AGREEMENT FOR URBAN GARDENING. Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Regulation and the Visayas Hansel O. Didulo (2nd from right) and Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III ( second from left) sign the Memorandum of Agreement for the establishment of the “Urban Gardening, Pagkain Para sa Masa Program” in the city on Monday (July 23, 2018). (Photo by Perla Lena)
ILOILO CITY -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Iloilo city government on Monday agreed to jointly carry out the “Urban Gardening, Pagkain Para sa Masa Program” here on Monday.
The program, also known as “urban gardening”, teaches people to produce their own food, empower them to earn extra income from their produce and learn about food safety, said DA Assistant Secretary Hansel O. Didulo for Regulation and the Visayas during the signing of the agreement between the city government and the DA at the city hall.
Iloilo City is the first local government unit in Western Visayas to enter into an agreement with the DA for this project.
The program will identify a barangay in each of the seven districts of the city to become a communal garden. After four months, the best garden will be chosen, Didulo said.
“But that is just a showcase. What we really intend to do is to teach our people here in the city and to engage them in farming,” he added.
He said the contest only meant to “create awareness” as he hoped that even without the contest, the program will continue.
The program teaches people to produce their own food, empower them to earn extra income from their produce and learn about food safety, he added.
Under the partnership, the DA will provide technical expertise, “Pinakbet” (bitter gourd, squash, string beans, okra and eggplant) seeds, fertilizers and other garden tools.
The city government, on the other hand, will provide the venue, jetmatic pump and prizes for the best community garden.
The program is based on the directive of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol to “produce food”, said Didulo.
DA’s directive is in response to the promise of President Duterte during his campaign that it is his “moral obligation to provide affordable and available food to our people,” added the DA official.
Meantime, Didulo said they are also in the process of identifying beneficiaries for the “Itik Pinas” program, which DA aims to launch in September. (PNA)
