(Harvesting chili. Photo by Armand Galang)
CABANATUAN CITY – At least 87 residents, mostly beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer program, popularly known as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), from Barangay Daang Sarile here have finished a 45-day training on urban gardening Wednesday.
Alberto Pangilinan, 44, a motor mechanic, said he has already felt the relief of earning additional income from an erstwhile isolated backyard which is now planted to different vegetables, including eggplant, tomato, chili and lettuce.
The training called Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan, which also included seminar on production of organic fertilizer and pesticide, was principally sponsored by the SM Foundation, the charity arm of the giant mall chain.
“Wala kaming ginamit na kahit anong commercial na abono at pamatay-kulisap,” said Pangilinan. The scheme, he said, made them earn better as they produced healthy vegetables. “Malaking tulong sa amin.”
Cristina Angeles, assistant vice president of SM Foundation, said the project is being conducted in cooperation with the city social welfare and development, the agriculture department and the village officials.
The program, she said, is being implemented in different parts of the country with beneficiaries already numbering to 23,000.
“Kami po ay nagpapasalamat, bagaman at maliit na porsiyento na hindi itinuloy, pero alam ko sa pagtatanim ng halaman sa mga nagtagumpay kami po ay very very proud sa inyo kasi patuloy niyo kaming pakakainin,” Angeles said.
She asked for God’s continuous guidance for urban farmers.
On Tuesday, the farmers had their harvest festival at the village. They prepared food using their organic vegetables.
