Despite its reputation as a fast-growing commercial, industrial, and residential hub in the Mega Manila area, the city government of San Pedro, Laguna has encouraged the revival of its traditional agricultural sectors through urban agriculture.
Last January 30, the city government, through the City Agriculture Office, donated three sets of greenhouses with hydroponics to Sampaguita Village Elementary School in Barangay Sampaguita, Harmony Homeowners Association in Barangay Maharlika, and Elvinda Homeowners Association in Barangay Fatima.
According to City Agriculturist Engr. King Layola, the program was the culmination of a planning workshop conducted by the provincial government of Laguna, which aims to promote agricultural development in the city.
According to the city agriculturist, city officials were able to propose a package of programs that will benefit the three main agricultural sectors in San Pedro City: duck raisers, small fishermen along Laguna de Bay, and the growing number of urban agriculture enthusiasts in the city.
“Doon sa workshop po na iyon ay pinag-usapan po namin, kasama si Provincial Agriculturist Marlon Tobias, kung ano po ang tamang [approach] sa lungsod ng San Pedro. Doon po ay nag-propose kami na magtayo ng 10 units of hydroponics that will benefit schools, homeowners and selected barangays na nagpahayag na ng interes na pumasok sa urban agriculture,” Layola related in an interview with OpinYon Laguna.
Hydroponics
Hydroponics is a technique of growing crops using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil. It has been viewed by proponents as a viable alternative to areas where the soil cannot sustain agriculture, or for urban areas such as San Pedro City, where formerly large haciendas and Sampaguita plantations have given way to residential subdivisions and industrial complexes.
Layola said that the City Agriculture Office has entered into memorandums of agreement with the beneficiaries of the new greenhouses to ensure the proper maintenance of the facilities.
“Complete package po ang dinonate sa kanila, kasama na po pati ang seedlings. Kumbaga, palalakihin na lang po nila yung mga pananim,” he explained, adding that his office also conducted seminars to train the beneficiaries on the proper way of raising their crops.
Drawing from the lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic when many people were forced to raise their own crops inside their homes due to the lockdowns – as well as the current high prices of fruits and vegetables on the market – Layola said the project aims to ultimately encourage every San Pedrense to engage in urban agriculture in their own backyards.
“Ang target natin dito ay magkaroon ang bawat San Pedrense ng food production na makasasapat sa pangangailangan nila, right in their own backyard, tapos yung excess, yun yung pwede nilang pagkakitaan. That is the purpose of this project that we have now,” he added.
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Photo caption:
Officials of Barangay Fatima, San Pedro City, Laguna inspect the lettuce seedlings that came with the new hydroponics greenhouses that were donated to the Elvinda Homeowners Association last January 30. The new hydroponics facility is part of the city government of San Pedro's push for urban agriculture. (Photo courtesy of the San Pedro City Public Affairs and Information Office)
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