Mattie J. T. Stepanek once said “Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.”
After the success of Grow My Own Food (GMOF) project, another agricultural private-public-partnership was forged during the launching of Liboron Community (Communal) Garden in barangay Liboron, Calape this province on August 7, 2020. Said garden is headed by Mrs. Cecilia de Leon of Organic Street and Cecees Organic Farm making use of her cacao and coconut lot into a diversified vegetable and herbs production garden. Mrs. de Leon, who’s a beneficiary of a small grant of Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs Bootcamp of SPARK Ph and New Zealand Embassy, was inspired to share her seed grant for this project together with her 58 co-barangayanon farmers to mitigate possible threat of hunger brought by COVID19 crisis.
Bohol’s chocolate princess Dalareich Polot who assisted this project facilitated the event in collaboration with ATI-7 through its Center Director Carolyn May O. Daquio, PhD. Also present during the launching were the agri-enthusiast Provincial Board Member (BM) Lucille Lagunay, Rey Balatayo of Gawad Kalinga/BahandiKO, and acting Municipal Agriculturist Maria Teresita Pentacase. Youth participation was also seen through the support of Sangguniang Kabataan Council of Barangay Liboron.
“There is no barren soil, only barren mind” qouted Director Daquio while encouraging the attendees. “The formula of success is composed of 4 letters: Ampo, Antus, Kakugi and Technological Inputs” she added. As a way of support, Dir. Daquio turned-over seeds, vermicast, technoguides and other farm inputs. Meanwhile, BM Lagunay mentioned the upcoming assistance and distribution of propagules from the Provincial Government of Bohol where Calape is one of the recipient municipalities and open for legislative assistance if the group needs. Mr. Rey Balatayo of GK/BahandiKO expressed their support through sharing of organic technologies so farmers won't buy any fertilizers and do values formation for the community, while the MAO pledged to guide and provide technical support to the project.