CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The municipal government of Kauswagan in Lanao del Norte has started its huge preparation for the International World Organic Agriculture Conference which it will host from June 4 to June 9 this year.
Town Mayor Rommel Arnado said the event is the world’s biggest organic agriculture occasion as it will feature five different big events.
Among the events that will be featured are the 6th Organic Asia Congress, Organic Youth Forum, 9th Asian Local Government for Organic Agriculture Summit, 4th Global Alliance of Organic Districts and Women in Organic Agriculture in Asia.
It will be participated by various officials from the other countries and a thousand of local chief executives in the country have been invited.
The Kauswagan town has been directly chosen to host the event because of its capability and rapid improvement in agriculture.
“Kini atong pag host was not bidded. It was awarded automatically if we are willing to take it,” Arnado said in his message during the grand opening of the Fisherman’s Wharf: Food Park and Entertainment Center in Kauswagan town on Saturday, Feb. 4.
In order to have a smooth event, the preparation committee has been innovated, Arnado said, where different government agencies will be included.
These include the Department of Tourism, Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippine National Police, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health among others.
“They are all part of the preparation committee. This is not easy. But we know how to do it,” Arnado told Manila Bulletin.
Meanwhile, the site development for Kauswagan’s convention center, which will serve as the venue of the upcoming event, has already been started.
Arnado admitted that finishing the venue within four months is their biggest challenge. However, he still expressed confidence with the intent of giving a better place for the upcoming activity.
“Ang kalaban naming ngayon is ang (Our enemy now is the) weather. That is why we work 24 hours,” he added.
Apart from hosting the upcoming event, Mayor Arnado said the foundation of the convention center will definitely be an income-generating facility of the municipality.
He also stressed that accepting the challenge as host, under the “From Arms to Farms” program, will help promote and boost his initiative on organic agriculture.