The Department of Agriculture in Bicol (DA-5) on Thursday said it has distributed PHP3.48 million worth of interventions to set up vegetable gardens in schools and villages in Albay province on June 23, as part of the government’s “Gulayan sa Paaralan and Gulayan sa Barangay.”

In an interview, DA-5 spokesperson Lovella Guarin said the interventions included vegetable seeds, fertilizers, and garden tools like vegetable twine, plastic crates, vermicast, seedling trays, hoses, bolos, hand trowels, hand forks, prong cultivators, hand sprayers, pruning shears, plastic mulch, UV plastic, tunneling films, and various other materials.

Guarin said the program is part of the DA’s commitment to provide additional sources of food in time for the opening of classes.

“Annually, we have a program to provide agricultural interventions for our public schools,” Guarin said.

She added that the program gives students a chance to experience and appreciate the value of agriculture.

“For the children, teaching them how to plant allows them to see the fruits of their labor, helping them understand the process of agriculture and the importance of growing their food,” Guarin said.

The DA said schools in the following provinces have benefited from the program: Albay (55 public schools), Camarines Norte (50), Camarines Sur (60), Catanduanes (50), Masbate (50), and Sorsogon (40). Each province also benefits from the Gulayan sa Barangay program.

The 55 elementary and secondary schools in Albay received PHP348,965 in interventions. Meanwhile, five towns in the province, namely, Pioduran, Guinobatan, Polangui, Camalig, and Ligao City received PHP622,039. Three farmers’ associations from Daraga, Oas, and Polangui towns received PHP2.51 million in interventions.

The recipient schools expressed their gratitude for the timely distribution of resources, as these will support the establishment of school gardens and significantly aid in feeding malnourished children, thereby enhancing the overall nutrition and well-being of students. (PNA)