NEW CAWAYAN, TACLOBAN CITY – Looking for ways to better the lives of those residing in Pope Francis Village (SM-ANCOP), New Kawayan, Tacloban City, Fr. Dave Carillo, Priest-In-Charge of the Our Lady of Hope of Palo Mission Area (OLOHOPEMA) located in the same barangay, sought the help of the Department of Agriculture, Regional Field Office 8 (DA-RFO 8 so as to provide the residents with the means to ensure food security for their families.
In line with the government’s “Plant, Plant, Plant Program” which aims to massively promote urban and community farming as one of the interventions to help ensure food availability and accessibility nationwide, DA-RFO 8, on April 22, 2020, provided the people of Pope Francis SM-ANCOP Village thru Fr. Carillo with vegetable seeds, seedling trays, rakes, and the technical know-how.
On April 24, 2020, residents in the village started planting vegetables on their respective yards as well as on the vacant lots owned by the Archdiocese of Palo.
Other than those given by the DA-RFO 8, other planting materials are provided to the people by OLHPMA.
DA-RFO 8 has found Pope Francis SM-ANCOP Village to be the most prepared area in the region for urban gardening, thus official launching of the “Plant, Plant, Plant Program” in Region 8 will be done at Pope Francis Village on May 30, 2020, Saturday.