The Department of Agriculture in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) has allocated PHP8 million to strengthen urban gardening projects in the city as part of efforts to achieve food sustainability.
“This is part of the DA’s effort to ensure that vegetables will be available to those in the urban areas anytime, which is also a food sustainability initiative of the department,” said Emy Lou Cunning of DA-CAR’s National Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture Program on Tuesday.
The initiative involves cultivating vegetables, herbs, spices, root crops, fruits, and even raising small livestock within city environments.
In Baguio City, five community gardens and five “Gulayan sa Paaralan” projects are set to be completed this year. The community gardens are managed by Barangay Loakan Proper, North Sanitary Camp Farmers Association, Ibay Urban Garden Association, Barangay Lopez Jaena, and Barangay Sto. Tomas Central.
The schools involved are Magsaysay Elementary School, Alfonso Tabora Elementary School, Crystal Cave Integrated School, Baguio City National High School, and Holy Ghost Extension Elementary School.
“Included in the provision that they will receive are agricultural supplies, community garden technologies, and technical assistance,” Cunning added.
Marcelina Tabelin, chief agriculturist at the City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO), said the program aims to strengthen school-based food production, promote sustainable gardening practices, and improve nutrition awareness among students.
DA-CAR Regional Director Jennilyn Dawayan also encouraged households to maximize small spaces for vegetable planting.
“If even small pots and spaces in households will be used to produce even a small quantity of vegetables that families can harvest when needed, it will be an added food produced by the country,” Dawayan said.