The leading proponents of the organic-product sector have banded together for the first time to launch the One Organic Movement as part of their thrust to push for the further development of organic agriculture in the Philippines.

Comprising the group are the Philippine Development Assistance Program (PDAP), La Liga Pilipinas/Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, Organic Producers Trade Association, Organic Certification Center of the Philippines, Altertrade, Infanta Community Development Association Inc., Don Bosco Foundation for Sustainable Development, SIAD Initiatives in Mindanao Convergence for Asset Reform and Regional Development and the Philippine Network of Rural Development Institutes, Inc.

Jerry E. Pacturan, Executive Director of PDAP that was instrumental in convening the groups, said that the launch of the One Organic Movement was a major step in presenting a united front to convince government to give more support to organic agriculture.

Pacturan said that the group believes that promoting organic agriculture, or agriculture without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, would save the government billions of pesos in fertilizer support and ensure the continued health of agriculture land and its workers.

As its initial activity, the One Organic Movement decided to craft a unified organic agriculture bill designed to, among others, set unified standards for organic products, help farmers planning to convert to organic agriculture and put a stop to the rampant conversion of fertile, agricultural land into commercial establishments.

The One Organic Movement will also work closely with the National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB), composed of private sector and government representatives, to improve the implementation of Executive Order No. 481 issued in December of 2005.

The NOAB, the government body tasked to craft and approve policies and programs on organic agriculture, accepted the proposals in a subsequent meeting and committed to work with the Department of Agriculture to improve the rules and regulations under EO 481.