ANGELES CITY —- The local government here has begun the distribution of organic vegetable seedlings to the city’s 53 public schools, in line with the “Gulayan sa Paaralan” program of Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr.
“Yung mga garden at vacant lot po sa mga schools natin, maaaring pagtamnan ng gulay. Once namunga po ang gulayan, maaari pang mapagkuhanan ng makakain o maluluto ng ating mga guro at magulang. Hindi na kailangang bumili,” Mayor Lazatin said.
The program comes in time for the kick-off of Brigada Eskwela, marking the upcoming start of the school year.
“Kapag din po nagkaroon na muli ng face-to-face classes, maaari itong matutunang mapangalagaan at mapalago ng ating mga students,” he added.
The personnel of Angeles City Economic Development Investment and Promotions Office and the City Agriculture Office turned over 720 assorted seedlings to the schools — 180 sili, 180 talong, and 360 okra.
To date, 19 public schools including Northville 15 Integrated School, Cuayan Elementary School, Jose P. Dizon Elementary School, Angeles City National High School, Salapungan Elementary School, Virgen Delos Remedios Elementary School, Airforce City Elementary School, Angeles City Senior High School, Leoncia Village Elementary School, Sapalibutad Elementary School, Marisol Bliss Elementary School, Alberto G. Pabalan Elementary School, Sto. Domingo Elementary School, Pulung Cacutud Elementary School, Cutcut Elementary School, Sta. Maria Elementary School, Claro M. Recto Integrated School, Sapangbato High School, and EPZA Elementary School already received their seedlings on Sept 2, 2021.
The distribution of organic vegetable seeds in the remaining 34 public schools will follow suit.
Aside from the “Gulayan sa Paaralan” program, Mayor Lazatin also launched the adopt-a-community garden in the city’s rotundas where vegetable seedlings were planted and available to pick for public consumption.
Lazatin led the kick-off planting at the rotunda along the McArthur Highway in Barangay Pandan, with Chief Adviser IC Calaguas, Executive Assistant IV Manuel, Gender and Development Officer-in-Charge Mina Cabiles, City Engr. Donato Dizon, and ACEDIPO Officer-in-Charge Irish Bonus-Llego.
A series of tree planting activities is also being conducted by the city government employees via schedule, per the order of Mayor Lazatin.
During the lockdown, the Luntian Lingap sa Barangay Project was also launched where seedlings were distributed alongside food packages.
It can be recalled that amid the pandemic, the city government has assisted the city’s 53 public schools and City College of Angeles by distributing 63,200 tablets for the use of public school teachers, Grades 4 to 12 students and city scholars in their online classes.
Internet cards were also provided for the free access of WiFi. A total of 700 satellite units were installed city-wide for the free WiFi connection, alongside the distribution of internet learning cards to the teachers and students for better internet access.
