BAGUIO CITY – The city government here donated to the Division of City Schools assorted garden tools and vegetable seeds for the use of the different public schools in the implementation of their Gulayan sa Paaralan program.
The deed of donation signed by Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan and City Schools Superintendent Dr. Federico Martin was confirmed by the local legislative body during its regular session last Monday.
Aside from the city’s donation to the education department, the local government also donated to the Bilis Sto. Tomas Central Farmers and Livelihood Association an irrigation kit which is composed of complete accessories, good for 500 square meters farm layout for strawberry, 30 centimeters drip for plant spacing among others.
Under the provisions of the donation, the donated equipments shall be for the exclusive use of the education department and the farmers association to advance the implementation of their Gulayan sa Paaralan program and their strawberry production, respectively.
The garden tools, seeds and irrigation kit shall be under the custody and the sole use, and the maintenance of the same shall be the responsibility of the education department and the farmer’s association, respectively, and that they shall also ensure that the technology demonstration garden shall be a learning site benefitting all the members of the association through farmer-to-farmer data-sharing and technology adoption.
The two deed of donations also require that the recipients of the donated items shall have the full responsibility and accountability, and shall take care of the same throughout the implementation of the program and the operation of the techno demo garden, maintenance, and shall ensure its proper usage.
In the event that the said irrigation kit is not utilized for its purpose for a period of 3 months upon receipt, or if used upon receipt, subsequent non-use of the donated items, the same shall be returned to the local government at the expense of the recipient.
The education department and the farmers association undertook to submit a monthly activity report to the local government through the City Veterinary Office–Agricultural Services Division (CVO-ASD) for information, guidance and ready reference.
Domogan said the local government continues engage in various programs to help schools and community-based agriculture livelihood undertakings to augment existing economic policies, programs and projects to increase economic productivity of urban farmers in the city as a vehicle to socio-economic empowerment and improvement of quality of life.
Earlier, the CVO-ASD) endorsed the community-based farmer’s association due to its potential for sustained strawberry production in a portion of barangay Sto. Tomas School area which is now serving as an added attraction in the city in the mass production of quality strawberries for the increasing number of consumers, especially among visitors wanting to have a taste of fresh strawberries not only from La Trinidad but also from other areas in the region.
By Dexter A. See
