CITY OF SAN FERNANDO The Department of Education (DepEd) in Central Luzon is intensifying its "Gulayan sa Paaralan" program in all public elementary and secondary schools.
This is in partnership with the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office III and East West Seed Foundation to help schools become self-reliant in addressing nutritional deficiency among the learners.
The Enhanced Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (EGPP) is part of Project GAME or "Gulayan para sa Aktibong Mag-aaral ng Rehiyon tatlo."
This is one of the programs under the National Greening Program of DepEd.
The "Gulayan sa Paaralan" program is one of the mechanisms the government implemented to promote and raise awareness for food security in the country.
Each school shall implement E-GPP-Project GAME by allotting at least 200 square meters for the establishment a vegetable garden with the engagement of stakeholders such as the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), National Government Agencies (NGAs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and other entities that may consider significant to the implementation of the project.
Schools with limited area for the implementation of EGPP-Project GAME may use alternative gardening methods such as container gardening, inground gardening, raised bed gardening, vertical gardening, hydroponic gardening, aquaponic gardening, square foot gardening, upside-down gardening, hanging gardening, and other methods appropriate to the schools.
A variety of indigenous vegetables shall be planted that are rich in protein, carbohydrates, vitamin A and iron to address micro deficiencies such as protein-energy deficiencies, Vitamin A deficiencies (IDA), Iron deficiency Anemia (IDA), and Iodine deficiency Disorder (IDD).
Indigenous vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals. These include Alugbati, Alukon, Katuray, Kulitis, Kadyos, Kalabasa, Labanos, Labong Malunggay, Mustasa, Pako, Patola, Pipino, Saluyot, Sayote, Sigarilyas, Sitaw, Talinum, Talong and Upo.
Schools sans space may forge partnerships with the barangay officials to utilize vacant lots in the villages to build seed banks.
About 60 percent harvested product from the EGPP-Project GAME shall be utilized in the school feeding program, while the remaining 40 percent may be sold in the community/market as part of the income generating project of the school.
The income may be utilized for the provision of ingredients for school feeding, gardening tools, seeds, and other materials to sustain the project.
Deped Central Luzon Director May Eclar said that the products that may be harvested and consumed to enhance the academic performance of the learners through proper nutrition obtained from the harvested vegetables from the school, home, and community.