To further promote urban agriculture and the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) “Plant, Plant, Plant Program” among households in Metro Manila, the University of the Philippines Los Baños Edible Landscaping (UPLB-EL) Team started distributing the EL starter kits to local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila in June 2021.

On 2 June, the UPLB EL Team turned over more than 1,000 starter kits to Quezon City (QC). The kits were received by the QC Sustainable Development Affairs Unit headed by Emmanuel Hugh Velasco.

Also, more than 500 starter kits each were turned over to Parañaque and Muntinlupa City on 17 and 22 June, respectively. The distribution of the kits were led by the Parañaque City Agricultural, Fisheries and Aquatic Services Office, headed by Amelia M. Hernandez as part of their ELO Program or “Mag Edible Landscaping Tayo!,” and the Muntinlupa Department of Agriculture and Extension Services Office led by Marilou O. Lobo.

The starter kits which include sample seeds, seedling tray, trowel, and sample designs, will be distributed to selected beneficiaries of the LGUs.

The distribution of kits is a component of the “Edible Landscaping: Magtanim ng Gulay para sa Isang Masagana, Malusog, at Makulay na Buhay” project which is funded by DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research.