P3.6-M to fund ‘Gulayan’ program in 300 Bicol schools

LEGAZPI CITY: A total of 300 public schools in the six provinces of the Bicol Region are expected to benefit from a PHP3.6 million fund for the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA), an official said on Thursday. In a radio interview, Renato Acasio, DA 5 (Bicol) High-Value Crop Development Program officer and GPP in charge, said they want to strengthen the implementation of the GPP in various public schools in the region. "GPP aims to introduce basic agriculture to all public schools, from elementary to high school. It also aims to promote vegetable farming with indigenous vegetables and to establish and maintain a school garden to let them appreciate the value of farming. We want them to have an idea that it is not difficult to grow vegetables," he said in Filipino. Based on their record, of the 300 schools, 60 are in Albay; 35 in Camarines Norte; 100 in Camarines Sur; 25 in Catanduanes; 40 in Masbate; and 40 in Sorsogon. Acasio said each recipient school will receive a GPP package worth PHP12,000, containing such agricultural inputs as seedlings, plastic crates, soil conditioner, organic fertilizer, lowland vegetable seeds, and plastic mulch. Source: Philippines News agency