DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña visited the vegetable production project of the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office IV-A (DOST IV-A - CALABARZON) and DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) at the Bukid Kabataan Center in General Trias, Cavite.
This ongoing PCAARRD-funded and monitored project, "Employing Hydroponics and Vegetable Gardening Technologies to Alleviate COVID-19 Threats to Food Security in Selected Municipalities in Region IV-A" is being implemented by DOST IV-A led by Mr. Fernando E. Ablaza, provincial director of Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) Rizal. The project has two sites-- in General Trias, Cavite and in Angono, Rizal. It is part of the GALING-PCAARRD Kontra CoViD-19 Program's Component 3 - 'Pagkain at Kabuhayan sa Pamayanan.'
The project aims to organize and equip community vegetable gardening in different regions of the country.
This site visit was part of the nationwide regional visit of Secretary de la Peña before his appointment as Secretary ends this year. He discussed with the implementing agency, headed by DOST IV-A Regional Director Emelita P. Bagsit, together with Program Manager Jazzner De Dios of Bukid Kabataan Center, and Project Leader Fernando E. Ablaza, the project’s status and upcoming plans and activities.
PCAARRD’s Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Resource Management and Support Services Melvin B. Carlos and Supervising Science Research Specialist Adoracion B. Armada joined Secretary de la Peña and the project team during the said event.
Mr. Jazzner De Dios said that the repair of the greenhouses will hopefully be completed by March this year. Even then, vegetables were already harvested from the greenhouses. All vegetable harvests from the project will be distributed freely to the underprivileged children at Bukid Kabataan Center in General Trias, Cavite and selected areas in Metro Manila. This is part of the initiatives under food security.
The improved greenhouse design, local materials, hydroponics technology, and vegetable seeds were made possible through the PCAARRD-funded projects by Dr. Chito F. Sace, professor from the Central Luzon State University (CLSU).