Gwen flaunts Sugbusog program

CEBU, Philippines —  At the last stop of the provincial government officials’ visit to Sugbusog program participants in the sixth district, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia flaunted how the program has “changed the mindset” of the people regarding the pandemic.

Sugbusog is a competition where participants showcase their gardens and nurseries.

At a stop in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City, the governor narrated how the people’s mindset, especially those who joined the program, has been changed by the Sugbusog program despite the bad news about coronavirus.

The governor said that instead of reading the news and counting the number of COVID-19 cases, those joining the program now have a positive outlook in life.

“Kadtong niapil sa Sugbusog have changed the mindset of the people nga duna na tay positibo nga rason nga mobangon matag adlaw aron ato usab mahibalik ang pagka amgohan nga nindot pa man diay ning kalibutan,” Garcia told a crowd of gardeners, members of the LGBT community, barangay health workers, barangay tanods and city and district officials.

She then urged the Mandauehanons and the Cebuanos in general to plant so that “we will have something to gain later on.”

“Ang Sugbusog maoy nahimong pangontra sa COVID sa pag usab sa atong pag hunahuna ug positibo ang pang huna-huna. Nawagtang ang pagka negatibo na lang kaayo nga state of mind og labaw sa tanan pina-agi sa kugi dunay ma ani ug makatabang pa sa atong immune system,” she said.

The governor was joined by Cebu Sixth district officials like Rep. Emmarie Ouano-Dizon and Board Members Thadeo Ouano and Glenn Soco as she toured the different winning gardens and nurseries in Mandaue and in the towns of Consolacion and Cordova.

“Barugan ta ni. Atong tabangan ang tanang naglisud. Pananom mo aron naa moy mo ani,” said the governor in her speech in Barangay Ibabao-Estancia in Mandaue City.

Ouano-Dizon, for her part, thanked Garcia for implementing the program that, according to her, greatly helped her constituents in the district.

“Daghan kaayo ta og kahadlukan labi na hadlok ta magutom. This program is the answer. Kitang tanan mga Sugbuanon magkahiusa ug magtinabangay kita. Kay kung kita mananom, naa kitay mapupu ug unya makakaon aron walay Mandauehanon ug Sugbuanon nga magutman,” said the congresswoman.

One of the highlights of the visit was when Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes led the mass oathtaking that signified Mandauehanons’ “strong support and commitment” to the Sugbusog program.

Barangay Subangdaku emerged as the best in large barangay category in city and district level, purok backyard gardening champion city and district level, and household backyard gardening champion in city and district level. — JMD (FREEMAN)