Tondo residents earn P19,000 in two hours from vegetable farming

Tondo resident-beneficiaries in 17 barangays reaped their vegetables and earned P19,000.00 in just two hours as they sold more than 600 kilos of vegetables at a discounted price from the “pick, harvest, and pay” promo conducted yesterday during the 1^st urban vegetable garden Harvest Festival.

The said activity is being implemented by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) under the “Buhay sa Gulay” project, in partnership with St. John Bosco Parish, Department of Agriculture (DA), and the local government of Manila.

More than 8,000 square meter idle soccer field, managed by St. John Bosco Parish located in Tondo, Manila, was converted into an urban vegetable garden which benefitted families and residents of 17 barangays around the parish to lessen the economic and health effects of COVID-19 pandemic in the area.

“Kapag nagtutulungan at nagkakaisa ang mga mamamayan, ang pamahalaan at ang simbahan, ay siguradong magkakaroon ng isang produktibong programa na magpapaunlad sa pamayanan,” DAR Secretary Brother John R. Castriciones said during the celebration of Buhay Sa Gulay Harvesgt Festival.

He said the Buhay sa Gulay Harvest Festival demonstrated the concerted effort of the local and national government agencies in bringing about farm products in the city through the dedication, commitment, and handwork provided by the farmer-scientist from Cavite and the Tondo urban farmers.

“Ang mamamayan po ng Tondo ay maaari nang mag-ani ng gulay mula sa lupang ipinahiram ng simbahan at bayaran ng diretso ang mga produktong kanilang naani. Hindi na nila kailangang pumunta sa palengke dahil sariwang-sariwa ang mga gulay na kanilang maaani.dito. Siguradong magiging masigla at malusog ang pangangatawan ng mga mamamayan dito,” Brother John said.

Castriciones emphasized that during this time of the pandemic, Filipinos must unite and help each other not only to combat the negative effect of the COVID-19 in the county but also to help bring back its citizen to farming activities.

He disclosed that aside from Tondo, other LGUs in Metro Manila will soon follow in establishing their own urban vegetable garden, such as Quezon City and Caloocan City.

“Sa pamamagitan ng pagsasaka, ang mga mamamayan ng siyudad ay hindi na kailangan umasa sa ibang lalawigan para sa suplay ng mga gulay,” he added.

Josefina C. Tandog, 65 years old and Chairman of Brgy. 109, District 1 of Tondo said: “Mahalaga ang gulay sa ating buhay dahil ito ang nagbibibgay sustansya sa ating katawan.”

She said that they were able to plant and harvest spinach, pechay, kangkong and mustard in the said vegetable garden, with the spinach, mustard, and pechay sold at 30 pesos per kilo, while kangkong is 50 pesos per kilo only.