The local government unit (LGU) of Legazpi City granted the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) program P200,000 worth of seedlings on Wednesday, March 20 at the Legazpi City Expo Center.
The program is dubbed “Halina’t Magtanim ng Prutas at Gulay (HAPAG),” whereas seedlings will be distributed to the 70 barangays in Legazpi City. It aims to strengthen their capacity in terms of providing food and adapting sustainable urban agricultural practices.
Shiela Nas, the agriculturist of Legazpi City, stated that one of the visions of the program is to increase the number of barangays that produce their own necessities by planting and gardening.
“Ang city government (of Legazpi) [ay] gumawa ng ordinance para ma-institutionalize ito to implement the program. [Para na rin] ma-address natin ang hunger and poverty. Ito ang magiging solusyon natin,” Nas said.
Moreover, Joan Alamo, 34, one of the attendees and the barangay kagawad of Bariis, said that it would be a great help to their people, especially now that they are in the process of starting HAPAG.
“Iyong mga taong walang kakayanan mag-provide ng pangaraw-araw nilang pagkain, syempre kung mayroong ganitong programa sa baranggay, ‘di na nila kailangang bumili. Free na itong maipo-provide ng barangay,” Alamo stated.
Alamo is also thankful to see how the city agriculture office (CAO) provides several programs, opportunities, support, and benefits to the people working in the agriculture sector, including herself.
Aside from seedlings, the barangay officials who attended the said activity also received fertilizers and sacks of compost products that will be distributed to their residents to promote the program.
Meanwhile, Nas has encouraged the farmers in Legazpi City to enroll in their newly opened City College of Legazpi under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), which gives knowledge in terms of farm production.| Gabby Bajaro