Army camps in ComVal, DavOr cited as ‘gulayan’ achievers

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 18): Army camps in ComVal, DavOr cited as ‘gulayan’ achievers

Three military camps in the provinces of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental joined this year's awardees of Gulayan Achievers by the Department of Agriculture-High Value Crops Development Program (DA-HVCDP).

This year's big winners in Gulayan sa Kampo (GSK) are the 71st Infantry (Kaibigan) Battalion in Mawab, Compostela Valley, 25th Infantry (Fireball) Battalion in Monkayo, also in Compostela Valley, and the 28th Infantry (Kamagong) Battalion in Mati City, Davao Oriental.

They were among the ‎2017-2018 Gulayan Achievers of DA.

DA 11 Director Ricardo Oñate Jr. lauded the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for their commitment to support DA's advocacy to provide available and affordable food.

"Malaking tulong ang ini-extend ng ating military men dahil nagle-lecture na din sila sa ating farmers on vegetable farming at the same time sa pagma-mapping natin sa agricultural lands sa Region 11," Oñate said.

HVCDP coordinator Melani Provido also thanked the participating schools for their continued support to the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP).

"Our teachers became the second parent of our child and their influence plays a big role in molding their development. The time the teachers integrate the GPP program in their school, the students can now understand that they too can produce quality and nutritious foods," Provido said.

On the other hand, the Best School Garden implementers for ‎2017-2018 in the elementary container garden category are: San Roque Elementary School in Davao City -- first place; Mawab Central Elementary School in Mawab, Compostela Valley Province -- second place; and, Don Ricardo Briz Central Elementary School in Tagum City, Davao del Norte -- third place.

For elementary field garden category, the winners are New Bantayan Elementary School in Asuncion, Davao del Norte -- first place; Cadalian Elementary School in Davao City -- second place; and the New Albay Elementary School in Maragusan, Compostela Valley province -- third place.

For high school container garden category, the winners are Andili National High School in Compostela Valley province -- first place; Dujali National High School in B.E. Dujali, Davao del Norte -- second place; and, Puntalinao National High School in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental -- third place.

The winners for the high school field garden category are Manat National High School in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley province -- first place; Manuel B. Guiñez National High School in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental -- second place; and, Sacub National High School in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur -- third place.

DA is also thankful for the strong support of the Department of Education (DepEd) to the GPP program.

"With our partnership, we can attain the government's thrust to provide affordable and available food for everybody," Provido said.

First-time winner Ellen Estacaan, GPP coordinator of San Roque Central Elementary School, said the school is rejoicing for winning the first place in the container garden category.

“We’ve been participating for four years and we won third place in ‎2015-2016 and we’re so happy that we have grabbed the first place for regional level for ‎2017-2018,” Estacaan said.

Filipinas Samblingo, San Roque District supervisor, lauded the efforts of DA in helping the DepEd to combat malnutrition among schoolchildren.

She said GPP helped a lot in the feeding program of nine schools under the San Roque District.

“The program helped improve the nutritional status of our school as the prevalence rate of malnourished schoolchildren decreased,” Samblingo added.

The GPP program and GSK continue to expand vegetable garden projects in schools and military camps to address malnutrition so as to help school children to get better nutrition as well as the neighboring communities.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/1019117