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TESDA launches agri project to transform vacant city spaces into urban farms
TESDA launches agri project to transform vacant city spaces into urban farms
By Dhel Nazario
An urban agriculture project has been launched by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority – National Capital Region (TESDA-NCR) which aims to transform pocket vacant spaces in the cities into urban farms.
TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña led the launching and opening ceremony of the urban agriculture project through a virtual conference with the officers and residents of the Armed Forces of the Philippine Officers Village Association, Inc. (AFPOVAI).
The community-based training program will provide skills training on growing media mixing, sowing of seeds and proper management, container gardening, hydrophonics, composting and pest and disease management, among others.
These competencies are envisioned to enable the AFPOVAI residents to transform their vacant lands into community urban farms through planting assorted vegetables, herbs, spices and common crops.
“This community-based training program can be the start of a new movement to popularize and mainstream urban farming,” Lapeña said.
“We look forward to seeing the AFPOVAI transformed into healthy green patches very soon through this urban farming development project,” he added.
The said program will be carried out by the TESDA Women’s Center, a TESDA Technological Institution under the auspices of MuntiParLas TaPat District of TESDA-NCR through blended learning methodology.
In his message, the TESDA chief lauded TESDA-NCR and AFPOVAI officers led by its President PCSupt Felipe Buena, Jr (ret) and Chairman of the Board PDir Leocadio Santiago, Jr (ret) for initiating the project.
The theoretical classes will be delivered via online sessions while the on-site planting demonstration will be conducted by batches of 10 participants each. 78 residents in the 24 village areas have been identified as initial participants of the training program.
“I hope that this project will serve as a model for other communities and barangays in Metro Manila, and that the green and healthy concept of “Farm to Table” will be embraced by more and more of our kababayan,” Lapeña said.
Meanwhile, the same urban farming project will be implemented in selected communities in Manila and Quezon City next month under the Poverty Reduction Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) mandated under Executive Order 70.
The PRLEC, chaired by TESDA, is an inter-agency body that oversees programs that seeks to reduce poverty in conflict affected areas and urban poor communities.