ORMOC CITY, Leyte — To advance sustainable agriculture and promote organic waste utilization, the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 8 (DA RFO 8), the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM), and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Ormoc City led joint project briefings, site assessments, and validations from August 18 to 20, 2026, for a proposed Composting Facility for Biodegradable Wastes (CFBW) with a dedicated Manure Processing Unit.
Assessing Infrastructure for Sustainable Agriculture
The multi-day activity brought technical teams from DA-BSWM and Ormoc City together under the leadership of DA RFO 8 Regional Executive Director Rodel G. Macapańas and Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez. Both entities presented project proposals, evaluated land suitability, and verified technical requirements to pave the way for construction.
Once fully operational, the facility will process agricultural waste into high-grade organic fertilizer, offering key benefits for local farming communities:
Cost Reduction: Provides accessible organic inputs to help farmers lower their dependence on expensive chemical fertilizers.
Soil Health Enhancement: Restores soil organic matter, improving long-term agricultural productivity and land resilience across Ormoc.
Resource Recovery: Transforms raw animal manure and crop residues into usable agricultural resources.
Environmental and Community Impact
Beyond providing farm inputs, the proposed manure processing facility addresses critical municipal and agricultural waste challenges.
By diverting manure and farm waste into controlled composting systems, the project aims to:
Minimize greenhouse gas emissions associated with unmanaged agricultural decomposition.
Prevent nutrient runoff into local waterways and watershed areas.
Mitigate persistent odor problems and pest hazards in surrounding agricultural communities.
The collaborative initiative underscores a shared effort by regional agricultural agencies and local government units to convert environmental challenges into sustainable economic assets for Leyte's agricultural sector.
