FIRST Lady Marie Louise C. Araneta Marcos on Thursday, October 29, led the nationwide launching of the ‘Agri Tayo, Lab for All Hydroponics Greenhouse Facility Project’ of the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) with back-to-back launch ceremonies at the Parañaque National High School and Las Piñas National High School in Southern Metro Manila.
The school and community-based project is to be funded from the Social Environmental Fund (SEF) of the PRA in support of the ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ agenda of the Marcos administration.
Vice Mayor Imelda T. Aguilar, Education Secretary Sonny Angara and PRA Director Anthony ‘Onyx’ Crisologo. At the back is PRA Chairman Atty. Alex Lopez and Rep. Mark Anthony Santos (photo credit: PRA).
“Through the Social Environmental Fund, reclamation development extends far beyond coastal lands directly into our public schools and communities,” said PRA Chairman Atty. Alex Lopez.
Joining the First Lady during the launching ceremony are Education Secretary Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara, PRA Chairman Atty. Alex Lopez, GM/CEO Engr. Cesar Siador and directors Eligio Ildefonso, Engr. Anthony Peter ‘Onyx’ Crisologo, Mario Espinosa and Engr. Arthur J. Ledesma.
Also invited during the event are the local officials of the two cities south of Metro Manila, namely: Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez, Las Piñas City Mayor April Aguilar-Nery,
Vice Mayor Imelda T. Aguilar and Rep. Mark Anthony Santos.
Chairman Lopez said they decided to turn the initially “experimental” project into a nationwide campaign in response to clamor from other provinces and regions for their local schools and communities seeking to benefit from its success.
He added this also supports the First Lady’s ‘Lab for All’ initiative that seeks to bring directly the benefits of government services down to local communities.
Hydroponic is a modern, soil-less farming method that conserves up to 90 percent water than traditional farming.
It teaches students with immediate, hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture as part of school curricula while benefiting both their schools and communities.
Part of the harvested products are used to support the feeding program of school-beneficiaries while the rest are sold to local markets as extra income.
Building on this local momentum, the PRA plans to scale the initiative to 700 hydroponic greenhouse units across public schools nationwide.
Phase 1 of the project seeks to establish 200 hydroponic farms in Metro Manila, Cavite, Cagayan, Pangasinan, Pampanga, and Masbate.
After the formal signing ceremony, the First Lady had a tour of the hydroponic farm at the Las Piñas National High School, accompanied by the PRA Board, Sec. Angara and local officials.