In support of the agency’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program (PPPP), the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office No. 02 (DA-RFO 02) is continuously distributing vegetable seeds and seedlings in Cagayan Valley.
As of April 20, 2020, the office had already distributed 33,338 packs and 19,137 pieces of assorted seeds and seedlings, respectively.
According to Engr. Blesita Tega, Regional Coordinator, High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), sixty-one (61) municipalities served.
“This covers 11,228 households entire Region 02,” Tega said.
She disclosed that the distribution is undertaken in tandem with local government units (LGUs) through the Municipal Agriculturists (MAs) office.
Meanwhile, Regional Executive Director Narciso A. Edillo is requesting the support of LGUs to Fastrack the distribution to households.
He mentioned that the office is contemplating the production of seedlings in barangay nurseries.
“Ito ay para mas malapit na ang pagkukunan ng mga tao at mas maging sustainable ang programa,” he said.
“Ang DA ay nakahandang susuporta sa technical na aspeto at provision ng inputs na kailangan para sa operasyon.”
Under the PPPP, the DA-RFO 02 had already adopted BLISS Village, City of Ilagan, Isabela as a recipient of the Adopt-A-Barangay scheme.
As a recipient, the barangay had received seed and seedlings coupled with an actual demonstration of vegetable and mushroom production in containers and other related technologies.
Tomorrow, DA-RFO 02 shall adopt San Gabriel Village in Tuguegarao City as the second recipient of the Adopt-A-Barangay scheme of the PPPP.
In tandem with the City Government of Tuguegarao, Provincial Government of Cagayan, and private companies Allied Botanical and Ramgo, the Gulayan sa Barangay will also be launched.
As the recipient, San Gabriel will be awarded rain shelter materials, garden tools and plastic drums, vegetable seeds, seedling trays, organic fertilizer, and IEC materials.
Over the weekend, DA-RFO 02 had launched the “Garden Mo, Iflex Mo Challenge” through social media.
As part of the massive promotion of PPPP, the challenge is open to all households of Cagayan Valley by posting their gardens and other related activities online.
“We are doing our best to reach out to everyone to ensure food availability by producing ours in our backyards and barangays,” Edillo ended.
(With reports from Hector Tabbun)
