In support of the administration’s objective of attaining food security, the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera (DA-CAR) and the Department of Interior and Local Government-Cordillera (DILG-CAR) re-launched the HAlina’t Magtanim ng Prutas at Gulay KAdiwa’y Yaman Plants for Bountiful Barangays Movement (HAPAG KAY PBBM) during the RISE Barangays: Reinforcing communities to lead Impactful, Successful and peaceful Engagement in Baguio City today, August 16, 2023.
The HAPAG KAY PBBM is the merging program of DILG’s HAPAG sa Barangay and DA’s Green Revolution 2.0: Plants for Bountiful Barangays Movement, which is geared towards addressing hunger and food security in barangays. This also aims to strengthen the capacity of barangays through Barangay Community Gardening to encourage communities to utilize backyards and empty lots for producing their own crops.
The program, which was officially launched in March 2023, promotes the adoption of sustainable urban agricultural technologies such as vertical gardening, container gardening, square-foot gardening, aeroponics and aquaponics.
In his message of support, DA-CAR Regional Technical Director (RTD) for Operations Danilo P. Daguio pledged DA-CAR’s full support to the said initiative while also emphasizing the importance of food security in the country. “We in DA give our 101% support to the DILG’s initiative on food security. Obviously, we are mandated to ensure food security in the country. We are also grateful that we are having more partners in promoting food production, as well as the DA programs as we acknowledged that we cannot implement DA programs and projects alone. We need to involve as many people, as many agencies as we can engage with, and the support of legislators because, in reality, everyone should be involved in attaining food security,” he expressed.
RTD Daguio also particularly mentioned the High Value Crops Development Program and several projects under it such as the Green Revolution 2.0: Plants for Bountiful Barangays Movement, Gulayan sa Barangay, and Gulayan sa Paaralan, among others. He also introduced the National Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP), the newest banner program that caters to cities. In the Cordillera, NUPAP is being implemented in Tabuk City, Kalinga, and Baguio City. For its budget to be fully utilized, Dir. Daguio underscored the need to strategize the program in Baguio because of its limited agricultural areas.
In a pledge of commitment, the agencies and barangays involved are expected to actively participate in the joint program. By CEWaytan