DA, DOH partner for urban farming in hospitals

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), has agreed to partner with the Department of Health (DOH) to promote urban farming in public hospitals in an effort to boost production and provide therapy to patients.

In a radio interview, BPI director Gerald Glenn Panganiban said that he met with Health Secretary Ted Herbosa as part of the talks for a partnership between the DA and DOH.

“We met with Sec. Herbosa and he is very supportive, as urban farming will not only provide therapeutic help to the patients, it will also provide food to prevent diseases,” Panganiban said.

The BPI said that the green spaces are seen as a means to provide vegetables for healthy food, improve mental health and build communities.

Panganiban added that under the proposed agreement, the DOH will allocate spaces in its hospitals and facilities for urban farming, while the DA will support the health department in the establishment and maintenance of urban agriculture.

“It (partnership) started as (Agriculture) Secretary (Francisco Tiu) Laurel and Sec. Herbosa, during the meetings in Malacañang, were able to talk. And Sec. Herbosa said the DOH is interested (in urban farming). There was a meeting of the minds,” Panganiban said.

He noted that the vegetables planted can supply the requirements of hospitals.

Panganiban added that leafy vegetables can be produced in less than a month, and that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) also vowed to support urban farming in line with food security efforts of the government.

Former agriculture secretary William Dar has said that a Filipino family only consumes 60 kilos of vegetables annually, compared to the average 120 kilos in other countries, as he pushed for urban farming in Metro Manila.

According to Dar, urban farming is necessary as an alternative source. As the country is hit by at least 20 typhoons annually, he underscored the need to provide an additional budget to support farms in cities.

Panganiban admitted that the budget for urban farming is only P430 million. He added that such farming can help mitigate the possible impact of the El Niño phenomenon.