The Department of Agriculture (DA) has partnered with affiliate government agencies in expanding a program that provides livelihood opportunities to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City through planting of vegetables.
The DA signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) last Wednesday for the program expected to help food security in the country that will initially cover 2.5 hectares of land in the penitentiary.
Under the project, the DA through the Bureau of Plant Industry will provide quality seeds, planting materials and other inputs while DAR serves as the lead project implementer and funder with TESDA providing trainings for PDLs who will tend and sustain the vegetable gardens.
Last year, the DA and BuCor started an urban agriculture project in the NBP which now covers 10 hectares planted to eggplant, tomato, chili pepper, coffee, banana and pili nuts.
The DA’s ultimate plan is to expand the project up to 100 hectares with the help of the private sector that will continue to provide seedlings, pest management and technical assistance.
The produce goes to the NBP.
DA Secretary William Dar said about 15 to 20 percent of the national food supply could come from urban agriculture to address challenges during community lockdowns and calamities that adversely impact on supply logistics and transportation from traditional production areas to consumption centers like Metro Manila. – Jed Macapagal
