Some 70 urban gardeners from the municipalities of Talibon, Dauis, Panglao, and Talibon participated in a two-day Package of Technology (POT) Training on Urban Vegetable Production and Capability Building held on May 21–22, 2025 in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, conducted under the Department of Agriculture – Central Visayas (DA7) through the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP).
In her message, DA7 Regional Executive Director Angel C. Enriquez emphasized the importance of gardening in the urban and peri-urban areas, as she shared her personal experience in initiating an edible landscape at the DA regional office.
“Mao ni akong gibuhat sa DA? Gidani nako ang among mga agriculturist ug mga empleyado nga magtanum ug garden—bisan pa nga naa mi sa siyudad. Kung imong tan-awon didto, makita nimo ang mga herbs, spices, ug gulay—edible landscaping. Usa ka miyembro sa usa ka organisasyon ang nibisita sa among opisina ug nalingaw siya sa among gibuhat. Didto ra mi mangkuha ug oregano, lagundi, ug uban pang mga tanom para sa among panglawas. Inyo pud na mahimong buhaton sa inyong kaugalingong komunidad.”
(You know what I did in DA? I encouraged our agriculturists and staff to grow gardens—even though we’re based in the city. What you’ll see there are herbs, spices, and vegetables—edible landscaping. One organization member visited our office and was amazed by the concept. We picked oregano, lagundi, and other herbs from that garden for our health needs. You can replicate this in your own communities.)
Director Enriquez also addressed questions from participants, particularly on pressing issues such as the increasing price of rice and the declining market price of palay. She challenged participants, asking them if “Magpadayon ba gihapon mo sa pagtanum og humay bisan ubos ang palit sa presyo?” (Will you continue planting rice even if the buying price remains low?)
In response to Director Enriquez, Godoberta Budulas Dumale, the PRO of the Association of Persons with Disability Workers in Tagbilaran City (APWDWTC), affirmed a response, saying “Yes, ma’am, mao man na among panguhaan og pagkaon ug panginabuhian.” (Yes, ma’am. It’s our source of food and livelihood.)
Dumale manages a farm in Sto. Niño, San Miguel, Bohol and is registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA). She is one of the beneficaiires of the Php 5,000.00 financial aid of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) in 2023, along with agricultural support such as inorganic fertilizer (complete 14-14-14) among others, through the rice program.
Director Enriquez noted the presence of many idle plots of land that still need to be cultivated and encouraged everyone to plant crops in their backyards, especially in urban settings.
The training covered topics on Urban Vegetable Production, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Major Pests and Their Management, Common Vegetable Diseases and Their Control, an Overview of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), the GAP Certification Process, Simple Record Keeping, and Financial Literacy for Responsible Leadership.
Participants were composed of persons with special needs, local government officials from the agriculture sector, teachers, and barangay representatives.