URBAN GARDENING. Officials of the Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas lead the ceremonial planting of vegetables at the NFA regional office's launching of the “Plant, Plant, Plant” program of the DA on Tuesday (June 23, 2020). The activity also marked the celebration of the department’s 122nd founding anniversary. (PNA photo by DA RAFIS)
ILOILO CITY – The Western Visayas regional field unit of the Department of Agriculture (DA RFU6) and the National Food Authority (NFA) joined forces in ensuring that Ilonggos have food on their tables amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
On Tuesday, the two government agencies launched the urban gardening project inside the compound of the NFA regional office in Jaro district that also marked the department’s 122nd anniversary.
Urban or backyard gardening is one of the quick response strategies initiated by the department as the country battles with the coronavirus disease pandemic 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, said DA 6 regional executive director Remelyn R. Recoter in her message during a program.
“The basic purpose of urban gardening is availability of food. During the pandemic, our movement is limited and stores are closed. So the expectation is there’s the availability of food at the house and improvement of nutrition,” she said.
Recoter hoped that the NFA site with an area of 1,320 square meters would be able to help its employees, workers and clients.
“They can also be a partner of DA to become a vegetable seed production center,” she said.
NFA assistant regional director Lolita V. Paz said that it has been the vision of the NFA officials to see the surrounding of the office planted with vegetables and trees.
“It is really an opportune time for is to collaborate with the DA to make this vision a reality,” she said.
The first area for the urban and backyard gardening project covers three villages of Iloilo City namely Tanza Timawa, Tanza Esperanza and Tanza Bonifacio. They are being managed by members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
“At least there are available vegetables within their community and home,” she added.
Meantime, Recoter said that if vegetable seeds are available, they would like to further expand the project.
However, since there are limitations, then it will be “while supply lasts”.
For the two areas alone, DA has released more than 1,195 kilograms of assorted vegetable seeds and 1,491 pieces of vegetable seedlings.
The seeds, aside from their regular procurement, are being sourced from DA research centers in Sigma and Dumarao in Capiz; Patnongon, Antique; Sta. Barbara, Iloilo and at the Western Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center (WESVIARC) based in Hamungaya, Jaro in this city.
In a follow-up interview Wednesday, Recoter said that they are waiting for the approval of the re-focused budget, which already has a signal from their central office.
She said that they just need documents before they proceed with the procurement.
Meanwhile, lawyer Hansel O. Didulo, Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Regulations and the Visayas, in his message on Tuesday, said the department was created out of the need to secure food for Filipinos during the war era.
“Fast forward, 122 years later, we are here again celebrating our anniversary and similarly we are still in a great war. This time we are in a pandemic and our enemy is an unseen enemy, which is the virus,” he said.
He added the challenge, as mentioned by Secretary William Dar, is the need to have a food secured Philippines, climate-resilient country, and prosperous farmers and fisherfolk.
Didulo said during challenging times like this, it is important that one should have good health and food. (PNA)
