Muntinlupa revives backyard gardens

The city aims to revive urban agriculture and farming to augment food security amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Muntinlupa is harking back on its agricultural roots as it revives interest in urban farming.

The Muntinlupa city government, through the Extension Services Office (formerly Department of Agriculture-Muntinlupa), launched its “Gulayan sa Lungsod ng Muntinlupa” program.

It has partnered with the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) and University of the Philippines-Institute of Plant Breeding (UP-IPB) for the training of communities on innovative farming technologies, such as hydroponics, and to promote urban agriculture.

ESO acting chief Malou Lobo said the city aims to revive urban agriculture and farming to augment food security amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the partnership, this paved the way for the conduct of SNAP (Simple Nutrient Addition Program) Hydroponics Training, an innovative farming technology, to two pilot communities in Barangay Sucat.

Lobo noted the urban site in Doña Rosario Heights serves as the city’s Urban Model Farm, while the farming site in Paradise Garden community is the city’s Communal Model Farm, which is being managed by 4P’s (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) beneficiaries.

Recently, the DoST donated 200 SNAP kit Solutions for Hydroponics to the local government, which were distributed to pilot communities.

DA-ESO is working with 12 homeowners’ associations, three cooperatives, and six youth organizations for the urban agriculture initiative. The Agriculture department conducts regular urban farming site visits, online training and monitoring of communities to ensure the sustainability of the program.

As of October 2020, 2,224 packs of vegetable seeds, 5,302 vegetable seedlings and 118 liters of organic fertilizer were distributed to the different communities through the Sustainable Nutrition Augmentation Program.

Further, DA-ESO provided free seeds and seedlings to the public to further promote backyard farming.

Residents and urban farmers need to register via the DA-ESO Facebook Page at

PHOTOGRAPH BY ALFONSO PADILLA FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE @tribunephl_al THIS devotee of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was left with no option but to say her prayers on the sidewalk outside Baclaran Church after she was denied entry for not having a face shield.