CARIGARA, Leyte. –Pursuant to Administrative Order No. 03, Series of 2022, which established the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the government continues to strengthen its policy direction toward increasing food production and reducing logistics costs. This initiative seeks to cushion the impact of global challenges such as food insecurity, climate change, and rising fuel and input costs, while also creating alternative livelihood opportunities in partnership with Local Government Units (LGUs), National Government Agencies (NGAs), private sectors, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and other stakeholders.
Through NUPAP, the DA promotes urban and peri-urban agriculture under the Plant, Plant, Plant Program by providing material, technical, and financial support to diverse initiatives. In collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development via the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Program, the effort empowers vulnerable and marginalized sectors, contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger).
As the training arm of the DA, the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center 8 (ATI-RTC 8) continues to champion technological innovations in food production. To further this mission, ATI-RTC 8 equips its partners and stakeholders with practical options for sustainable food production in urban and peri-urban areas through trainings, ensuring both food safety and long-term resilience.
For the three-day training, participants learned the importance of urban gardening in providing access to fresh and healthy food. They acquired knowledge and skills on proper sowing of different vegetable seeds, performed hydroponics farming set-up, prepared the nutrient solutions appropriate for different crops, and understood the key considerations in establishing communal vegetable gardens.
After the practicum, the participants agreed to take responsibility for the care and management of the established communal vegetable garden. The training gave the participants a realization of the importance of establishing vegetable gardens in every household, even in limited spaces or small areas.
Mr. Romulado A. Cospada, one of the participants, shares, “Tungod ini nga ha aton training, nagkaka-experience kami kun paano mag modern farming ha atun gulayan. Ginahangyoko unta na magburuglig kita mga farmers para dirimasayang ang gitutdo hin ATI ha atun mgaparticipants kay para ini ha kaupayan ha atungarden. Nagpapasalamat ako ha ATI hinoportunidad na ginhatag ha amon kay makabuligini ha amon asosasyon. Usa iton nga starting pointpara molago an amon communal garden.”
The participants agreed that they will apply the knowledge and skills gained from the training in their own gardening activities and share their learnings and experiences with fellow vegetable farmers in their communities.
A total of 25 participants completed the Training on the Fundamentals of Crop-based Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Technologies on June 17-19, 2026 in Carigara, Leyte. The second batch of the training will be on July 20-22, 2026 in Palompon, Leyte. (With reports from Emie O. Uy)
