CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Sept. 17 (PNA) — City Mayor Edwin D. Santiago on Wednesday led the citywide communal gardening in a bid to combat the adverse effects of climate change.
“This is like hitting two birds with one stone. While we are teaching our constituents to plant trees, we are promoting the consumption of nutritious food,” Santiago said at the launching of the program held along the riverside behind the City Hall Building in Barangay Sto. Rosario here.
The activity is a tripartite effort between the City Agriculture and Veterinary Office, City Nutrition Council, and Liga ng mga Barangay which aims to transform unused land into a communal garden.
“We revive the river here at the back of the city hall and we planted plants. This is a proof that here in the City of San Fernando, we are exerting efforts to be part of the solution in saving the nature,” Santiago said.
He also encouraged barangay officials to practice backyard gardening in their areas.
The whole stretch of the area beside the river was planted with vegetables such as eggplant, okra, bitter gourd, pechay, mustasa, among others.
The mayor also noted that the city government recently opened an organic trading post in the new public market where these kinds of products can be bought.
Meanwhile, City Health Officer Eloisa Aquino explained the benefits of eating vegetables like squash and malunggay.
“These two are essential to have a healthy body, and they are very budget-friendly,” she said. (PNA)