Observing proper physical distancing measures during the launch of Lugud on Wheels at Barangay Capaya 2 covered court on Thursday coinciding with the country’s National Flag Day. Photo by Joann Manabat
ANGELES CITY — Guiding the community through sustainable urban farming and food security, Lugud Balen launched Lugud on Wheels Thursday.
Together with Lugud Tanam and Lugud on Bread, Lugud on Wheels is a joint project partnership of Lugud Balen with the Armed Forces of the Philippines Northern Luzon Command and the Philippine Army 48th Infantry Battalion through the supervision of Lt. Col. Felix Emeterio Valdez and 1Lt. Oscarito Tobias.
Lugud Balen founding member Chloe Cauguiran said the idea to have a sustainable community and resiliency amid the pandemic brought the group to initiate multiple projects that will help different communities in times of crisis, as in the current Covid-19 pandemic.
Vegetables like squash, okra, eggplants, and tomatoes, produce like chicken and fish were donated to the residents in Barangay Capaya, at Nepo Quad here and Barangay Calulut in San Fernando as part of the first leg of Lugud on Wheels relief caravan.
“We bought the meat and vegetables from different farms here as a relief donation for the poorest of the poor but eventually we will have our farmers sell their produce,” said Cauguiran.
“From giving food to the communities and to the frontliners, we started partnering with different farmers to help the upland and lowland farms. This is a direct purchase from the farmers — farm gate rate. To avoid inappropriate increase of price,” Cauguiran added. “We are partnering also with the Department of Agriculture and AFP Nolcom to transform idle lands and vacant lots into farm lots and urban gardening. Whatever that is planted there, we can sell it to the community at a very low price.”
According to Tobias, the AFP and Philippine Army through Nolcom and 48th IB have been part of the Lugud Balen community project since the start of the ECQ as they continue to reach out other provinces as well as municipalities who will participate in the program.
“We have talked to different LGUs in Floridablanca, Porac, San Simon, San Fernando, even as far as Bataan and Bulacan,” said Tobias. “This is not just for sustainable urban community farming, this could also be food resiliency in times of pandemic or any eventualities that may occur in the future as there will be constrictions in different municipalities or barangays.”
Valdez added that in order to keep the project inclusive and maximize the plan for food security, Nolcom and the 48th IB will also breed tilapia which will be in partnership with the local government of San Simon.
“We are also planning na mag-alaga ng tilapia, nasa pipeline na din iyan. Ang nakausap namin doon ay si Mayor JP Punzalan ng San Simon, siya yung partner natin doon,” Valdez said.
Lugud on Wheels will continue to distribute fresh produce to different barangays in the province as part of its relief caravan operation until June 12. The project will carry on by selling its harvested produce from Lugud Tanam at a very low price to its target communities in different parts of the province.
