Antique’s‘fruit basket’project maximizes youth power

By: Joyce Anne Marie P.Bitoca and Agripino John Patrick Ga-an

ANTIQUE — “Antique as Fruit Basket of Western Visayas” project perked up young Antiqueños’full participation to reach its goal by 2025.

The project initiated by the Provincial Youth Development Office (PYDO) required the province’s scholars and students to plant at least three fruit-bearing trees in their backyards per semester to receive their financial and educational assistance.

PYDO head RexonNodque said young Antiqueñoswho take part in the program are the Provincial Government Educational Assistance Programs (PGEAP) scholars, Alternative Learning System (ALS) students, graduates school scholars, senior high school students and out-of-school youths.

Each municipality were assigned fruit trees to plant – pomelo in San Jose, cacao in San Remegio, jackfruit in Sibalom, Atis and Sineguelas in Anini-y, pandan, rambutan and lansones in Sebaste.

PYDO expects to grow 40,000 fruit-bearing trees per quarter.

“This semester alone, naisipnamonngamaka grow kita ka mga 40,000 kabilognga fruit bearing trees kay walana reason ngaindinilamapabahul kay aranasa backyard nilanakatanom,” Nodque said.

Nodquepresented three major impacts on the development of this program.

“So the first impact is makapagusto na sila kaon ka prutas nga mapabuhi nila, pwede man nila ibaligya, depende saila – this caters the livelihood and addresses the shortage of fruits in Region 6. Another, ang Antique mangin center sang fruit production and can be a tourist destination kay duro ang mga ga grow nga fruits tana kada municipality. And ang pinakabahul nga impact natun dyan is miskanpapano maka help kita sa environmental problem of climate change, that only trees can address,” he explained.

The fruit basket program will not only help improve Antique’s economy but will generate social responsibilities among their youth.

“We want to make our youth understand that it is a matter of honor and social responsibility. Although we extend programs, educational and financial assistance to them daw wara gidya return, so the government don’t ask for any return but like I said, by social responsibility, it is not only for us, but first, para sa family nila kag para sa self nila then for the community if makabaligya na sila prutas,” he added.

By letting the youth grow their own seedlings, the project eliminates the culture of spoon-feeding during tree-planting activities.

“Kun may tree-planting, provide-an pa sila seedlingspagkataposindi man lang ma-maintain ang pagpabuhi sang tanom.Naanadsila [youth] nga ang liso sang mgaprutasitabloglangmiskidiinpagkatapos kaon, why not ibutangnalangsa pot kagitanom, ma bahulna tana,” Nodque explained.

The project has been receiving good feedbacks from the scholars and their families.

“Gina-encouragegid ang tanan [youth] to unite as one, bukot man nga scholar lang, at least makabulig man silasa environment. Makabuliggid tana saatonngaindilangsa environment kay ang mgabunganakajasaaton man maadto. Happy gid kami,” Antique Amazing Youth (AAY) Provincial Secretary Roselyn Joy Roxas said.

Antique Governor RhodoraCadiaoappreciated the youth’s willingness to participate in the program.

“I’m so happy because the youth are already taking part and prove that they can, if given the chance, assert themselves. So gusto ko i-enganyosila. I inspired them and they came up with this beautiful project, this is their brainchild so I’m here to support them,” Cadiao said.

With the local government’s support, the project’s implementation is strictly monitored by each municipality.

“First monitoring namon gina-check kun may na grow nakananda nga mga seedlings [sa pot]. Next assignment is itanom nanda sa lupa na gid. Basta constant ang checking namon. We have a monitoring system—forms and documentations, to check kangpagpabahul sang kahoy. We will soon have a code system nga butangan na ID kag number ang mga trees para dasig ang pag-monitor. Gapabulig man kami sa mga SK to check the trees from time to time,” said PYDO head Nodque.

The project officially kicked off at Barangay Tubudan, San Remigio town of Antique on October 13 where students planted hundreds of initial fruit-bearing trees.

AAY secretary Roxas said that they were excited and motivated to organize the event as it is a part of their life.

San Remigio Municipal Mayor Mar Mission promised to commit themselves to the project during the kickoff.