Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan seeks to institutionalize the government’s Gulayan sa Barangay at Paaralan Program to help address hunger, malnutrition, and stunting while strengthening food security at the community level.
Filed on August 4, Senate Bill No. 2380, which shall be known as the Gulayan sa Barangay at Paaralan Act, aims to improve food access and strengthen household food security by institutionalizing community- and school-based gardens that produce fresh and nutritious vegetables and other products.
“Hindi tama na may mga ka-barangay at mag-aaral tayong kumakalam ang sikmura, lalo na’t kung pwede at kaya naman nating magtanim at umani sa sarili nating mga komunidad. Ipinakita na ng programang ito ang tagumpay sa mga barangay at paaralan na nagpatupad nito,” the senator said.
“Sa pagsasabatas, paiigtingin natin itong programang isinasabuhay ang bayanihan. Tataniman ng magkakapitbahay mismo ang lupa at espasyo para sa mga community gardens, at pagsasaluhan ang mga masustansya at masaganang bunga nito,” he added.
Under the proposed measure, every barangay will be required to designate an area for community farming. Public schools, when there are available lots, will also be tasked to implement the program.
Currently, the program relies on administrative orders, but the senator pointed out how this would lead to inconsistencies in the program’s implementation across localities and whenever government policies shift.
“Hindi dapat one-time project ang paglaban sa gutom. Kailangan itong maging tuloy-tuloy, organisado, at bahagi ng ating pambansang programa sa food security,” Pangilinan said.
If passed, the measure will mandate the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Department of Education to oversee the program.
Funding for it will also be sourced from the current budget of the three agencies. Afterwards, appropriations for the program must be included in the annual national budget.
A long-time advocate of food security and rural development, the senator stated that household food insecurity continues to be a “serious concern,” citing a 2023 Department of Science and Technology-Food Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) report that showed 31.4% of Filipino households were classified as moderately to severely food insecure.
The government’s current Gulayan sa Barangay at Paaralan Program has already covered 44,965 schools nationwide, the DepEd said, while 94% of public schools have active garden interventions.
The DILG likewise reported that over 4.3 million households were already planting fruits and vegetables through similar community-based initiatives.
Pangilinan stressed the need to invest government resources in critical programs that address food insecurity, saying that a truly just and progressive society will leave no Filipino hungry, malnourished, or stunted.
“Walang tunay na pag-unlad kung may mga pamilyang natutulog na gutom at may mga batang hindi lumalaki nang malusog dahil kulang sa pagkain. Ang tunay na sukatan ng tagumpay ay kung tayong lahat ay may access sa masustansya at abot-kayang presyo ng pagkain,” he added.