million Filipinos depend on agriculture lands for livelihood, degraded soils not only contribute to poverty but is also a major threat to our food security and environmental sustainability,” Tejada said.
Tejada made the statement at the culminating activity of the International Year of Soils (IYS) held at the BSWM Convention Hall.
During the event the aligned Philippine National Action Plan to combat Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought (NAP-DLDD) 2015-2025 was also launched.
Tejada said the 10-year plan “is our working document, it is our blueprint that discusses the interrelated environmental concerns in the country.”
According to the BSWM director, the plan also has more specific target areas that include the priority provinces based on the extent of land degradation as mapped by BSWM.
“Kasalukuyan pong naka-confine ang ating inang lupa. 50-50 po ang chance, kaya sa culminating activity ng IYS, hindi natin tinatapos ang pangangalaga sa lupa. Kasama po ang DA at other concerned agencies, ipagpatuloy po natin ang mga programa at proyekto para sa pangangalaga ng ating lupa,” Tejada said.
He then expressed full confidence that the DA, under the leadership of Secretary Proceso Alcala will fully support efforts to protect the country’s soils.
2015 was declared by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly as the International Year of Soils in recognition of the importance of soils. The UN also declared Saturday, December 5 as World Soils Day.
On May 25 of this year, the BSWM launched the Save Our Soils (SOS) program because of the dangers and threats of degradation our soils face.
“Our unified actions have brought awareness and recognition of the importance of soil in our daily lives. Marami pong mga activities na inilunsad ng BSWM sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa kasama ang DA, local government units, state colleges and universities at katulong ang media,” Tejada said. # Source - (Ian Go, DA-OSEC)/www.da.gov.ph
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