Agricultural Resources Management Research Division (ARMRD) personnel of Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and National Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), conducted a monitoring and evaluation of the extension project titled, “Strengthening Communities Affected by CoViD-19 Pandemic thru Urban Gardening in Bulacan” on March 7-8, 2023. Part of this activity were the site visitation and evaluation of established urban/community gardens in Sta.Maria, Pandi, Baliuag, and San Ildefonso, Bulacan. The team of evaluators was composed of Dr. Rodel G. Maghiray, Ms. Adoracion B. Armada and Ms. Cynthia P. Remoquillo.

     The urban/community gardens were presented to the evaluators to analyze the impact of the project to the community partners with the supervision of Mr. Rael C. Tejada, Mrs. Leovenza P. Villacorte, Mr. Ryan Ceniza and Ms. Cashmere Lauriz C. Trivinio, and Dr. Julita P. Mendoza.

     In addition, Ms. Mary Jean Yancha, Sec. Roberto Mencero, Councilor Jeffrey Ortega, and Mr. Charlie Balmeo, project cooperator of Sta. Maria, Baliwag, Pandi, and San Ildefonso, Bulacan, also presented their respective urban/community gardens to the evaluators.

     Furthermore, two households in Sta. Maria, Bulacan who adapted urban gardening were also visited by the evaluators.

     Mr. Rael C. Tejada, project leader presented the activities carried out throughout the project’s duration. The UGAT project established six urban/community gardens, conducted training series on technology and management practices towards a pandemic resilient community, hands-on training on bio fertilizer production and application, and training on hydroponics and aquaponics with 214 participants which are teachers, students and LGBTQ+ members.

     Evaluators acknowledged Mr. Tejada and his team for the success of the project as it truly promotes sustainable source of food and income to the beneficiaries.

     Dr. Maghiray said that in his long years of project evaluation from all parts of the archipelago, the most common problems encountered is the community impact and sustainability which were evidently observed in the project.

     Dr. Amada commended BASC in influencing LGUs to passionately integrate urban gardening in their community programs and policies.

     In conclusion, the project achieved to help the chosen beneficiaries to alleviate their living during the pandemic through provisions of S&T based urban gardening technology via technical assistance and hands-on training in the improvement of their respective urban gardens and the conduct of seminars and distribution of developed IEC materials for information disseminations.

     The project management team was led Mr. rael C. Tejada with Mrs. Sheryll C. De Leon, Mrs. Maria Adela C. Cruz, Mrs. Leovenza P. Villacorte, Mr. Ryan Ceniza and Mr. Mark Angelo G. Inducil as project staffs and Ms. Cashmere Lauriz C. Trivinio as Research Assistant.