Press Release
February 4, 2015

Villar unveils urban garden in Las Piñas

Sen. Cynthia Villar today unveiled an urban garden in Las Piñas to signal the launch of her urban agriculture project.

The garden is a 36 sqm open space at BF Resort Subdivision planted with three varieties of lettuce and a pond of red tilapia.

Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, said the garden is a showcase of more gardens that she will help set up in urban areas around the country in partnership with the Senate Agriculture Committee, Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Bureau of Plant Industry.

"Urban agriculture is a practice that will help us make wise use of open spaces in subdivisions and barangays. This is not only farming for the needs of the community. Later on, this will also be a source of income for the neighborhood," Villar said.

Villar noted that aside from planting food crops, urban agriculture also includes aquaculture.

"The benefits to the community are numerous. Not only does urban farming provide a green space in the community it also makes use of kitchen wastes as compost and used water to irrigate the soil," she said.

"Urban agriculture while encouraging healthy eating habits can also help build harmonious relationship among neighbors. This is a shared project that will benefit the whole community," she added.

After Typhoon Yolanda, Villar with the Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance) promoted vegetable gardening to affected communities. They distributed vegetable seeds and coconut seedlings as a way to help survivors start anew.

"Kaya ang urban agriculture ay nagiging popular na, hindi lamang dito sa ating bansa, pati na rin sa ibang bansa. Kahit sa napaka-metropolitan na cities katulad ng New York at iba pang European cities, ang mga residents doon ay may mga vegetable gardens na sa kanilang mga tirahan. They find ways even if they live in small apartments or condominium units," Villar said.

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