JPT Ediscape seeding Ilonggo oneness amid pandemic
ILOILO City – It is exactly a year ago when this southern city has dug into communal vegetable gardening to augment food supply here in the middle of a public health crisis.
Dubbed as “JPT Ediscape (edible landscaping)”, the initiative aimed at fostering unity and empowering every Ilonggo through barangay-based cultivation.
This initiative, a pet project of the City Population Office (CPO) and Barangay Service Point Officers (BSPOs), was implemented in time of the Charter Day celebration last year.
Today, Aug. 25, marks its first flourishing year of bringing fresh and nutritious food to the Ilonggo table.
JPT Ediscape is also one way to empower women thereby it is connected to the Gender and Development Program (GAD) under the leadership of Mayor Jerry Treñas, said City Population Officer Mary Ann Ramos.
“This project is named after him because he really wants to mitigate the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),” said Ramos.
The endeavor also got citation from Ugsad Regional Gender Resource Network during the celebration of its 22nd Founding Anniversary.
“We feature some of our Ugsad partners in Western Visayas who have spearheaded impactful activities/projects/programs aligned with our gender advocacies of equality and social justice,” Ugsad wrote on its Facebook page.
“We are proud to feature the Iloilo City Government in their GAD initiative on JPT Ediscape. Please share to help us spread the significant strides our Ugsad partners have done for gender equality! Padayon Iloilo City Government,” it added.
Where do the greens go?
In fact, it is from the lush city soils the various vegetables being donated to the Uswag Community Kitchen for the consumption of health workers, COVID-hit patients in quarantine facilities and quarantine-affected families, among others.
JPT Ediscape has also helped improve nutritional status of beneficiaries, especially the indigent families.
The initiative’s other significant impacts include livelihood opportunities to the community; access to healthy but cheaper produce; boost in psycho-social well-being of the Ilonggos; and clean and green environment.
Due to its successful implementation, 36 more villages participated this year in leveled-up integrated farming with fishery and poultry.
According to City Agriculturist Iñigo Garingalao, from vegetables, some Ediscape in other barangays have been integrated with chicken production, fishpond and few trees, all for food resiliency and security.
Technical assistance in the cultivation of communal gardens is also being provided by Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 6.
DA-6 also provided seeds, instructional materials and agricultural supplies such as molasses and vermicast to the barangays.
REJU-VEGGIE-NATE
Barangay San Vicente in Jaro district is one of the barangays here that maintains a communal garden in collaboration with five neighboring villages.
The vacant lot (once served as dumping site) was reinvigorated into a communal garden, said Vergie Abanero, secretary of Barangay Vicente.
Abanero acknowledged the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), barangay tanods and barangay officials who joined forces to realize the project, while it is the BSPOs of the six barangays who maintain the garden daily.
The garden already produced kilos of vegetables with a good fraction shared with the community kitchen, said Abanero.
Abanero said the residents are welcome to get vegetables such as eggplant, pechay, lettuce, kamote, peppers, and patola, among others for free.
“Sa subong nga daan tion man sang pandemic so kinanglan gid man naton mag-share,” said Abanero.
If they have abundant produce, they sell some it and the proceeds are used to maintain the garden.
JPT Ediscape is in collaboration with the DA-6, City Agriculturist’s Office, Liga ng mga Barangay, General Services Office, City Health Office Nutrition Program, and City Department of the Interior and Local Government.(with a report from City PIO/PN)
