City Councilor Elgin Damasco is encouraging the public to do urban gardening to help suffice nutritious household food supply, specifically during the period of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Damasco said this backyard gardening was his long-time encouragement to the Puerto Princesans, which proved to be necessary in times of crisis.
“Talagang isinusulong natin ‘yan dahil nangangamba na ako baka mag-tagal itong COVID-19 pandemic. Sabi nga ng mga nakausap ko na mga reliable source baka aabutin pa ito ng Oktubre dahil ang peak period daw ng virus ay June at saka July. Tingnan mo naman ngayon hindi bumababa ‘yong bilang ng mga nahahawaan [kun’di] lumalaki. Tumataas ang bilang ng mga namatay [at] nahawaan. So may mas posibilidad na magtatagal ito,” said Damasco.
Damasco stated there is a huge loss of profit for businesses and large number of population lost jobs because of this ECQ.
He said while the government is always there to help, its resources are also limited.
“Although may ginagawa naman ang gobyerno para makatulong sa mga tao, pero kulang ‘diba. ‘Yong kulang na ‘yon dapat ang bawat tahanan at bawat pamilya ay gagawa ng paraan. Huwag nating i-asa lahat sa gobyerno. Gumawa tayo ng paraan kung papaano natin mapunan ‘yong kakulangan sa ating pangangailangan sa pamamagitan ng urban gardening or backyard gardening,” said Damasco.
He said the Gintong Butil Farm (GBF) under the City Agriculture Office (CAO) is helping the public by distributing free vegetable seeds.
Damasco said Mayor Lucilo Bayron is supporting him in this initiative for the public.
He said they actually have a “demo farm” at the back of the City Hall where the people may adopt techniques on how to grow their own food at home.
Damasco said the public will not need a farmland to plant food, but requires only a little creativity.
“Sa mga paso, empty bottles, kahit sa cellophane puwede ka maglagay ng lupa diyan at mag-tanim ng gulay. Halimbawa ‘yong ilang mga linggo lang ay tumutubo na kaagad at mapakikinabangan na kaagada katulad ng mga kangkong, camote tops, alugbati. Iyon, hindi mo na kailangan pang lumabas ng bahay mo para bumili ng pagkain [o] bumili ng ulam. Ang hahanapin mo na lang ‘yong bigas,” said Damasco.