“Ito [urban garden] po ay magiging model na pwedeng mag-encourage sa kabataan na maging magsasaka.”

Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation of Pagbilao President Joseph Manuel Go Luce said during the distribution of agricultural interventions of the Department of Agriculture IV-CALABARZON (DA-4A) and the Office of the 1st District of Quezon Representative, Cong. Wilfrido Mark M. Enverga in Pagbilao, Quezon on May 12.

The urban garden, to be established in Barangay Mapagong, Pagbilao, Quezon was initiated by the SK of Pagbilao and made possible through the help and guidance of DA-4A and Cong. Enverga.

“Kami po ay nagpapasalamat. Hindi po matutupad ang aming plano kung hindi sa tulong ng DA at ni Cong. Enverga” SK President Luce said.

The distribution was led by DA-4A OIC-Regional Executive Director Vilma M. Dimaculangan and House Committee Chairman for Agriculture and Food Cong. Enverga.

“Nawa’y mas marami pang kabataan ang mahikayat na mangarap na maging magsasaka. Makakaasa naman po kayo na tuloy-tuloy ang suporta ng Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka sa sinumang gustong magsimula sa larangan ng agrikultura, lalo’t higit ang ating mga kabataan,” director Dimaculangan said.

Farmer members of Samahan ng Maggugulay sa Bayan ng Pagbilao, Samahan ng Maggugulay ng Barangay Talipan, Ibabang Bagumbungan Watermelon Farmers Association, and Food Always In The Home received packs of assorted vegetable seeds, packs of plant growth enhancer, knapsack sprayers, grasscutters, garden tools, plastic crates, and seedling trays for the establishment of urban garden.

“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa mga ipinamahaging tulong. Narito na ang puhunan at ang pagod na lang ang sa amin. Tataas po nito ang aming kita at hindi na kailangang mangutang nang may tubo,” Watermelon Farmers Association member Sammy San Jose said. #### (Reina Beatriz P. Peralta, DA-4A RAFIS)