In an intensified move to address food insecurity and promote nutrition among all public learners in Central Luzon, the Department of Education – Region III (DepEd-RIII) is beefing up its implementation of the Enhanced Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (E-GPP), requiring all public elementary and secondary schools to allot 200 square meters to grow vegetables.
This as the DepEd-R3 inked a partnership with the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office III (DA-RFO III) and the East West Seed Foundation to efficiently and effectively implement the Enhanced Gulayan sa Paaralan Program through Project GAME “Gulayan para sa Aktibong Mag-aaral ng rEhiyon tatlo”.
The gulayan project is seen to help schools across Central Luzon to become self-reliant and self-sufficient and to enhance the nutrition of public learners.
Regional Director May Eclar said: “The project will also serve as an eye-opener among the learners on the significant impact of agriculture through the Enhanced Gulayan sa Paaralan Program- Project GAME to human-wellbeing for its nutritional value as well as its economic benefits and most importantly it serves as a life support system. The product that can be harvested and consumed can help to enhance the academic performance of the learners through proper nutrition obtained from the harvested vegetables from the school, home, and community.”
Eclar added that under the E-GPP Project GAME, each school will allocate at least 200 square meters for the establishment a vegetable garden and will involve stakeholders such as the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), National Government Agencies (NGAs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and other entities that can significantly contribute to the implementation of the Gulayan project.
The government is utilizing the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program which is under the National Greening Program as one of its strategies to deal with food insecurity that the country may face and advocate for the consumption of nutritious food.
Food insecurity is the state where people lack regular access to enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and active and healthy life.