At the recent national Culminating Activity of the Search for the Best Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Garden, held at Southwoods Mall in Biñan, Laguna, two urban gardens from General Santos City—Vergara Community Garden and Keisha’s Garden—brought pride to Region XII. These gardens represented the region as national finalists, showcasing innovative agricultural practices in urban spaces.

Vergara Community Garden, competing in the Microgarden Category, received a Special Citation for Best in Social Equity through Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture, recognizing its community-centered approach to gardening. Meanwhile, Keisha’s Garden, a contender in the Macrogarden Category, was awarded Best in Cutting-Edge Urban Agriculture Technologies for its use of advanced methods in urban farming. Both gardens previously earned the Regional Best UPA Garden award, which qualified them for the national competition.

This year’s national finals attracted attention from top officials and agriculture enthusiasts. The event was graced by Hon. Emir Bariquit, representing Vergara Community Garden, Mr. Benjamin Buday, Jr. for Keisha’s Garden, Ms. Anareystel P. Lape, ATI NUPAP Alternate Focal Person, and Ms. Angel Perez and Mr. Vincent John Garma from DA-RFO XII.

The Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center XII (ATI-RTC XII), alongside DA-RFO 12 and the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP) Team, extends congratulations to these standout gardens. Both Vergara Community Garden and Keisha’s Garden continue to make remarkable contributions to urban agriculture, underscoring the region’s dedication to sustainable urban food production and innovative agricultural solutions.