Ms. Anna Gale Vallez, Program Specialist, was joined by Mr. Erwin Sacluti, Executive Secretary of the Mayor of Calauan, Laguna; Mr. Luis Germina, Public Schools District Supervisor (PSDS) of Calauan; Ms. Soledad Villanueva, PSDS of Los Baños; Ms. Lorevie Rivera, Principal II of Bubukal Elementary School, and principals and school heads from DepEd-Calauan.
LAGUNA, Philippines – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has joined with the Department of Education (DepEd)-Calauan Sub-office and the Local Government Unit of Calauan, Laguna to launch the Project OSEL, or "Oplan School Edible Landscaping." This initiative aims to strengthen the schools in Calauan by promoting sustainable practices such as establishing edible gardens. By integrating edible landscaping, the project seeks to enhance environmental awareness, promote sustainable agriculture, and contribute to food security within the educational community.
(L-R) Ms. Mylene Gutierrez, Principal III of Calauan Central Elementary School; Mr. Erwin Sacluti, Municipal Administrator of Calauan; and Mr. Luis Germina, PSDS of Calauan Sub-office, delivered their opening remarks and messages.
The program commenced with a heartfelt welcome from Ms. Mylene Gutierrez, Principal III of Calauan Central Elementary School. In her address, she conveyed her excitement about this new chapter, emphasizing the strengthened collaboration among stakeholders. She expressed her optimism about replicating the exceptional success achieved by the DepEd-Sta. Cruz Sub-office in pioneering the implementation of school gardens.
Following this, Mr. Luis Germina, Public Schools District Supervisor (PSDS) of the Calauan Sub-office, delivered his message. He shared his enthusiasm for the launch of the school's edible landscaping project and highlighted his vision of establishing a sustainable garden like that of DepEd-Sta. Cruz. Mr. Germina highlighted the garden's significant potential to enhance students' health and nutrition while noting its broader benefits, such as generating income and positively impacting the surrounding community.
Subsequently, Mr. Erwin Sacluti, the Executive Secretary and representative of the Mayor of Calauan, extended a message of support. In his remarks, he reiterated the municipal government's full commitment to establishing school gardens across all primary and secondary schools in Calauan. He emphasized the importance of promoting sustainable agricultural practices within educational institutions to foster student health, environmental awareness, and overall community well-being. Mr. Sacluti also announced that the municipal government had procured organic fertilizers to be distributed to schools, ensuring the success of these gardens. Furthermore, he shared that he plans to organize a study visit for all Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP) Coordinators, allowing them to observe and adopt best practices from pilot schools that have successfully implemented and benefited from school gardens. This initiative aims to refine the edible landscaping program and ensure its long-term sustainability, thereby contributing to the holistic development of students and the wider community.
Ms. Anna Gale Vallez, Program Specialist of RTLD, introduced SEARCA's School-plus-Home Gardens Project (S+HGP). She provided a comprehensive overview of the project's milestones and its successful collaboration with schools in Laguna that have effectively implemented sustainable school gardens. Ms. Vallez featured the significance of integrating school gardens into the curriculum, showcasing the development of 125 lesson plans designed to incorporate gardening activities into educational content. She highlighted how these gardens are powerful tools to enrich students' learning experiences and promote health and nutrition. Moreover, she stressed the broader impact of school gardens, which extends beyond their immediate benefits to students. She illustrated how the initiative has facilitated meaningful partnerships among the private sector, government agencies, and the community, showcasing the transformative potential of collective action in creating sustainable and impactful programs. Through her inspiring presentation, she encouraged participants to view school gardens not merely as a project but as a holistic and innovative approach to education, environmental stewardship, and community development.
(L-R) Ms. Soledad Villanueva, Public Schools District Supervisor (PSDS) of Los Baños, and Ms. Anna Gale Vallez, Program Specialist, during their presentation on the opportunities and challenges associated with school gardens, as well as the introduction of the S+HG Project.
Ms. Soledad Villanueva, PSDS-Los Baños, presented the opportunities and challenges encountered in implementing school gardens, highlighting their essential role in promoting environmental sustainability and improving student nutrition. Ms. Villanueva further highlighted how the school gardens' impact extends beyond the local community by contributing to personal and professional development. Through research conducted on school garden projects, she generated valuable insights presented at local and international conferences. These experiences featured the importance of the initiative. They demonstrated how school gardens serve as platforms for advancing academic research, inspiring innovative practices, and sharing success stories on a larger scale.
Lastly, Ms. Lorevie Rivera, Principal II of Bubukal Elementary School, delivered a presentation highlighting the best practices for establishing and managing school gardens. She shared various techniques and strategies successfully implemented in her school, providing actionable insights that could greatly benefit DepEd-Calauan as they work toward developing and sustaining their school gardens. Ms. Rivera emphasized practical approaches that have not only enhanced their garden's productivity but also encouraged the active involvement of students, teachers, and the broader community.
Ms. Anna Gale Vallez, Program Specialist, joined by Mr. Luis Germina, PSDS-Calauan; Ms. Soledad Villanueva, PSDS-Los Baños; Ms. Lorevie Rivera, Principal II of Bubukal Elementary Schools, and principals and school heads from DepEd-Calauan during the presentation of certificates.
The program concluded with a powerful commitment from all the GPP Coordinators of DepEd Calauan by formally accepting the challenge of implementing sustainable school gardens across all primary and secondary schools in Calauan. The participants expressed their enthusiasm and anticipation for the forthcoming outcomes of this initiative. They conveyed their eagerness to see the school gardens' positive impact on students, teachers, and the wider community. They also emphasized their commitment to ensuring the project's success and expressed their excitement about sharing the results with the public once the initiative has been fully implemented.