IRIGA CITY -- “Uusbong ang mga seeds dito sa loob ng District Jail. Kayo ang nagbibigay ng inspirasyon sa amin kung bakit namin ginagawa ang aming mga ginagawa.“ DA-ATI Bicol Director Elsa A. Parot said on her message during the MOA Signing.

The Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center V (DA-ATI Bicol), Local Government Unit of Iriga City and Iriga City District Jail inked a Memorandum of Agreement on the Gardenscape: Establishment of Community Urban Agriculture Garden for the Persons Deprived on Liberty (PDLs) on October 21, 2022.

According to Justine Rose C. Tubig, DA-ATI Bicol Urban Agriculture Point Person, the project aims to establish a communal garden or container gardens inside the District Jail. Specifically, it aims to: promote organic vegetable production in the community; establish and showcase urban garden or network of container; and instill the value of urban gardening for the purpose of food availability and security in the household.

The DA-ATI Bicol also provided IEC materials and garden tools such as plastic mulch, seedling trays, sprinklers, rake, shovels, spades, tire wires, big drums, garden hose, vegetable seeds and vermicast.

DA-ATI Bicol Director Elsa A. Parot signed the MOA. She was joined by District Jail Warden J/CISNP Atty. Rodolfo L. Verzosa and Administrative Officer II Marly Corporal.