THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) Cavinti in Laguna in the implementation of the fourth district-wide school and home gardens or the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP) evaluation.
Soledad Villanueva, DepEd Cavinti Sub-office public school district supervisor and overall program chairperson, expressed gratitude for the continuous and valuable support of Searce and their other partners during the opening program.
During the evaluation from March 25 to 26, 2024 anchored on the theme "Sustaining School-plus-Home Gardens Program Through Continuous Partnership and Linkages," SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio gave an aspirational message to the participating schools.
Gregorio highlighted the potential of transforming them into technology hubs that integrate traditional agricultural practices with modern technology to foster a holistic learning environment for the students.
"Partnership in sustaining the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program GPP and that we need to further strengthen collaboration with the local government units and private sectors," he said.
The home garden evaluators were SEARCA staff members Anna Gale Vallez, program specialist of the Research and Thought Leadership Department program specialist, as the overall chairman of the board of judges; Zara Mae Estareja, Partnerships Unit senior associate for public relations; and Marilyn Jansalin, program associate, Office of the Deputy Director for Programs.
Gregorio said the judges and guests visited 15 primary schools categorized into small, medium and large based on school area and garden size, as well as four secondary schools.
According to the judges, the criteria for judging the gardens included the diversity of vegetables planted; the adoption of innovative strategies and technologies; the establishment, maintenance, and sustainability of the garden; and its contribution to the school feeding program. At least 11 home gardens were assessed based on sustainability and productivity.
Winner in the small school category was the Sumucab Elementary School which maximizes its small space by using creative and ingenious planting containers, such as bamboo poles, empty plastic bottles, and old clothes and shoes.
The first placer in the medium school category for its terraced vegetable garden was the Layasin Elementary School which produces its own organic fertilizer and pesticide from locally available materials, such as fermented plant juice or FPJ, fermented fruit juice or FFJ, oriental herb nutrient or OHN, and eggshell as source of calcium.
Winner in the large school category with its diverse garden was the Lumot Elementary School showcasing a variety of go, glow and grow vegetables; herbs; flowers; and fruit-bearing trees. The school established an aquaculture pond, a mushroom farm and a poultry shed, and featured innovative irrigation practices using plastic bottles and bamboo poles.
Among the secondary schools, first place was the Calminue Integrated National with its array of green and healthy vegetables ready for harvesting.
According to SEA, both Sumucab Elementary School and Calminue Integrated National High School were awarded winners of the home gardens evaluation.
SEARCA gave the winners cash prizes and gardening tools from CBK Power Company Limited while all participating schools received propagation materials with Cavinti Elementary School receiving gardening tools as the Hall of Famer.
Other distinguished guests who graced the event were Cavinti Mayor Arrantlee Arroyo, DepEd-Division of Laguna Schools Division Superintendent Editha Atendido and Cavinti Municipal Agriculturist Vina Lorraine Orolfo.
Gregorio said SEARCA, alongside University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and the DepEd Division of Laguna, initiated the School-plus-Home Gardens Project, which was implemented from January 2016 to June 2017.
"This project aimed to improve the nutritional condition and dietary habits of school-aged children by increasing the production of locally adapted vegetables through school gardening, contributing to the community's food and nutrition security," he said.
Gregorio noted that with the success of the project, SEARCA implemented its offshoot projects, namely the School-Plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement and Enterprise or SHGBEE in Palawan, the School Edible Landscaping for Entrepreneurship or SEL4E in Rizal, and also in Cambodia.
