News Details

Cordillera schools, barangays get ?2.8-M support for community gardens

NPO

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August 18, 2025

BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Agriculture-Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) has released ₱2.8 million worth of gardening supplies to boost the Gulayan sa Paaralan (GSP) and Gulayan sa Barangay (GSB) programs, strengthening food sustainability in schools and local communities.

A total of 30 schools benefited from the initiative — 25 in Benguet and five in Baguio City. Of the fund, ₱2.16 million was allocated to Benguet, while ₱700,000 went to Baguio City under the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program.

“We hope the beneficiaries will be successful in implementing the program that helps ensure food will always be available on the table,” DA-CAR Director Jennilyn Dawayan said.

Distributed supplies included peat moss, water sprinklers, seedling trays, transplanters, assorted vegetable seeds, knapsack sprayers, and garden hoses. In addition, eight schools in Benguet’s coffee-growing towns received coffee seedlings.

Dawayan said the initiative also teaches children that farming can start even in small spaces. “We want them to realize they can grow vegetables for their families even with just pots or small backyard areas,” she added.

The GSP, led by the Department of Education, integrates vegetable gardening into schools to promote agricultural values among students and supply produce for feeding programs. Meanwhile, the GSB encourages households under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and entire communities to engage in communal gardening for fresh, organic food.

The project was implemented through the DA’s High Value Crops Development Program in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development-CAR.

—NPO News Team | PNA-PR