BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Agriculture-Cordillera Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)-Baguio joins the nationwide launching of the HAPAG kay PBBM. The activity was held at Gibraltar Barangay, Baguio City with about 70 participants composed of the concerned regional line agencies and other agri-stakeholders in the city. The participants included the barangay officials headed by Barangay Chairman Hon. Nemesio O. Huag; the various people’s groups in the community; the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) staff headed by Ms. Carol G. Gano, DILG Baguio Program Officer; several staff from the Baguio City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO) headed by Ms. Samantha Josephine Licudine; and a number of BPI-BNCRDPSC staff headed by Dr. Jesus R. Aspuria and BPI-NSQCS-CAR headed by Ms. Catherine Balaoing.
The HAPAG Kay PBBM is a merging of two programs, the DILG’s Halina’t Magtanim ng Prutas at Gulay (HAPAG) Barangay Project and the DA’s Green Revolution 2.0: Plants for Bountiful Barangays Movement (PBBM). The activity aims to increase the barangay’s capacity for sustainable agriculture activities; encourage the local government units to recognize the importance of urban agriculture as a measure to alleviate poverty, address the instability of food supply, foster cooperation among communities, and conserve the environment through eco-friendly agricultural practices; boost production of fruits and vegetables; and promote urban agriculture technologies nationwide.
After the expression of support from the Barangay Chairman, DILG, and BPI, the group proceeded to the community garden where they participated in planting various vegetable seedlings provided by BPI. Besides those planted in the community garden, the participants particularly those from the Barangay were also provided with various vegetable seeds and small farm tools in support of their home gardening activities. By J.M. Ochasan, BPI-BNCRDPSC
