Iloilo City farming program gets P1M boost from DSWD

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Iloilo City government’s sustainable farming initiative will receive P1 million from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as part of its Walang Gutom Awards (WGA) program.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian announced that the additional funding aims to expand the city’s anti-hunger program, the Resilient, Integrated, Sustainable Environment for Agriculture Farming (RISE-A-FARM) initiative.

In a letter to the city mayor on July 16, Gatchalian stated that the additional funding will come from the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program.

The RISE-A-FARM initiative was a finalist in the Galing Pook Foundation and DSWD’s WGA, which led to the additional funding. Winners of the WGA will receive an additional P2 million in funding.

“[The RISE-A-FARM] has not only improved outcomes but also empowered communities to actively participate in creating sustainable innovations,” Gatchalian emphasized in his letter to the city mayor.

The initiative highlighted the city’s best practices in sustainability and food security, focusing on agricultural development to combat hunger.

Launched in 2020, the program is led by the Office of the City Agriculturist, along with the City Health Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Local Economic Enterprise Office, and Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office.

A key component of the program is the establishment of edible landscapes or communal gardens, utilizing integrated farming, container, vertical, or street gardening, depending on the space available in barangays.

Since its inception three years ago, the number of city villages maintaining communal gardens has grown from 12 to 71, providing a sustainable, affordable, and accessible food source for community residents.