Urban agriculture in Luneta has been revitalized through the development of the Rizal Park Urban Garden in Burnham Green, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI), DENSO Philippines Corporation, and the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC).

According to Park Operations Supervisor Justin Policarpio, the initiative began in 2020 during the pandemic, when interest in gardening surged due to limited access to goods.

“Tending to plants became popular because we were quarantined. We didn’t have easy access to goods, so that’s where the partnership started,” he said, noting that the garden was once “very small, with only a few plots for edible plants.”

The greenhouse is mainly operated by a technology called automatic nutrient dosing system for nutrient management, which is controlled through mobile phones.

The garden features both soil-based and soilless systems, with over 30 types of crops grown, including upland kangkong, Thai basil, Japanese melon, bok choy, dill, eggplant, and squash.

It is open daily from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., although guidelines for structured visits are still being finalized.

“We want to organize activities like harvesting so visits become more engaging,” Policarpio said.

Harvested produce is currently distributed among staff and service providers. “We’re also thinking of projects to activate the area, like goods will be marketed via stalls here so they can sell them.”

Moving forward, partnerships with other organizations and government agencies are being explored to strengthen marketing efforts and ensure the sustainability of the initiative.