KAUSWAGAN, Lanao del Norte -- In a significant move for global organic agriculture community, the Philippines has taken the leadership role of the Asian Local Governments for Organic Agriculture (ALGOA), a sub organization of International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements Asia, and works with over 200 local governments in Asia to promote the expansion of organic agriculture. Under the new leadership of Mayor Rommel Arnado of Kauswagan, the Philippines is aiming to promote the holistic development of organic agriculture through the concept of ‘organic districts.’ Arnado, known for his dedication and unwavering support for organic agriculture, expressed deep gratitude to Goesan County, a long-standing advocate and supporter of ALGOA, for their instrumental role in its growth over the past seven years. According to Arnado, without Goesan County's generous support, ALGOA would not have flourished into the unique organization it is today — a pioneering platform that brings together local governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector to foster the development of organic agriculture across Asia. In his acceptance speech, Arnado emphasized the launch of two pivotal initiatives under his presidency -- the ALGOA-LOAMCP Organic Academy and the ALGOA-Young Elected Officers Network. These programs prioritize capacity-building as the key to further advancing organic agriculture. *Mayor Song In-Heon of Goesan County in South Korea turned over the leadership of the ALGOA presidency to Mayor Rommel Arnado during the 9th Asian Local Governments for Organic Agriculture (ALGOA) Summit on June 5-6, 2023 at Kauswagan Organic International Convention here. (Bonita L. Ermac)*
“I look forward to fostering the growth of these two groups under my presidency as nothing can take precedence over the importance of capacity-building for the further development of organic agriculture,” he said. Arnado envisions a bright future for organic agriculture in the Philippines, highlighting the unique aspect of having elected officers stepping up to lead the charge for a better and more sustainable world. Under ALGOA's guidance, these elected officers will be better positioned to mainstream organic agriculture and contribute to the growth of this vital sector. Meanwhile, Mayor Song In-Heon of Goesan County in South Korea, who turned over the leadership of the ALGOA presidency, expressed his unwavering confidence in the ability of Arnado to lead ALGOA towards becoming a prominent international organization that advocates and integrates organic agriculture practices into mainstream society. “Given the career of Mayor Rommel Arnado, an organic pioneer, I am confident that he will be the perfect leader to guide ALGOA to grow into an international organization mainstreaming organic agriculture,” he said. Moreover, as the new ALGOA President, Arnado assumed the co-presidency of the Global Alliance of Organic Districts (GAOD), a groundbreaking initiative spearheaded by ALGOA and its European partners, including the International Network of Ecoregions based in Rome, Italy. This collaboration aims to explore the multifaceted nature of organic districts and implement holistic approaches to organic agriculture development among ALGOA members in Asia.