Urban and peri-urban agriculture program continues to flourish

by Lily Gut July 13, 2022 Henry Borres, president of the San Pedro Agri-Workers Network (SPAWN). (Photo from  DA IV-A) CALAMBA CITY, Laguna...

by Lily Gut
July 13, 2022

Henry Borres, president of the San Pedro Agri-Workers Network (SPAWN). (Photo from DA IV-A)

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna - In accordance with the direction of DA Secretary William Dar, the Department of Agriculture IV-A CALABARZON (DA-4A) High-Value Crops Development Program of the Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program will continue to be carried out in the area. To ensure the nation has an appropriate quantity of food, particularly vegetables.

In response, DA 4-A met with some municipal and city farmers on June 6 to learn more about the projects they are working on in connection with the urban agriculture initiative.



The implementation of the urban agriculture program is crucial, according to Abelardo Bragas, OIC-Regional Technical Director for Operations of DA 4-A, as it significantly contributes to ensuring a sufficient food supply.

“Ang Urban Agriculture ay mahalaga para sa ating lahat dahil nakapagbibigay ito ng ligtas, mabilis at malapit na access sa pagkain para sa lahat.”



Based on DA 4-A data, they established 70 communal gardens, 19 modernized urban agriculture sites, and 19 urban mushroom production houses in 30 cities and municipalities in the region. P55,000,000.00-worth of funded interventions was taken from in Bayanihan Act II, which aims to address the problems faced by the industry during the height of the pandemic.

One of the beneficiaries of the program is San Pedro City, Laguna. The city has received several projects, including a mushroom house, a modernized urban agriculture site, and four communal gardens.



According to Henry Borres, president of the San Pedro Agri-Workers Network (SPAWN), an organization that received a mushroom house and equipment from DA 4-A, a lot was given to their help to further develop their livelihood.

“Maliit na po ang space namin dito sa San Pedro City, kaya't ang naibigay po sa aming mushroom house bilang isang samahan ay malaking tulong po siya dahil magkakaroon na kami ng facilities. Hindi po biro ang magtayo ng facility.”

Borres added, “Nagbago na po ang buhay namin simula po nang simulan namin ang pagmu-mushroom. Naging busy po kami sa trabaho. Mas maraming kita.”

San Pedro City Agriculturist Enrique Layola seconded this and said that the implemented urban agriculture program has had a positive impact.

“Malaki ang impact ng programang ito sa aming lungsod bilang isang highly urbanized area. Nabigyan ng dadag na kita ang aming mga kababayan at karagdagang mapagkukunan ng murang pagkain,” Layola said.

DA 4-A pledged full support and assistance to local governments and beneficiary groups to continue and further develop the region's urban and peri-urban agriculture program. (with report from DA IV-A)