DA Undersecretary for Special Concerns Ranibai Dilangalen, together with ATI OIC Director Luz Taposok and officials from Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc., takes a look at some of the innovative practices in the communal urban garden. (photo by Clemente Gabion)
DILIMAN, Quezon City - With the effort to lessen hunger in urban communities, the Department of Agriculture (DA) established the fourth Urban Agriculture-Pagkain Para Sa Masa (UA-PPSM) site at the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) compound.
With the theme 'Sa maliit na espasyo, may pagkain tayo', the UA-PPSM aims to encourage urban poor families to integrate urban farming into their lifestyle. The Department considers this initiative as a step towards reducing the poverty incidence of the country’s growing population.
Part of the activity is the launching of the hydroponics/aquaponics facility led by officials from the DA, ATI, and Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. Planting materials and garden tools were also turned over to the ATI for the maintenance of the area which is now designated as a communal vegetable garden for residents of Barangay Vasra.
DA Undersecretary for Special Concerns Ranibai Dilangalen led the ceremonial planting as part of the launch. In her message, she highlighted the importance of such activities towards the goal of the Department.
"This is part of DA's efforts to lessen hunger in the urban community. We want to help President Duterte in his campaign to end hunger for Filipinos," Dilangalen said.
Beneficiaries of the project from Barangay Vasra also gathered for feeding and training programs as part of the activity. The ceremonial signing of the memorandum of understanding was conducted between the DA, ATI, and Aboitiz as well.
The UA-PPSM was first launched on May 31, 2017 in Barangay Bahay Toro in Quezon City. Two more sites were established since then in Davao and Cotabato. The fifth one is set to be established on April 12 in Taguig City.
The establishment of the new UA-PPSM site in the ATI was held last March 12 in this city.