CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Police Regional Office 3 launched Monday three projects meant not only to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic but also in support to the administration’s Balik Probinsya Program.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief PGen. Archie Gamboa graced the official unveiling of the Kalig-Kasan Eco-Park, Food Highway and Food Bank held at Camp Olivas.
Police Regional Director PBGen. Rhodel Sermonia said these projects are designed to protect the environment, nurture and harness it to ensure food resilience in police installations and the communities they serve.
“Our Kalig-kasan Eco-Park is a good stress reliever since it enables us to commune with nature and help boost our immune system which is a way to fight COVID-19,” Sermonia explained.
Moreover, Food Highway and Food Bank projects are strategic mechanisms that can alleviate problems that may be encountered from end-to-end of the food supply system under the New Normal.
“Thru the creation of an express lane and logistics system, we will have a rapid and secured movement of food products from the farmers and other food producers of Central Luzon to the buyers of the National Capital Region (NCR) and other parts of the country. At the same time, the food supply in Region 3 will be sufficient and continuously sustained,” Sermonia added.
For the projects to come into fruition, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between PNP, Department of Agriculture and other stakeholders.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Executive Order No. 114 institutionalizing the “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa” program to decongest NCR and to promote direct growth to key centers throughout the country.
It seeks to ensure balanced regional development and equitable distribution of wealth, resources and opportunities through policies and programs that boost countryside development and inclusive growth, provide adequate social services, and promote full employment, industrialization and an improved quality of life in rural areas.
The program’s key areas are empowerment of local industries; food security and agricultural productivity; social welfare, health and employment; and development of infrastructure.