THERE’S no stopping the City Government of San Fernando from establishing vegetable, nutrition-friendly communities, as it continuously adds more vegetable gardens in barangays, backyards, and schools amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

This, after the City Government completed its third “Quarantine Gulayan Mo, Show Mo” program that aims to intensify community vegetable gardening among common folks, in support to the regular distribution of seeds and seedlings to barangays.

For this edition, the program catered to households, communities, and women’s groups from different villages.

City Agriculturist Cristina Sangumay said this has been effective in terms of decongesting the markets, giving easier access to fresh vegetables, and providing livelihood to local farmers and planting enthusiasts.

“Ang ating programa sa gulayan ay may magagandang epekto. Una, imbes na magpunta ang tao sa palengke ay nasa komunidad na nila ang mga gulay. Pangalawa ay mas ligtas at fresh ang mga ani ng ating mga ka-barangay, at pangatlo, nagkakaroon ng pagkakakitaan dahil naibebenta sa komunidad ang mga ani,” Sangumay said.

Sangumay added that the City Agriculture and Veterinary Office (Cavo) is giving out in-cash and in-kind incentives to groups and individuals who performed well in establishing their respective vegetable gardens, based on the set standards.

Nearly 30 groups and individuals who participated in the program were given cash incentives and seeds on November 22, 2021 at Heroes Hall.

“Sa gitna ng kagustuhan nating madagdagan ang mga vegetable gardens natin, sinisiguro din natin na nakakamit ng ating mga kalahok ang sumusunod: paghikayat sa mas maraming tao na magtanim, pagdami ng variants ng gulay na itinanim, pagsunod sa tamang proseso ng pagtatanim, paglalagay ng composting area, at pagkonsumo o paggamit ng mga ani sa tamang paraan,” she added.

Mayor Edwin Santiago, for his part, said that food security is now being “harvested” by the Fernandinos because of their cooperation in establishing vegetable gardens.

The mayor affirmed this when he led the “Harvest Festival” at another community garden in Del Rosario just recently.

“Ang sarap sa pakiramdam na ang pinaghirapan nating food-secure status, nakukuha natin dahil sa pinagsamang pagtutulungan ng gobyerno at ng komunidad. Tayo mismo ang nanguna sa pag-ani ng mga tanim na gulay ng Fernandinos sa isang malawak na community garden,” he said.

Santiago added that the said community garden was created by the beneficiaries of local Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), barangay council and tanod members, street sweepers, and women’s groups, with supports from the Department of Agriculture and Provincial Government of Pampanga.

Meanwhile, Cavo is set to launch two new editions of “Quarantine Gulayan Mo, Show Mo” in February and July 2022 in time for the celebration of Cityhood anniversary and Nutrition Month, respectively. (PR)