To continuously ensure that residents of Metro Manila are supplied with safe vegetables, the Department of Agriculture and the San Juan City government have forged a partnership for the implementation of the Urban Agriculture Program (UAP).
The intensified UAP, which is one of the key strategies of the Department during the time of pandemic, aims to empower families living in urban areas to produce their own food by providing vegetable seeds, seedlings and other planting materials for their kitchen gardens.
“The DA has been partnering with the local government units so we can set up more urban gardens in the Metropolis.”
“The DA has been partnering with the local government units so we can set up more urban gardens in the Metropolis and guarantee Filipino farmers sufficient food on the table,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar explained.
Dar underscored that “now more than ever it is necessary for everyone to have FAITH—Food Always In The Home.”
San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora expressed his appreciation to the DA and to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) for bringing the UAP to the city.
“We are very thankful because we have always been a part of the programs and projects of the national government,” Zamora said.
The mayor added that his office will finalize the set of guidelines with the guidance of the BPI and will soon release an announcement for the distribution of vegetable seeds and other inputs.
“Para sa ating mga kababayan, makakapagsimula na po tayo ng ating pagtatanim sa ating mga bakuran, dahil nandito na po ang mga tulong mula sa DA,” he said.
The City of San Juan initially received a total of 2000 sets of assorted vegetable seeds and three trays of seedlings, with 100 seedlings per tray from the BPI.
“We will provide more, once the city government has established a community garden.”
“We will provide more, once the city government has established a community garden,” BPI Assistant Director Glenn Panganiban said.
The Taguig City government earlier also sealed a partnership with DA for the implementation of the UAP in the city.