President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. expressed confidence that the program wittingly named after him would increase the country's capacity to address poverty, ensure food security, and protect the environment at a local level.

Marcos said this as he led the launch of the Halina't Magtanim ng Prutas at Gulay / Kadiwa'y Yaman / Plants for Bountiful Barangays Movement (HAPAG KAY PBBM) at the Rizal Park in Manila on Wednesday, March 1.

In his speech, the President said the "witty abbreviation for easy recall as noteworthy" signified the administration's sincerity and resolve to address the issues of food prices and food supply issues.

"As this initiative consolidates the programs of these two agencies on urban agriculture, I am confident that we will further increase our capacity to take part in our goal to address poverty, ensure food security, and protect the environment even at the barangay level," he said.

The HAPAG KAY PBBM merges two programs of the  Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The DA's Green Revolution 2.0 Plants for Bountiful Barangays Movement aims to increase local production of fruits and vegetables by turning urban and rural areas into patches of green, edible landscapes. It encourages people to grow their own food and other kitchen ingredients close to home, which improves access to affordable, safe, nutritious meals every day.

To complement this, the DILG is implementing the Halina At Magtanim ng Prutas at Gulay movement, which aims to build community gardens in every barangay to diversify food sources and contribute to food security within each neighborhood.

With the fusion of these two programs, President Marcos expressed confidence that the public would practice unity and urban agriculture even on a small scale.

"I am certain we will be able to quickly and effectively promote urban agriculture in the entire country and to foster greater ties among residents at the barangay level," he said.

According to the President, the launch of the HAPAG KAY PBBM "was a good beginning." However, the government must continuously develop more innovative solutions to address hunger and make nutritious food available to every Filipino.

NOW: President Marcos leads the launch of the HAPAG KAY PBBM (Halina’t Magtanim ng Prutas at Gulay / Kadiwa’y Yaman / Plants for Bountiful Barangays Movement) in Rizal Park, Manila. (📸RTVM Screenshot) pic.twitter.com/R7bLgmJD2V

— Argyll Cyrus Geducos (@argyllcyrus_MB) March 1, 2023

Empowering barangays

Meanwhile, President Marcos highlighted the key role of barangays in the HAPAG KAY PBBM program.

"Given their awareness of the needs of their constituents, they are well-positioned to find and implement solutions that best fit their context, their conditions, and their circumstances," he said.

"This program is yet another step towards strengthening the capacity of barangays to adopt sustainable agriculture initiatives even on the small scale," he added.
Cooperation

Marcos, who also acts as the DA Secretary, asked the public to support the HAPAG KAY PBBM program to help communities recover from rising prices, the impact of calamities, and other threats to food security.

"With your cooperation, we will not only make this endeavor work, but it will help you, your communities, and our country overcome present and future challenges," he said.

The President assured the public that the government remains committed to providing the people with access to fresh, nutritious food at an affordable cost.

"Given the interactive programs on food security and community-building, we will certainly emerge victorious-- bring forth a better, more bountiful, and food-secure future for all Filipinos," Marcos said.