SORSOGON CITY (4 May) -- Former Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap and Sorsogon Bishop Arturo M. Bastes led other government and non-government organization officials in the Blessing and Turn-over Ceremonies held over the week of the P10 million Greenhouse Vegetable Gardening Project within the Diocese compound, this city.
The 17 sets of greenhouses project, envisioned to help augment income potential of farmers, employs greenhouse and organic farming technologies, is a partnership of the Department of Agriculture through its High Value Commercial Crops (DA-HVCC) Program and its attached government-owned National AgriBusiness Corporation (NABCOR) and the Sorsogon Social Action Foundation, Inc. (SSAFI).
The project which was approved during the term of Secretary Yap, constructed a total of 17 greenhouses at the Home for the Clergy site is being managed by the Diocese of Sorsogon through its social apostolate arm, the SSAFI.
According to Bishop Bastes the production and income from the project shall be shared with the selected 20 landless farmer-beneficiaries. "This project is a manifestation of an effective partnership and cooperation between the state and the church," Bastes pointed out.
On his part, Yap said that during his term in the DA he has approved at least ten (10) similar projects in 10 dioceses in the entire country. "Through this project, landless farmer-beneficiaries will be trained with appropriate production management practices, integrated pest management, effective use of micro-organisms, vermiculture and greenhouse maintenance," he added.
Also present during the ceremonies were: Sorsogon Congressman and former DA Secretary Salvador H. Escudero, III; Sorsogon Governor Sally Lee; NABCOR Vice President for Finance and Administration Rhoda Mendoza; DA Bicol Regional Executive Director Marilyn V. Sta Catalina, Regional Technical Director for Research Edgar R. Madrid and SSAFI Executive Director Msgr. Angel D. Dy. (Jennis I. Nidea)