LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) recently turned over to Naga City’s local government unit three projects worth PHP3.6 million under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Program.
Emily Bordado, DA-5 (Bicol) spokesperson, said in an interview on Friday that the assistance included five packages of supplies; tools, including a multi-cultivator, and assorted vegetable seeds for community garden projects; a greenhouse to showcase modernized urban agriculture; humidifier; and a mushroom house for urban production.
“We will showcase modernized urban agriculture and community gardens,” Bordado said.
She cited Barangay Balatas in Naga City that used to be known as “smokey mountain” because it was the location of an open dumpsite where families made a living out of garbage.
“The barangay has assumed a new face. The unsightly view and the foul odor are gone. There are now two new buildings. One is a multipurpose building with a training hall and a greenhouse. The barangay is now being developed as the hub for modernized urban agriculture,” Bordado added.
Sixteen more associations and villages from five other cities will receive the same assistance for Urban Community Gardens – three in Iriga; two in Ligao; three in Tabaco; three in Legazpi; and five in Sorsogon.
Three farmers associations from Iriga, Ligao, and Legazpi will be provided a mushroom house by the DA.
“Salamat na marhay sa DA sa tabang na ini. Makaka-recover na kami sa mga losses mi dahil sa bagyo saka pandemya (We are very thankful for the assistance of DA. We will recover from the losses we suffered because of the typhoons and the Covid-19 pandemic),” Concepcion Pequeña Farmers Association representative Marilyn Ponce said. (PNA)
