The Department of Agriculture Western Visayas (DA-WV) in partnership with the Iloilo City Government launched the ‘adopt a barangay’ program in Brgy. Tanza Timawa Zone II in Iloilo City on April 28.
Three barangays namely Tanza Timawa Zone II, Bonifacio, and Esperanza were identified to be the pilot area for urban agriculture program.
Urban gardening is one of the priority activity of the Plant Plant Plant Program of the Department of Agriculture to ensure household food security amid the Enhanced Community Quarantine.
“Production of vegetables in the urban areas is very limited hence, the DA coordinated with the City government of Iloilo to identify possible areas to establish vegetable gardens for their consumption,” said DA-WV Regional Executive Director Remelyn Recoter.
The communal gardens will not only serve as the source of food but could also be their source of livelihood to combat the threat of hunger in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic, added Director Recoter.
Brgy. Kagawad Ma. Suzette Vargas of Tanza Timawa Zone II said more than 500 households could benefit and will have access for the safe, nutritious and available vegetable produce of their newly established communal garden.
On the other hand, Iloilo City Representative Julienne “Jam Jam” Baronda thanked the DA-WV for the interventions given by the department to Iloilo City constituents. She also urged the barangay officials and the City Agriculturists Office to replicate this initiative to other barangays in order to help Iloilo City residents attain food security.
The DA-WV through its High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) distributed ampalaya, tomato, upland kangkong, alugbati, okra and pole sitao seedlings and other vegetable seeds, plastic pots and drums for the establishment of communal gardens for the three recipient barangays. (MSSubang/RAFIS 6 / Photos : JDGuzman/RAFIS 6)
