The local government of Taguig, through its City Agriculture Office, celebrated its annual Melon Festival at the Melon Farm, Laguna Lake Highway (C6 Road) in Barangay Wawa on Thursday to commemorate yet another bountiful melon harvest.
During the event, Mayor Laarni Cayetano personally expressed her gratitude to the melon farmers for their continued support of the city government’s farming-related initiatives. She also highlighted that Taguig remains a transformative city where modernization and tradition coexist.
“It’s heartening to know that modern times still embrace tradition. This is an important part of our history that should never be forgotten,” said Cayetano.
Over 60 melon farmers were present at the festival to enjoy the fruits of their hard work, as well as performances by talented dancers and drummers. They also savored a delicious Filipino boodle meal.
This season, farmers cultivated over 66 hectares of land that yielded 1,669 metric tons of melons, which is a testament to the city’s thriving agricultural sector.
Taguig stands as a lively “Probinsyudad” that continues to celebrate its vibrant farming culture and heritage, while strengthening initiatives to support its local farmers. Joel E. Zurbano
The local government is also implementing the urban farming project in line with the city’s program also aimed to promote a green environment and healthier lifestyle for residents.
The administration of Mayor Cayetano intends to preserve at least 25 hectares of agricultural land in addition to the 202 hectares it has managed to retain for cultivation of melon, rice, and high-value crops.
The city’s urban gardening program favors organic farming where pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics, and growth hormones are not used on crops. Organically grown products are better for the environment and for a person’s health.