The provincial government on Friday awarded the best implementers of the MoRProGRes (Movement for a Robust Garden, Progressive and Globally competitive and Resilient Province of Iloilo) Gardens program, the brainchild of Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. aimed at creating agri-tourism destinations by blending ornamental gardening, landscaping and high-value crop production.

“MoRProGRes Gardens is a program for food security and tourism and it is also a climate change response. We wanted to combine ornamental gardening, agriculture, especially high-value crops, and the upcycling and recycling of waste materials so that we can help the environment. For a first time and a first year, we did very well and we have very good results,” Defensor said in his message during the awarding ceremony at the lobby of the provincial capitol.

Launched in 2023, the contest for the best implementers came in three categories namely local government units consisting of municipality and barangays; academic and technical institutions for public and elementary and secondary schools, or private colleges and universities, and state universities and colleges; and business sector to include both accredited and non-accredited establishments of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

From 252 registered entries, 32 were selected as finalists and 18 were awarded winners.

First placers received PHP200,000 each, PHP150,000 for second placers, PHP100,000 for third placers, and PHP50,000 for finalists.

For the academic category, the awardees are the Tagbac Elementary School (ES) in Oton, Guimbal Central ES (Buy Local in our Organic Garden of GCES) of Guimbal, and Don Benjamin Jalandoni Sr. Memorial ES (Gulayan sa Don Bee) in Zarraga for elementary level; Agdahon Farm School (AFS Garden of Progress) of Passi City for high school; and Leon Ganzon Polytechnic College (Rainbow Ville) in Balasan and LaGuerta Verde de ISAT University in Leon for the secondary level.

For local government units, the winners are Barangay Nueva Union Community Garden in Passi City, Barangay Agta Communal Garden in Leon, and Barangay Pagaypay Community Garden also in Passi City for barangay level; and Passi City Sweet Garden, Daga Ecological Solid Waste Management Center in Sta. Barbara, and the Lagwerta de Oton of the town of Oton for the municipal level.

Winners in the business category are the Ephrata Garden in Badiangan, Atiz Integrated Farm in Tigbauan, and Gaja Agri Farm from New Lucena for DOT-accredited; and Garilva Junbee Agri Farm and Leisure Resort in Concepcion, Farmer’s Cafe Garden in Leganes, and D&E Bugana Farm from Calinog for non-DOT accredited.

Defensor said the program will level up to become part of a nutrition program and have it institutionalized to align with the program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on community gardening.

He said municipalities and barangays are encouraged to utilize the produce of MoRProGRes Gardens for their nutrition programs in daycare.

“That is why right from the very start, we involve the barangay because it is better if we could sustain to augment for our feeding in daycare,” he said. (PNA)