QUEZON CITY--The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Quezon City government forged a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Urban Agriculture Program aimed at ensuring food security in the city and the whole of Metro Manila.

Through the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), the program was launched to help city residents sustain their basic needs by growing their own food, and consequently, creating enough food supply in highly urbanized areas.

In his message during the activity, DA Secretary William Dar said that urban agriculture is two-fold. “It is not only about ensuring food security, but also community and commercial gardening,” he expressed.

Dar explained, “The threat of hunger is as real as COVID-19, and this is why the president also said that efforts on food security are equally important in the fight against the pandemic.”

The Agriculture Secretary also assured that the ATI, BPI, and the whole of the Department will work massively on the implementation of urban farming in the city.

“Together, let us prove that community gardening is possible in Metro Manila,” he added.

Meanwhile, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte thanked the DA and all the implementers of Urban Agriculture Program, which intends to make the city self-reliant in terms of clean and nutritious food supply.

“This is a valuable project with many benefits for our people, including climate change mitigation. Rest assured that the goal of having an urban agriculture community will be in Quezon City, and that we will be a model city for this significant undertaking,” Belmonte affirmed.

ATI Deputy Director Rosana Mula, BPI Director George Culaste, officials of selected barangays in Quezon City, and other program partners were also present during the activity held on April 16 in the Quezon City Hall. Farming starter kits were distributed to the partner barangays after the MOA signing.