Residents of 121 Baguio City Barangays Start Their Own Survival Gardens

Last May 26, 2020, the City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO) reported that 121 out of the 128 Barangays in the city of Baguio have already been given packets of assorted vegetable seeds that the residents can use for their “survival gardens” in their own homes.

Start of the Survival Gardens Program

According to CVAO Chief Dr. Brigit Piok, the “Survival Gardens” program started last March 23, 2020, while the city is under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

The program was initiated as a response to ensure that residents have food supplies while the city is under quarantine.

Contents of Vegetable Seeds Packets

The CVAO chief also mentioned that the vegetable seeds distributed to different barangays include the following which can be easily grown and maintained in the city:

• Pechay
• Zucchini
• Beans
• Eggplant
• Arugula

Recycled Containers for Gardening 

For residents without available space for gardening at home, Dr. Piok is encouraging the use of recycled containers or pots for planting and growing their vegetables.

Program Monitoring 

For monitoring purposes and to be able to extend assistance to residents with survival gardens, CVAO is requesting barangays to share pictures of their gardens on the office’s Facebook page.

Moreover, those residents and barangays requesting for vegetable seeds, you can also visit the CVAO at the Slaughterhouse Compound.

Program to Continue Next Year

Since the “survival gardens” program has become an institutionalized activity of the city, Dr. Piok mentioned that the CVAO will be giving the program a specific allocation in the next year’s city budget.

In addition, Dr. Piok said that she would be proposing provisions for additional personnel since the office has only two agriculturists.

CVAO to Setup Training for Survival Gardening 

To help the residents who received repacked vegetable seedlings for their survival gardens, CVAO is planning to conduct training about backyard gardening in the weeks to come.

SOURCE: Public Information Office – Baguio City

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