CCDC Allies in Promoting Food Security

Recognizing that food security is everyone’s concern, the Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC) has partnered with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to support the Halina’t Magtanim ng Prutas at Gulay sa Barangay (HAPAG) Project.

The initiative encourages the community households to grow their own food, providing a more affordable and sustainable way to access healthy meals, through CCDC’s Hopeful Hand Allies: Community Gardening according to NSTP Coordinator Rovelyn Antonio.

The institution is actively engaging students under the National Service Training Program (NSTP-2), faculty, and local residents in urban and backyard gardening, aligning with national efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition at Barangay Bangho in Daclan Tublay, Benguet.

The program was conducted at the Daycare Center at Sitio Chagao, Head Center and Albis Elementary School at Sitio Bangho where students planted pechay, string beans and taro or locally called pising.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the DILG are the lead agencies in the implementation of the HAPAG Program.

“This project expands sustainable gardening in the barangay by adding more communal gardens near the health center and extending the initiative to puroks and Nutritionally-At-Risk households. The goal is to create self-sufficient homes, reducing food insecurity, malnutrition, and poverty,” said Mercidonna Alos, Barangay Kagawad, Bangho.

Antonio said the program recognizes agriculture’s importance, especially in crop-growing areas like Tublay with the primary goals of helping reduce food insecurity and hunger, to create a thriving and long-lasting garden that builds community, and to support local feeding programs with sustained access to nutritious foods. 

The HAPAG kay PBBM Program is a whole-of-government initiative that aims to increase access to fresh, safe, and affordable food through urban and peri-urban agriculture and community engagement.

CCDC takes part in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 through the community gardening program, specifically SDG number 2: Zero Hunger. The institution is one with global leaders in helping to end hunger, achieve food security, and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

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