Programang Gulayan ng Masa (PGMA) Addresses Rights of a Child to Grow Healthy

by: Aurell P. Arais

Brgy. Magsaysay, Veruela, Agusan del Sur - Principle 4 of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child as proclaimed by the UN General Assembly resolution 1386 (XIV) of November 1959 states that “The child shall enjoy the benefits of social security. He shall be entitled to grow and develop in health…The child has the right to adequate nutrition, housing, recreation and medical services.

Part and parcel to comply the said provision, the Municipal Agriculture Office of Veruela, Agusan del Sur through its Agricultural Extension Workers strengthen its advocacy to the community to have their own communal garden and to the household to have its backyard gardens. One of the barangay that responded the advocacy fervently is Barangay Magsaysay of Agusan del Sur.

In Purok 1 of the said barangay, residents help each other to take care and maintain their communal garden aside from their gardens on their respective houses.

The said purok availed of the assistance from the Department of Agriculture through Programang Gulayan ng Masa (PGMA) such as free vegetable seeds and other inputs as well as trainings.

According to Elesio Nonog, 62 years old, a barangay treasurer that since the implementation of the PGMA project in their area, residents were encourage to plant vegetables thus minimizing wastage of time.

The produce..? Well, pupils from day care center enjoyed the good and nutritious meal during feeding activities.

Nonog said that they see to it that foods to be served during feeding program is nutritious and will surely nourish their kids, thus veggie menu is on the top of the list.

Moreover unconsumed produce will be divided by the residents in the community who renders their time on the communal garden.

Nonog shared that he himself feels good and rejuvenated every time he eats vegetables. “Siyempre makadugang gyud na sa kusog ug enerhiya” (Of course it can adds strength and energy), he said in vernacular.

Meanwhile Maria Nona Ramillano, Agricultural Technician on the area said that she feels happy and fulfilled since her hard labor finally takes off on persuading the residents to engage in gardening.

“Pinaagi sa mga meeting sa Farmers Association (FA) ug Rural Improvement Club (RIC) ako gyud silang ginadasig nga mananum ug gulay ug gipahibalo nako sa ila ang advantage niini aron mapakunhod ang malnourished nga mga kabataan sa barangay (Through meetings of Farmers Associations and Rural Improvement Club I really advocated them to plant vegetables by presenting the advantages of doing as such which would greatly help to eliminate malnourished children in the barangay), she said.

Programang Gulayan ng Masa (PGMA) is a project of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Department of Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap with the help of Local Government Units (LGU’s) and other private sector which aims to reduce rural hunger and malnutrition through the promotion of home, communal, barangay and school gardening in the country. (Aurell P. Arais/RAFID-DA CARAGA)



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