Dept of Agri and DepEd support Gulayan sa Paaralan

by: Eva Joyce S. Valenzuela

The Department of Agriculture (DA) upholds the Department of Education’s (DepEd) “Gulayan sa Paaralan” program in line with their campaign: “Programang Agrikultura Para sa Masa” to public elementary and secondary schools in Laguna.

DepEd prepared different activities in line with their program, “Gulayan sa paaralan”. One was “Pagkaing Mura, Ligtas at Sapat para sa Lahat” seminar which was conducted by the Division of Laguna and the Department of Agriculture. It was held in Pedro Guevara Memorial National High School last August 18.

In support of DepEd’s program, DA provided each school with vegetable seeds to be distributed to various schools. Schools were tasked to plant vegetables in vacant lots to have an alternative source of food for the school’s feeding program. The program is advisable to the students, schools and communities for the food’s quality, safety, and availability.

The DepEd released Memorandum No. 293 in 2007, “Gulayan sa Paaralan” program encouraging to increase public awareness on health and nutrition, especially among the students, teachers and parents. It also aims to help the government solve malnutrition in the Philippines by making school gardens as main sources of food in supplementary feeding program.

“Gulayan sa Paaralan does not only focus in implementing vegetable garden, but also vermi-composting (use of fallen leaves, animal manure, and canteen wastes), “palaisdaan at hayupan” program (such as goats, chicken, tilapia, etc.), and school feeding – pertains to providing students low-cost but healthy foods.” Mrs. Erma Valenzuela, Education Program supervisor I in English, emphasized in an interview.

Program Supervisors conduct quarterly monitoring to each “gulayan” of different schools. The DepEd leadership selects the top three best implementors of “Gulayan sa Paaralan” at the end of the school year.

“This coming November, we will be having the district level search for Best Implementor of “Gulayan sa Paaralan” followed by the division level in January next year.” she added.

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