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| Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar looking at the progress and development of the Stables And Greens community gardens in Brgy. San Benito, Lipa City. (Image Source: Philippine Information Agency/Department Of Agriculture) |
Selected families in Lipa City now have a readily available and accessible source of food and livelihood through the Stables And Greens: Alis-COVID (Agri-Livestock Integrated Support To COVID-19 Prone Areas) project. In support of the Department of Agriculture's "Plant, Plant, Plant" program, the project aims to mitigate the effects of the pandemic by promoting agri-livestock household production for consumption and the use of various technologies for meat, egg and vegetable production.
This collaborative project of DA's Agricultural Training Institute - International Training Center on Pig Husbandry (ATI-ITCPH), East-West Seed Company and the Lipa City government under the administration of Mayor Eric B. Africa benefits families in the villages of San Benito, Pinagtungolan, Maraouy, Lodlod, Tambo and Banay-Banay. Since its inception in 2020, 156 families in Barangay San Benito who are also among the benificiaries of DSWD's Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program have completed three harvests from their 1,500 square meter Stables And Greens community garden. According to Barangay Captain Quintin Piol, these families are very active in maintaining their garden with the help of ITCPH and East-West Seed and in selling surplus to earn extra income and contribute to the group's revolving fund aside from consuming their hard-earned harvests.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar was able to visit the project site and said that the garden should remain sustainable even after the end of the project in 2022. He directed the DA Regional Field Office in CALABARZON to introduce off-season planting and other technologies that can increase the yield and income of the farmers. Dar added that these communities should be included in the Food Basket for Metro Manila project wherein provinces should produce and supply the national capitol's food requirements. Mayor Africa, on the other hand, expressed his gratitude to DA and Secretary Dar for the various projects that benefit the city's poorest families, farmers and economy such as animal dispersal, seeds distribution and farm-to-market roads among others.
Accompanying Secretary Dar and Mayor Africa during the site visit include DA Assistant Secretary for Operations Arnel De Mesa, DA Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Noel Reyes, DA IV-A Director Vilma Dimaculangan, ITCPH's Dr. Ruth Miclat-Sonaco and East-West Seed Public Affairs Lead Mary Ann Sayoc.
