A set of garden tools, assorted vegetable seeds, crates, and wheel barrow were among the items distributed to 40 elementary schools from the 22 towns and 2 cities in the province of Pangasinan as recipients of the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program of the Department of Agriculture in Ilocos Region through the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP).

In the last leg of the series of provincial distribution held on August 19, 2022 at the DA-Pangasinan Research & Experiment Center (PREC), Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, 10 local government units were also the recipients of the Gulayan sa Barangay and Urban/Community Garden projects.

Mr. Mark Roy Macanlalay, a political staff of Pangasinan Governor Ramos Guico III, in his message, recognized the relevance of projects such as the gulayan sa paaralan and barangay especially during this time of pandemic as it bring many benefits such as providing fresh and natural food for the household and supports feeding program of the Provincial Government in tandem with the Department of Education.

Mr. David John Rondal, of the DA-HVCDP program thanked the project beneficiaries as they are now enablers and partners to attain the goals on food security and sufficiency in the region.

“Hindi kayo basta recipients ng programang ito as you are also an enabler, our partner to attain our goal on food security,”Mr. Rondal said.

With the P103 million fund to finance the project under the Plant Plant Plant Program, Mr. Rondal expressed high hopes that the schools and communities will serve as food hub for the students and residents with the production of various vegetables. Mr. Rondal also said that the project will help promote agriculture as a career the student could consider in College by exposing them to planting/farming activities.

Meanwhile, Ms. Francesca Burmeda, the representative of the National HVCD Program Director, Mr. Glen Gerald Panganiban, in her message also expressed gratitude to the recipients of the project and encouraged them to sustain this as it gives them easy access to nutritious and fresh food.

Prior to the distribution of the items, the DA-RFO I likewise conducted a technical briefing to help the recipients have better understanding on how they can fully utilize the production inputs and garden tools that they have received to make the project more sustainable.

The Gulayan sa Paaralan, Gulayan sa Barangay and Urban Garden project is a tie up project with the Department of Education, the local government units in the provincial/city/municipal levels including the barangay which provides an easy access for fresh and natural vegetables in the schools and in the barangays.##