Municipal officials led by Mayor Nerivi Santos-Martinez and Vice Mayor Junjun Rodiel launch 7th season of gulayan program. Photo by Armand M. Galang
TALAVERA, Nueva Ecija – Amid the pandemic, municipal and village officials launched the 7th season of the local government pilot program against hunger and promotion of healthy life called Gulayan sa Barangay in Barangay San Pascual here on Wednesday, July 15.
Mayor Nerivi Santos-Martinez said they pushed through with the program even as they had to observe restrictions as part of protocols against the coronavirus disease because of its importance.
“Naisip natin ang programang ito hindi lamang para labanan yung gutom kundi yung nutrisyon na kailangan ng ating katawan dahil sa panahon po ngayon, talagang napakaraming sakit, napakaraming mga kakulangan sa ating nutrisyon,” Martinez said.
Under the program, all the 53 barangays here developed areas for vegetable gardens. They also have to plant in any other vacant spaces, including available road shoulders.
This municipality has been proclaimed the ‘Gulayan Capital of Nueva Ecija” by a sangguniang panlalawigan resolution.
But Martinez urged village officials this time to bring the program to another level. She wants gardening to be a lifestyle here.
“Kailangang mgatuloy–tuloy at maging bahagi ng lifestyle hindi lamang ng mga barangay kundi po ng lahat ng mga tao sa barangay,” she said. “Bukod sa atin kailangan mayroon ding participation ang lahat ng mga bahay.“
She stressed that the program was also one of the reasons why this municipality was named nationalchampion in nutrition by the National Nutrition Council.
Vice Mayor Junjun Rodiel said the program has made a name for the municipality not only in Nueva Ecija but in the country as he underscored its importance in fighting malnutrition.
“Sapagkat ‘eka nga kapag ikaw ay nagtatanim.ng gulay, hahaba na ang iyong buhay, magiging malusog pa ang iyong pangangatawan, masaya ang iyong magiging buhay,” Rodiel said.
Former mayor and now municipal administrator Nerito Santos, Sr., said the program proved its importance at the height of community quarantine.
The local government, he said, procured the produce of village gardens and distributed these as part of food assistance to constituents.
Meanwhile, Martinez appealed for a more united actionamong village officials, including the sangguniang kabataan, and residents during the current condition,both in implementing the gulayan program and containing Covid-19.
“Pagtulungan po nating labanan ang virus na ito. Kailangan po natin ng partnership dito kasi mahaba pa ang panahon na kailangang gugulin para maka- survive po tayo,” she said.
Having the launch coinciding her birthday, the mayor said: “Dalangin ko ang wish ko lang sa araw na ito ay maging healthy po tayong lahat. Tayo po ay malayo sa virus na ito. Walang sinuman sa ating nandito ang makakuha ng virus at sana po ay palaging maganda, masaya ang ating buhay na hinaharap.”
