[ad_1]
The Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF) celebrated the one year anniversary of Bayan Tanim!
Since its inception last year, Bayan Tanim has helped 32 communities in Metro Manila and the surrounding provinces and distributed nearly 3,000 plant kits to support over 3,100 disadvantaged families.
Planting the seeds of food security
Due to the adverse effects of the lockdown, the MPIF recognized the difficulties faced by several families and communities across the country. Many Filipinos have lost their sources of income and with them their ability to support themselves. The foundation wanted to develop a program that not only addresses current needs for immediate food sources, but also provides a long-term solution that can help them for months or even years to come.
With recovery in mind, MPIF President Melody del Rosario said, “MPIF intended to go beyond providing relief packages and focus on a more sustainable program for its beneficiaries. By Bayan Tanim! Provide communities and individuals with planting kits that contain the essentials needed to create their own backyard garden. â€â€œ The program should not only promote food security during the pandemic, but also provide recipients with potential alternative livelihoods by growing their own produce “, added her.
In his “seed” stages, Bayan Tanim! was a pay-it-forward chain initiative that encouraged donors to buy boxes to donate to their chosen beneficiary, who will also buy boxes for another recipient. Corporate donors were given the opportunity to donate boxes to their stakeholders and fence communities.
Plowing the partnership soils
Partnerships have been key to Bayan Tanim’s success. The program met with interest from MPIFs in particular kapatid Company under the MVP Group of Companies, the conglomerate chaired by Mr. Manuel V. Pangilinan. With the first donation from First Pacific Co. Ltd. and Light Rail Manila Corporation distributed MPIF 400 plant kits to four beneficiary communities, including Brgy.128 Smokey Mountain in Tondo, Manila, and Epiphany of the Lord Parish in Caloocan.
After its strong start, the MPIF signed a tripartite agreement with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Agrea Agricultural System International Inc. to further strengthen their joint advocacy for food sustainability in the Philippines. The MOU was in each case by DA Sec. William Dar, MPIF President Melody del Rosario and Agrea President and founding farmer Cherrie Atilano.
The DA provided 1,000 agricultural starter kits through the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) that contained seedlings of common vegetables and other necessary materials. They also committed to spearheading skills-building activities, including online courses, leading the integrated urban agriculture advocacy campaign, and providing information, educational and communication materials on urban agriculture techniques.
Similarly, the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) contributed seedlings of commonly grown vegetables, provided training on urban farming techniques, and provided technical support to MPIF-identified community gardens. The BPI has also undertaken to monitor these gardens regularly and every six months.
That year, Maynilad Water Services Inc. and CAVITEX, a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, helped MPIF surpass its 1,000 kit target by donating over 900 kits to 18 barangays: 201 kits from Maynilad for Brgy. Poblacion, Muntinlupa and Brgy. Anabu 2-C, Imus Cavite and 700 kits from CAVITEX for 16 barangays in Paranaque City.
Individual donors also made a significant contribution to achieving Bayan Tanim’s original goals. In addition to the executives and employees of the MPIC Group, the MPIF also started a public fundraising campaign credited by the DSWD via its social media platforms.
Reaping the (literal) fruits of their labor
The MPIF has closely monitored the progress of all community gardens, with some beneficiary communities providing regular updates on their products. To further encourage them to continue their responsible work, the MPIF has a Bayan Tanim! Photo competition for the anniversary for all beneficiary communities. Beneficiaries were asked to post photos of their progress using #BayanTanim for a chance to receive bags of rice and proper gardening tools for their communities.
Three of the first beneficiaries, the Parish of the Immaculate Conception, the Parish of Epiphany and Brgy. 128 Smokey Mountain were commended for their program result.
NS. Joel Saballa of the Parish of the Immaculate Conception in Novaliches shared photos of her parish garden in bloom and encouraged others to take part in the gardening too. “With MPIF’s Bayan Tanim program, the program can be used for most of the Marami Mahikayat programs in Kanya-kanyang Bakuran. said Fr. Joel, “It is so that it can be possible to be gulay na masustansya and pantawid gutom in Hikahos na bayan. “
Ms. Lenilia Declaro from the Epiphany of the Lord Parish thanked for the program. “We are very grateful for the support we received from the MPIF. I am pleased to announce that the seedlings have already been transplanted into their respective boxes and are now being cultivated“Said Mrs. Declaro. “Many of our parishioners are now devoting themselves to gardening in their respective Pamayanan. We are now planning to pass some seedlings on to other executives who want to take on this project. “
With plans to continue the program through next year, the MPIF is determined to help disadvantaged and vulnerable Filipino communities become self-sufficient and responsible for their own food security. The MPIF’s Bayan Tanim program is coordinated with the efforts of the MPIC to contribute to the goals of the United Nations for Sustainable Development (SDG), in particular SDG 2 Zero Hunger, 3 Good Health and Well-Being, 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, and 17 Partnerships for the Goals.
[ad_2]
