Miagao pioneers communal food forest

By: Esther Abegale Cinco and Ericka Marie Banting

MIAGAO, Iloilo – To counter climate change and provide a basic food source, Miagao encourages every barangay to have a communal food forest.

Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) Designate Isidro Mosura Jr said food production is affected by climate change.

“We started first quarter sini nga tuig kay nakita namon nga ang communal food forest indi lang aesthetic value iya mahatag kundi pati food para sa tawo sang Miagao. Maghatag na siya sa aton sang oxygen, water and at the same time, ang iya fruits makaon sang tawo,” Mosura added.

The communal food forest program will sustain the basic needs of Miagawanons.

The implementation of Miagao Action on Cleanliness (MAC) program is headed by the MENRO. Under this program is the implementation of a communal food forest for every barangay.

“Ang communal food forest may layi na siya nga dapat every municipality may ara sila i-put up nga communal forest, common para sa tanan,” Mosura explained.

23 barangays already have a communal food forests implemented by the barangay captains and the kagawad, with barangay Lanutan as the first barangay to have a communal food forest.

Because of this, barangay Lanutan is now a model for communal food forest in Miagao.

Personnel of every barangay will allocate a land for the communal food forest. MENRO will then help the barangay with the design of the communal food forest.

“Ang barangay na mismo ang gapangita sang lupa nga i-allocate nila para sa ila nga food forest, tapos kami ang madesign sang food forest. It’s a collaboration between us and the barangay,” Mosura added.

Punong barangays will ensure that the program shall be implemented during MAC day and they are to submit monthly report to the Office of the LIGA ng mga Barangay President and Office of the Mayor.

Jeyson Toledo of MENRO explained that the people residing in that certain barangay are the ones who will plant the seedlings.

Mosura said that the municipality provides the seedlings for planting.

“Ang mga seedlings o mga planting materials kami na naga provide sa ila. Upon request sang barangay iaddress na kay mayor. So, kung may request sa barangay kung pila ka seedling kag kung ano nga seedling ang gutso nila, gahatag sila.” Toledo said.

“Sila na ang matanom, tapos sila man dason ang makwa. Every saturday sila matanom. Sa aga maclean up tapos sa hapon maconduct sila tree planting,” Mosura added.

A mix of endemic fruit trees and forest trees are planted in a communal food forest.

After examining the soil content and site, MENRO will determine what kind of endemic trees will be planted.

Endemic trees such as banana, rambutan, mango and papaya have been planted already.

“Actually, ang goal namon subong kay indi lang tree planting kundi tree growing project. Kung mag hambal ka nga tree growing, from planting to harvest na siya. So sige sige ni siya nga project. Indi lang ni siya for months kundi for years,” Mosura added.