Philippines: TESDA, Manila school sign accord to propagate urban farming
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“Food sufficiency is a concern not only of the country’s agriculture areas, and rice producing regions. This is a cause of concern of all areas, including urbanized cities especially now that we are facing this pandemic,” he said.
By Dhel Nazario
Manila Bulletin
Oct 21, 2020
Excerpt:
An agreement was signed between the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and a Manila farm school in order to teach the youth about urban farming.
TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña and OMA Farm School Corporation President Dr. Carmelita Belgica signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that will train members of Sangguniang Kabataan and other identified households in the city.
The event was witnessed by high-ranking government officials, including Commissioner Greco Belgica of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission. Under the MOA, 100 scholars will initially be trained in urban farming for free.
Under TESDA’s Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), urban farming scholars will also enjoy free assessment, training support fund, one-year accident insurance coverage, internet allowance, and personal protective equipment allowance.
In his speech, Lapeña emphasized the agency’s all-out support for the government’s campaign on food sustainability in the country.
“Food sufficiency is a concern not only of the country’s agriculture areas, and rice producing regions. This is a cause of concern of all areas, including urbanized cities especially now that we are facing this pandemic,” he said.
The TESDA Chief also shared that as the agency has initiated urban agriculture in Metro Manila, all urban settlers are encouraged to embrace the concept of urban agriculture.
Among the highlights of the event was the launching of the OMA Farming School Corporation as the first private technical training institution to offer technical, vocational education and training in urban farming in the City of Manila.
The joint project is expected to jumpstart its operations immediately as both parties have already prepared the lineup of program beneficiaries.