SAN SIMON Barangay Santa Monica of this town was named champion in the provincial level Search for Best Gulayan sa Barangay (GSB) in Pampanga.

This, after the Department of Agriculture for Central Luzon through the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) conducted the Regional Evaluation for Gulayan sa Barangay (GSB) Program this October 25 in said barangay.

The Gulayan sa Barangay program aims to provide livelihood and nutritious vegetables to every Filipino family.

This is a contest in each province of the region that measures the impact of Planting Vegetables - Yield, Employment, Opportunities, and Nutrition (PAG-AHON) in their community.

The program targets the youth, senior citizens, and residents in the barangay to encourage them to enter and get involved in the agricultural sector.

The GSB was integrated as part of the initiative of the Pantawid Pamilya in ensuring that the beneficiaries have sufficient nutritious food combating the pressing problems of malnutrition and hunger.

This activity is also part of the Family Development Sessions of the program beneficiaries.

The criteria considered for the evaluation are the total area, fencing/plot orientation or tarpaulin, vegetable presence, nursery, crop museum, seed bank, compost pit/heap, storage house, natural inputs produced, innovations, audio-video presentation, and scrapbook.