Participants and facilitators, alongside Prof. Joselito Florendo, Deputy Director for Administration, Dr. Gerlie Tatlonghari, Program Head of RTLD, and Dr. Lyda Hok, Center Director of CE SAIN
LOS BAÑOS, Philippines - The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), through its Research and Thought Leadership Department (RTLD), in partnership with the Center of Excellence on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification and Nutrition (CE SAIN), Royal University of Agriculture, Cambodia, and the Department of Education (DepEd) Laguna and Palawan, initiated a collaborative benchmarking activity. This activity aimed to strengthen the best practices of the School-plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement and Enterprise (SHGBEE) program in Cambodia through a series of visits to farm schools in Siniloan, Cavinti, and Pila, Laguna on 7–10 August 2024.
(L-R) Prof. Joselito Florendo, Deputy Director for Administration; Dr. Lyda Hok, Center Director of Center of Excellence on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Nutrition; and Dr. Gerlie Tatlonghari, Program Head of Research and Thought Leadership Department, during their opening messages.
The benchmarking activity is part of the "Participatory Action Research on Integrating SHGBEE for the Improvement of Agricultural Technology Parks (ATPs) and Mini-ATPs in Cambodia" and was organized by RTLD through the leadership of Dr. Gerlie Tatlonghari, Program Head, and the support of staff, Ms. Anna Gale Vallez, Ms. Rochella Lapitan, Program Specialists, Mr. Kim Louisse Patagnan, Program Associate, and Ms. Maricel Adique, Program Assistant. The benchmarking activity is a platform for exchanging knowledge and best practices related to SHGBEE implementation among critical stakeholders in the Philippines and Cambodia. The activity was attended by 17 participants, including 16 from Cambodia and one from DepEd Palawan.
(L-R) Mr. Morkoath Pring, Director of the Department of General Secondary Education, and Mr. Sara Rath, Director of the Department of Vocational Orientation, both from the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports (MoEYS)
The first day commenced with a courtesy visit from the participants, followed by an opening address by Prof. Joselito G. Florendo, SEARCA's Deputy Director for Administration, who warmly welcomed the delegates from SHGBEE Cambodia. Subsequently, Dr. Lyda Hok, Center Director of CE SAIN; Mr. Morkoath Pring, Director of the Department of General Secondary Education, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS); and Mr. Sara Rath, Director of the Department of Vocational Orientation, MoEYS, delivered their opening messages with palpable enthusiasm, setting a tone of inspiration for the forthcoming activities arranged for their visit to the Philippines.
Participants and facilitators during their visit to the Institute of Crop Science (ICropS) Edible Landscaping Technology Demonstration Garden at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)
Also, Dr. Tatlonghari presented an overview of SEARCA's School-plus-Home-Gardens Program and its scaling-up strategies in the region. This initiative aims to create a knowledge-sharing platform and enhance multistakeholder participatory models by encouraging multisectoral engagements among farming families, industry, academia, and government. Dr. Leangsrun Chea, Agricultural Technical Manager of CE SAIN, presented their Research Development and Extension (RDE) activities within its ATPs and mini-ATPs, highlighting its role in engaging youth and promoting agricultural entrepreneurship.
Meanwhile, Ms. Christine Heidi Garcellano, Public Schools District Supervisor of the Coron Coastal Sub-office, DepEd Palawan, delivered a presentation on SHGBEE Palawan's initiatives to strengthen partnerships with the local government. Ms. Garcellano highlighted the project's significant benefits to students and their families, emphasizing how these collaborations enhanced educational outcomes and community well-being—the first day concluded with a visit to the Institute of Crop Science (ICropS) Edible Landscaping Technology Demonstration Garden, where the participants gained insights of the fundamentals of edible landscaping design and implementation.
(L-R) A teacher from Siniloan Integrated National High School conducted a guided tour. Participants scan a QR code to access detailed information about the vegetables.
Participants during their visit to Lumot Elementary School in Cavinti, Laguna
The second day began with visits to farm schools, including the Siniloan Integrated National High School, Lumot Elementary School, and Labuin Elementary School. Each school showcased its "Gulayan sa Paaralan" initiatives and the products derived from its gardens. They also shared their best practices in implementing and maintaining the program, emphasizing its significance to the students' health and wellness. Additionally, they highlighted that the program fostered connections to a broader community, including local government units, industries, and the education sector.
Participants alongside the Schools Division Superintendents of Laguna during their visit at Labuin Elementary School in Pila, Laguna
The third day began with a brief visit to San Antonio Elementary School and a tour of the Organic Agriculture Research and Development and Extension Center (OARDEC) at the Agriculture Systems Institute. Dr. Leila Landicho, a University Researcher and Scientist, provided an overview of OARDEC's ongoing research and development initiatives, highlighting the various capacity-building programs and hands-on training they offer to support the organic agriculture industry in the Philippines. The program was completed with a guided garden tour, where participants were introduced to the different methods and technologies currently being implemented by the center. The day ended with a courtesy visit to the DepEd Central Office. Dr. Dexter Galban, Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Learner Support Services (BLSS), delivered a presentation on the school-based feeding program and school gardens. These initiatives aim to eliminate hunger and malnutrition among children from Kindergarten to Grade six while promoting food security, nutrition education, and environmental awareness by establishing and maintaining public school gardens.
Participants during their visit to San Antonio Elementary School in Los Baños and Organic Agriculture Research and Development and Extension Center (OARDEC) at the Agriculture Systems Institute, UPLB.
Dr. Dexter Galban, DepEd Assistant Secretary, during his presentation on school-based feeding programs and school gardens at DepEd Central Office, Pasig.
The participants and facilitators, alongside Dr. Dexter Galban, DepEd Assistant Secretary, and SEARCA’s RTLD Team.
The benchmarking activity concluded with a culminating event in which participants could share the best practices and key lessons they gathered throughout the activity. They also reflected on the various activities that had been organized and how these experiences could be applied to Cambodia. The final session exchanged valuable knowledge and fostered a collaborative environment, encouraging participants to consider how they might implement new strategies and approaches within their institutions and communities. Dr. Chea emphasized collaboration among local government units, the academic community, and the private sector in advancing shared goals. He also announced the potential for organizing a second benchmarking activity in 2025 in Coron, Palawan. This event aims to strengthen these partnerships further, build on the successes of the current program, and explore new opportunities for collaboration and development.
The participants and facilitators during the culminating activity held at SEARCA Residence Hotel