To promote better nutrition and appreciation of organic farming in the megacity, an edible landscaping program was launched by the city of Parañaque and the University of the Philippines-Los Banos through South East Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).
Held at the city nursery garden in Barangay San Isidro, the relaunching of the Food Always In The Home (FAITH) program with a theme, “mag Edible Landscaping tayO”, was initiated by Mayor Edwin Olivarez and Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA director.
During the launching, Gregorio shared SEARCA’s efforts on edible landscaping and urban gardening in the country during the past decades. “We at SEARCA were able to implement the School plus Home Gardens Project (S+HGP) to more than five schools in the Province of Laguna,” he said.
Gregorio also highlighted that SEARCA has its edible landscaped SM North Sky Garden in Quezon City, on its third floor and a row of fresh edible vegetables strategically planted on the perimeter of the headquarters.
The concept of gastronomy as the new and evolving field of food and agriculture linked with culture was also touched by Gregorio himself.
“Sustainable, creative, and well-thought-of edible landscaping not just adds beauty to the environment, but also promotes food safety and increases awareness of the community toward healthy living,” he explained.
Some of the activities of the FAITH Program include seed distribution of various vegetables, fruit-bearing trees, and ornamental plants.
The City Agricultural, Fisheries, and Aquatic Services Office (CAFASO), which houses the program, also provides livelihood training for Parañaquenos on fish and vegetable food processing.
Last June, UPLB donated around 500 edible landscaping kits to Parañaque to promote food security amidst COVID-19. UPLB is SEARCA’s host institution since its inception in 1966.
Gracing the event were Paranaque Rep. Eric Olivarez, agriculturists Dr. Vivencio R. Mamaril, Director IV of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR, City Public Information Chief Mar Jimenez, and city Councilor Tess de Asis.