Local Film Development Council for Davao City Eyed

Davao City Councilor and friend Leo Leonardo Avila is proposing through an ordinance the creation of the Film Development Council of Davao City. The resolution was inroduced by first by him during the October 1 City Council Session.

According to the resolution of Councilor Avila,there is already a thriving film industry in Davao City which has become a favourite destination  for location shoots, both for national and international films.

According to Avila, there is a need for the local government to support film industry and harness its potentials. One of the guests yesterday at the Council Session was film director Brillante Mendoza, the only Filipino director to win the best director prize in the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Mendoza is currently on tour among Davao City schools.

Availa's proposal which was treated as the resolution's first reading was given to the City's Council's Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Culture and Arts chaired by Councilor Maria Belen Acosta for further hearings.

PIA/with RG Alma

Organic Farmers Gear up to go Mainstream

Organic farming practitioners and their advocates are meeting soon with the city's Technical Committee on Organic Agriculture/Organic Agriculture Management Council (TCOA-OAMC) to determine how to mainstream organic farming in the next five years. The most pressing questions include how to sustain the production of high quality organic products, and how to make organic farm produce more accessible to the public.

Go Organic Davao City network member Ling Castro, of the Interface Development Interventions, said, that they hope to have the 5 years strategy plan in place before this years ends. "Having a strategic plan for organic makes it even more a commitment for Davao City to establish itself as the organic center in Southern Mindanao where organic farming communities are producing a sufficient supply of affordable organic produce and where these communities are patronized and supported by the local government and the public," she said.

I strongly agree with Castro, who also stated: "This will contribute to Davao's vision of a green city where there is a confluence of sustainable initiatives and environment-friendly lifestyles."

Davao City already has more than 100 farmers practicing organic agriculture, excluding the indigenous upland farmers.