Angeles City—Amid the COVID-19 crisis, Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin has launched the “Luntian sa Barangay Lingap Project,” an initiative for food sustainability.
“We are encouraging local residents to use their vacant lots and conduct urban gardening,” he said.
The city government has distributed vegetable seeds such as pechay (cabbage), mustard, okra, and ampalaya to more than 150,000 households in Angeles.
“We have only 6,337 hectares or 20 percent of our total land area designated for agriculture. We aim the project will assist Angeles in getting additional food,” the mayor said.
Lazatin cited the Olalia family in Barangay Margot, who were able to cultivate a vegetable garden in their backyard from seeds provided by the city government.
“They now have extra source of food, and it teaches their young family members the value of growing plants,” he said.
The mayor also said businessman Joey Pamintuan turned the vacant lot beside his shop Impact Balibago Arts and Crafts in Brgy. Balibago into a garden from the seeds he received and is already harvesting.
Lazatin assured the city government will continue to secure the welfare of residents, with or without the pandemic.