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SEARCA, DepEd, and UPLB award outstanding School and Home Garden Partner Schools

  • 2 May 2017

Awardees of the SEARCA-DepEd-UPLB School and Home Garden Project

LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES. The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), together with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), paid recognition to the outstanding partner schools of the joint project titled Participatory Action Research on School- and Community-based Food and Nutrition Program for Literacy, Poverty Reduction, and Sustainable Development on 24 April 2017 at SEARCA. 

Labuin Elementary School (LES) of the Municipality of Pila was awarded the Most Outstanding Partner School. It was cited for the most "successful implementation of the Project, which contributed significantly to the diversity and availability of food in the school and local community, and enhanced the knowledge and skills of students, their parents and teachers on sustainable food production and nutrition." LES also received the awards for Best in Local Government Unit Partnership, and Best in Community Extension. The other winners are the following:

  1. Best in Farm Record Keeping and Best in Eco-friendly Innovations: Crisanto Guysayko Memorial Elementary School, Nagcarlan;
  2. Best in School Feeding Program and Best in School Garden for Learning: San Andres Elementary School, Alaminos;
  3. Best in Edible Landscapes: Majayjay Elementary School, Majayjay; 
  4. Best in School Garden in an Urban Setting: Cabuyao Central School, Cabuyao City; and
  5. Best Implementer of School Garden in a High School Setting: Pedro Guevara Memorial National High School, Sta. Cruz.

Also recognized and cited for his dedication and contributions to the success of the Project was Mr. Lamberto S. Perolina, Education Program Supervisor for Agriculture of DepEd-Laguna. On the other hand, Mr. Bembol Samia of San Antonio Elementary School, Pila, and Ms. Soledad Villanueva of Bagumbayan Elementary School, Sta. Cruz were both recognized for adopting the SEARCA-DepEd-UPLB School and Home Gardens project in their respective schools in their own initiatives.

The event was witnessed by SEARCA Director Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit Jr., UPLB Chancellor Dr. Fernando C. Sanchez, and DepEd Central Office - External Partnerships Service Director Dr. Margarita Consolacion Ballesteros. Also present were the district supervisors, school heads, school garden coordinators, and Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (EPP) teachers of the six (6) partner schools, representatives from Local Government Units, Municipal and Provincial Agriculture Officers, and UPLB professors and institute directors.

Winners were determined after a school-to-school evaluation by the Project Management Team held on 22 to 24 March 2017, led by the Project Leader Dr. Blesilda Calub of UPLB. (Elson Ian Nyl Ebreo Galang)