Gov’t launches Kabuhayan sa Gulayan at Bulaklakan in QC

As part of the Serbisyo Muna! program of President Arroyo, the Department of Agriculture (DA) together with the Quezon City local government launched recently the Kabuhayan sa Gulayan at Bulaklakan livelihood program at Brgy. Holy Spirit, Quezon City.

Leading the launch were Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban; Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chairman Efraim C. Genuino, who is also the over-all head of the Serbisyo Muna task force; DA Directors Dennis Araullo and Rosa Macas; Pagcor chief of staff Joey Benedicto; and Brgy. Holy Spirit chairman Felicito Valmocina.

The project promotes community gardening for vegetable and flower growing using innovative techniques and recycled materials. Its objective is to augment income, serve as an additional food source for the residents, and beautify the community.

To ensure proper implementation of the program, planting techniques, marketing and cooperative organization seminars were conducted for the planting seed recipients. The Serbisyo Muna! task force and the DA also conducts regular monitoring to provide the necessary assistance for the program’s continued success.

"Ang pinaigting na ‘Kabuhayan sa Gulayan at Bulaklakan’ ng Serbisyo Muna! ng ating Pangulong Arroyo ay tiyak na makatutulong nang malaki lalo na sa mga maralitang tagalungsod," said Valmocina. "Napatunayan na yun ng aming barangay. At sa mas masigasig na pagmamatyag ng kasalukuyang pamahalaan sa programang ito, siguradong mas marami pang mga mamamayang Pilipino ang makikinabang dito."

In cooperation with the Serbisyo Muna! task fore, the DA officials and Brgy. Holy Spirit agriculturist David Balilia will conduct seminars in other barangays in Metro Manila.

"Hindi tayo gugutumin kung tayo’y kumikilos. Tulungan natin ang ating mga sarili," said Valmocina. "Hindi kakayanin ng pamahalaan nang nag-iisa na paunlarin ang ating kabuhayan. Makipagtulungan tayo sa gobyerno. Mula sa pagtatanim ng iba’t-ibang gulay at maging ng mga bulaklak sa ating mga bakuran, maaari tayong kumita, maaari tayong makinabang nang husto," advised Valmocino.

Bgy. Holy Spirit has also engaged in tilapia and hito farming and will soon introduce this technology to other urban communities through the assistance of President Arroyo’s Serbisyo Muna! program.

Serbisyo Muna! is an all-encompassing inter-agency project which converges the various socio-civic and developmental programs of government agencies, local government units, the private sector as well as non-government groups. Its objective is to make basic needs and services accessible and readily available to the people, especially the poor.

Apart from the DA, PAGCOR and local government units, the other agencies/partners involved in the program are the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Food Authority (NFA), Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Training and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC), Philippine National Police (PNP), several non-government organizations and private corporations.