As a way of ensuring food security in Metro Manila, the project gave materials initially to three barangays to jumpstart their vegetable garden using urban gardening technologies, such as the Enriched Potting Preparation (EPP) and Simple Nutrient Addition Program (SNAP) Hydroponics.
This initiative is part of the GALING-PCAARRD Kontra COVID-19 Program of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD). GALING stands for Good Agri-Aqua Livelihood Initiatives towards National Goals.
One of the Program’s component projects is “Gulayan sa Pamayanan,” which aims to provide science and technology (S&T)- based livelihood on vegetable gardening in Metropolitan areas. The project is currently establishing urban gardens in selected areas in Metro Manila. Community leaders and members have been undertaking capacity-building exercises and training on S&T-based urban gardening technologies. The project hopes to increase vegetable availability among households and communities and meet their food needs especially during COVID-19 pandemic.
The DOST-National Capital Region, through the leadership of Director Jose B. Patalinjug III and Ms. Elvin B. Almazar, implements the Gulayan sa Pamayanan project under the guidance and monitoring of the Agricultural Resources Management Research Division of DOST-PCAARRD.
Deployment of EPP kits in NCR
DOST-NCR and PCAARRD distributed EPP supplies to family beneficiaries in Las Piñas City, Paranaque City, and Sampaloc Manila.
In Brgy. CAA, Las Piñas City, a total of 720 kits of EPP supplies including 30 bags of compost and 170 liters of Compost Soil Extract (CSE) nutrient solution for six tower gardens and two vertical gardens were deployed. Each tower garden can have nine EPP pots while the vertical garden can hold a total of 22 EPP pots. Also deployed were one coco coir net greenhouse, seedbed preparation, seedlings, and cuttings. Training on the preparation of EPP bottles and technique on seedbed preparation, transplanting, and crop maintenance were done to capacitate the beneficiaries.
In Brgy. BF Homes, Phase 3 in Parañaque City, DOST-NCR delivered agricultural supplies and conducted a training on EPP technology. Supplies include 150 EPP kits, 10 bags of compost and 50 liters of CSE to cover five tower gardens and two verticals gardens. They were also provided with one coco coir net greenhouse, seeds, and seedlings.
In Brgy. 412, Sampaloc, Manila, 380 EPP kits, 10 bags of compost, 80 liters of CSE, one coco coir net greenhouse, and seeds were given to the community to cover three tower gardens and one vertical garden. The beneficiaries had set up the EPP in their communal garden fence made of steel matting.
Dr. Eduardo P. Paningbatan, the EPP technology developer, conducted the trainings in all three barangays. The EPP setups were already displayed in a communal garden in each project site.
The communities are also preparing their area for the setup of SNAP hydroponics. To ensure the operation’s sustainability, the leaders and officers of the community will manage the production and distribution of vegetables.
