Tagbilaran City – it has been known that the threat of hunger is as real as the threat of COVID19. The Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) in Central Visayas in collaboration with the Island City Mall (ICM) and Alay Marcela Foundation (AMF) - the corporate social responsibility arm of the Alturas Group of Companies (AGC) is giving away technoguides, vegetables seeds as well as farm kits and put up IEC corner at ICM ground floor, Dao, this city.

Fourteen (14) assorted vegetable technoguides were produced by ATI-7 while AMF provides 6 varieties of seeds, fertilizers and farm tools to affected tenants, employees of the AGC and customers. The IEC corner at the mall was set up for the easy access of technology in vegetable production by walk –in clients. The pandemic is seen to be long term as stated by the World Health Organization, thus this mechanism was implemented so food availability will be ensured.

ATI-7 and AMF believes that with the provision of technoguides and seeds support, city dwellers can also grow their own food right at their backyard or any space available at home. Likewise, this inspires affected tenants and employees while on enhanced community quarantine. Further, the IEC corner also provides information on the accessibility of free e-learning courses offered by the ATI.

The ongoing IEC corner display started on March 27, 2020 and over 7,000 technoguides copies were distributed while more than 400 recipients availed the seeds and farm kits from AMF.