TACLOBAN CITY – Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda expressed his gratitude to various government agencies for lending their expertise during the recent Farm Planning and Stakeholders’ Analysis for the city’s Flori-Apiculture Program.
Representatives from the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Samar Island Natural Park (SINP), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) participated in the planning session, particularly the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis.
“We are hopeful that this program will significantly contribute to our goal of providing additional livelihood opportunities for our upland communities, while also enhancing our tourism potential by showcasing the beauty of our mountains,” Mayor Agda said.
The resource persons provided technical inputs and candid recommendations to support the city government’s plan of promoting agricultural initiatives focused on high-value flower farming and honeybee production.
The project is being developed on a one-hectare site near the scenic ‘sea of clouds,” in Barangay Hebacong, a rising ecotourism destination in the city.
Once operational, the flower farm is expected to support members of the Borongan Integrated Apiculture and Floriculture Farmers Association (BIAFFA), by offering alternative sources of income.
Recommendations from the stakeholders included establishing proper parking areas for tourists, identifying suitable locations for greenhouses, ensuring sufficient sunlight for crops, and crafting a city ordinance to institutionalize the first flori-apiculture initiative in Eastern Visayas. They also suggested creating a localized information and education campaign to support the program’s success.
The Flori-Apiculture Program aims to balance livelihood development with environmental sustainability while positioning Borongan City as a model for innovative agri-tourism practices in the region.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
