Bureau of Plant Industry proposes regulation of ornamental plants sale

The Bureau of Plant Industry has proposed guidelines to regulate the ornamental plant industry to help small business owners as well as to ensure quality for consumers.

In MJ Geronimo’s report on “Stand for Truth,” agriculturist Ernie Lito Bollosa said that the regulation was not to control the prices of ornamental plants amid its price spike during the period of the lockdown as many people turned to gardening.

“Ang ire-regulate po natin dito is ‘yung quality nung halaman. Ibig sabihin po ‘yung kanila pong pag pro-produce, pa-paano po nila prino-produce and, at the same time, ano ba ‘yung mga hinaing at tulong na puwedeng ipaabot ng gobyerno,” Bollosa said.

According to Bollosa, they may also offer various training sessions for small business owners to let them further develop their gardening skills.

“Ang isa po sa mga puwede po kasing gawin diyan ay ‘yung ating mga cooperative. Gawing co-op ‘yung ating maliliit na mga ornamental grower para ma-avail nila ‘yung kanilang tulong,” he said.

The accreditation may also help make the exportation of ornamental plants easier for business owners.

“Meron po tayong tinatawag na good agricultural practices itong Bureau of Plant Industry na maturuan sila sa tamang paggamit ng kemikal, pasilidad,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bollosa said that regulation of prices may be done in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The prices of some ornamental plants surged to 15,000 amid the pandemic.

“May mga nananamantala, so katulong po talaga ang DTI, puwede pong tumulong ang Bureau of Plant Industry, para ma-come up po natin ‘yung talagang tamang pricing,” he said.

Sellers and collectors of ornamental plants, meanwhile, approved of the regulation.

“Halo opinyon ko diyan kasi okay lang naman po para at least alam ng mga consumer kung ano dapat ang basehan nila sa pag bili. Eh, kung ang quality naman ng halaman ay [good] quality, depende parin po sa seller ‘yun. Pero pabor ako doon sa regulation,” Patric Malelang, online plant seller, said.

“Protection na rin kasi siya. Protection not only for the consumer and ‘yung sellers but also for the ‘yung mismong environment,” plant collector Samantha Bachini-Chanco said.

Watch the video to know more. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News