Laoag City — Schools across Ilocos Norte are amplifying their role in the green revolution to support the national government's food security efforts and enrich student learning experiences. One such institution leading the way is the Eulalio F. Siazon Memorial Elementary School in Barangay 33-B La Paz, where both educators and students are actively involved in urban agriculture.
According to a news release by Philippines News Agency, the school has utilized idle plots of land to cultivate lowland fruits and vegetables. The initiative is partly funded by a PHP100,000 grant from the Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) and serves as a model to demonstrate advanced agricultural techniques including multiple cropping, container gardening, edible landscaping, hydroponics, vertical gardening, and aquaponics.
Seeds and seedlings of various vegetables like pechay, okra, pole sitao, squash, bitter gourd, eggplant, tomato, and finger pepper have been distributed to school-community gardens, offering students hands-on agricultural experience. Corpuz, who is a plant hobbyist, stated that they have collaborated with ATI and other agencies to enhance students' nutrition through increased production and supply of fresh produce in urban and rural areas. The partnership aims to transform school communities into lush, edible landscapes through the development of vegetable gardens.
Laoag City Schools Division Office information officer Cherry Joy Dizcaya revealed that two schools in Laoag City have received ATI grants aimed at encouraging school-based urban gardening. The project not only aligns with food security objectives but also exposes students to the opportunities and significance of agriculture, especially in rural settings.
This educational initiative is in line with several governmental programs aimed at hunger mitigation and community development. It supports the Plant, Plant, Plant Program (4Ps) of the national government and complements the Department of Education - Ilocos Norte's 'Agmula, Agtaraken, Agtagibalay, ken Agliwliwa (To plant, To raise livestock, To maintain a house, and To relax)' (4As) program. Additionally, the gardens will serve as a continuous source of vegetables for school-based and community feeding programs.