ANGELES CITY – Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr.’s Chief Adviser and Tactician Director and Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) Vice President for Operations, IC Calaguas and Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel take the city government’s “Luntian sa Barangay Lingap” Project to heart, as they donate the harvest from their very own backyard.
During this time of pandemic, Mayor Lazatin encouraged all Angeleños to practice urban gardening – by planting vegetables in their backyard, or in unused lots near their homes.
“Ngayong panahon ng pandemya, maganda yung i-practice natin ang sustainable living. Kapag nagtanim ka ng gulay sa bakuran mo, ilang araw o linggo lang meron ka nang aanihin na pwede mong ipakain sa pamilya mo. Ang gulay, masustansiya na, matipid pa,” Lazatin explained.
Calaguas and Manuel followed Mayor Lazatin’s advice and started cultivating their own vegetable garden. Recently, Manuel posted photos on her official facebook page ‘Mahal na Reina,’ showing crops that are ready for harvesting such as eggplants, tomatoes, and chilli.
“Very relaxing ang pagtatanim ng halaman, lalo na ngayong panahon ng pandemya. Tapos ang saya kapag nakikita mo na namumunga na yung mga tinanim mo, tapos pwede mo na silang anihin at gamitin,” Reina happily shares.
Calaguas and Manuel decided to donate these harvested crops to the community kitchen located at City College of Angeles (CCA), the official community quarantine facility in the city. The said vegetables would be used in preparing the meals of Persons Under Monitoring (PUMs) who are currently staying there.
“Kahit sa ganitong maliit na paraan, makatulong man lang tayo sa mga kababayan natin na nasa mga quarantine facilities. Gusto natin mas lumakas pangangatawan nila, kaya dapat mga fresh ingredients tulad nitong na-harvest natin sa mismong bakuran natin ang ibibigay natin,” Calaguas said.
Aside from serving PUMs, Mayor Lazatin has established community kitchen in CCA to also provide free meals to frontline workers from the City Health Office, Civilian Security Unit, and Environmental Management System.