A total of 125 schools in Iloilo province are recipients of the Gulayan sa Paaralan project of the Department of Agriculture (DA) regional field office in Western Visayas in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Iloilo this year.

Project coordinator Bonifacio de la Torre Jr., in a phone interview on Friday, said the project seeks to increase learner’s appreciation of agriculture and support DepEd’s feeding program.

It is open to public elementary and secondary schools identified through the Gulayan sa Paaralan coordinator of the schools division office, he said.

“They validate and evaluate if the schools are qualified to become recipients of our Gulayan sa Paaralan Project,” he said.

It is being implemented under the DA’s high-value crops development program with a fund of PHP12,000 for every school to already cover their garden tools and 40 packs of assorted vegetable seeds.

The distribution of garden tools started in July and the seeds are currently with the Division of Iloilo for release to recipient schools probably in the next two weeks.

However, since face-to-face classes are not allowed this year, it is the parents, through the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) who will be doing the gardening.

“Parents, on behalf of the students, will maintain the garden. They only have to set a schedule in order to work in the garden,” he added.

The grown vegetables will be used for feeding or parents and children can bring them home.

He added that students or parents who are interested to plant may also avail of the seeds from the regional office of DA or from their nearest research station.

“We have buffer stocks where we can source the seeds,” he added. (PNA)