Gulayan sa Tugkaran Program Recognizes Top Home Gardeners from NHA Urban Poor families..
Published: December 7, 2020

As part of the livelihood and food production assistance to urban poor families, the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) of the local government of Samal led by Atty. Nimrod Ogatis through the Human Settlement Division represented by Engr. Elenita Gian held an annual Awarding Ceremony for the best entries of their “Gulayan sa Tugkaran” Program with the participating NHA relocation villagers in the Island on December 4, 2020.
With the provision of 15 sacks of rice from Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib and cash prizes from City Mayor Al David Uy, winners have received 5 kg of rice each with cash prizes worth P10,000, P6,000 and P4,000 for first to third placers respectively, certificates of appreciation and COVID-19 protective kits; with an additional of ten (10) consolation prizes worth P500 and 5 kg of rice for over 100 participating entries.
Among these winners were Thelma Poneda and Erlinda Castillon from the NHA Tambo Homeowners Association Village, Brgy. Tambo and Leonora Lacorte from Purok 6-B, Bucaran, Brgy. Toril, who bag the First to Third places respectively.
This contest was launched with the aim of producing success stories among families on backyard gardening to inspire other families to promote livelihood out from production of vegetables and root crops right in their homes. This is also in line to the celebration of the Urban Poor Solidarity Week (UPSW) of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) that is commemorated from December 4-7,2020 which is anchored to the theme “PCUP at Maralitang Tagalungsod: Magkaagapay sa Pagtugon sa Hamon ng Bagong Panahon”.
Mr. Eddie Campillo, President of Samal Homeowners Association expresses his gratitude to the support extended by the Provincial Government of Davao del Norte and the local government of Samal to the urban poor families in the Island and stated encouragement for others to practice the culture of backyard gardening specially this time of pandemic. Also, the City Agriculture Office (CAGRO) distributes free vegetable seeds to the participating homeowners while the PCUP offered agricultural training prior to the start of the year and those who were able to cultivate at least 5 varieties of plants become subjects for evaluation. Strict implementation of COVID-19 protocols was also observed prior to the conduct of the said event.
Samal Island Information//Shiela Saang// Photos by Christian Juntong