The city council encouraged barangays to establish and operate their respective community gardens in support to the Halina’t Magtanim ng Prutas at Gulay (Hapag) sa Barangay project.
In a resolution, the council members stated the local government supports the Hapag sa Barangay project and enjoined the compliance and partnership of the barangays to realize the project’s objectives.
The council said the Hapag sa Barangay project is in support of the thrust of the national government to addressing concerns of hunger and food insecurity.
This is from recognizing the role of the barangays as essential partners in addressing hunger and food insecurity issues and strengthening the capacities of the barangay towards sustainable agriculture.
The initiative promotes urban agriculture where households and the community are encouraged to produce fresh, healthy, and affordable fruits and vegetables from their backyards and vacant spaces through the establishment of barangay community gardens.
The council added community gardens in urban areas like Baguio will help families cope with the rising cost of food and assure a ready access to healthy and nutritious meals.
The council added the City Health Services Office, through the barangay nutrition scholars and the City Veterinary and Agriculture Office, shall coordinate and assist the barangays in the implementation and reportorial requirements of the said project.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier issued Memorandum Circular (MC) 2023-001 that outlined the guidelines in the implementation of the Project Hapag sa Barangay project, in response to the pronouncement of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in his first State of the Nation Address where he expressed that one of the thrusts of his administration is to address hunger and food insecurity among Filipinos.
The DILG MC is also anchored on Section 17 of the Local Government Code of 1991, Executive Order 131, s. 2021 or the devolution of certain functions of the executive branch of local governments, and Ambisyon Natin 2040.
The MC outlines the rules and responsibilities of the local government units in implementing the project which stated among others that the barangay shall identify the areas where the community garden shall be established and set up the community garden in a vacant area preferably owned by the barangay or local government concerned.
The barangay shall also ensure the formulation or if existing, revision or updating of the barangay nutrition action plan in line with the full devolution, to include the establishment and maintenance of barangay community garden and provision of seedling materials and agricultural equipment and facilities among other things. – PIO release
