The local government of Navotas City inaugurated the new greenhouse facility in the city on Monday, May 13.
Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco together with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Marlo Iringan and National Capital Region (NCR) Assistant Regional Director Ana Lyn Baltazar-Cortez led the ceremony at NavotaAs Homes I in Barangay Tanza 2.
Tiangco said that they will strengthen the urban agricultural initiatives to sustain the food sources in the city.
“Food security has long been a pressing concern, but it was during the pandemic that we experienced firsthand how important it is to have sufficient and sustainable food sources. Hence, we sought to strengthen our urban agricultural initiatives,” he said.
"In addition to our vertical farm at the NavotaAs Homes II, our greenhouse facility will bolster our capability to provide fresh produce locally and mitigate reliance on external sources. By empowering Navoteños to grow their own food, we fortify our resilience against food crises," he added.
The city government has received a P7,000,000 financial subsidy from the DILG as one of the awardees of the 2022 Seal of Good Local Governance.
According to the city’s public information office, the greenhouse facility was designed to be the extension of the Navotas Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), which contains the city's Biodegradable Waste Processing Equipment. The compost produced by this equipment will be used to grow a variety of plants and vegetables in the greenhouse.
It added that the area has been allocated for the additional composting methods and additional waste processing equipment. It also has a room for mushroom production and a hydroponics system to support other types of fresh produce.
According to Navotas' 2023 Waste Analysis and Characterization Study, organic and kitchen waste constituted the majority of wastes generated in the city.
“The greenhouse isn't just about providing sustainable food for Navoteños. It also serves as a solution to manage compostable waste, transforming it into valuable resources,” the city mayor said.
Moreover, the city's MRF and greenhouse, an estimated 6,972 housing beneficiaries at Navotas Homes 1 will receive complimentary compost for their backyard gardening, free seedlings, and priority access to vegetable harvests.
In addition, the city government will collaborate with the Navotas Schools Division Office to establish the greenhouse as a venue for hands-on learning on urban gardening for students, out-of-school youth, and other trainees.
It added that the 18 barangays of the city may also request the same from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office as needed, the city government said.