Survival garden winners feted

July 25, 2020 Metro BLISTT

City officials feted winners of the first Baguio Survival Garden Contest during the flag raising rites at the City Hall. Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong, Congressman Marquez O. Go and Vice Mayor Faustino A. Olowan along with other local officials awarded prizes to winners from different barangays in the “in-garden” and “container” categories of the contest.

Wagner Mat-an of Bakakeng Central; and, Amelia Montes of Pinget emerged as winners in the in-ground and container garden categories, respectively. They each received P8,000. The runners-up in the in-ground category are Cherry Lindaoan of Lucnab (P6,000); Marino Rubio of Loakan- Liwanag (P4,000); and, Martina Polgue, Pinsao Pilot Project (P3,000).

Meantime in the container category, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place finishers include Jane Pauline Abanag of Lucnab (P6000); Eduardo Soriano of Lopez Jaena (4,000); and, Carolina Fanged of Upper Quezon Hill (P3,000).

Meanwhile, consolation prizes of P1,500-each were given to 10-participants in each category.

In in-ground, the recipients include Jane Sannad of Middle Quirino Hill; Teresita de Guzman, Happy Hallow; Manuel Rivera, Jr., Pacdal; Leonette Baduyen, Atok Trail; Imelda Urani, Leonila Hill; Enrique Palsiw, Jr., Pucsusan; Luis Dulagan, San Vicente; Concepcion Quidno, Trancoville; Leopoldo Delfin, Ambiong; and, Rovilyn Mayatan of Asin Road.

In container, David Abad of Camdas Subdivision; Eliza Bizwayan, Pacdal; Saturnina Garcia, Pinsao Proper; Regina Paytocan, Happy Hallow; Annie Rose Cayasen, Asin Road; Deborah Desierto, Sto. Tomas Proper; Vilma Corpuz, Middle Quezon Hill; Vicente Sito, Leonila Hill; Anita Gamad, Sto. Nino-Slaughter; and, Romelyn Vargas of Marcoville.

City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO) head Dr. Brigit Piok said the contest is based on a adopted by the city council and authored by councilor and Association of Barangay Councils president Michael Lawana urging recognition of residents and their barangays for their ingenuity and innovation in establishing community and household container gardens.

The survival gardens started during the declaration of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) over Luzon, as means to address food scarcity during that time. The city government thru the CVAO and the Department of Agriculture (DA) started distributing 20,000-packets of assorted vegetable seeds to the barangays.

Piok said, around 59-barangays with over 90 entries joined this year’s contest. She said she is hoping more participants will join in the coming years, the city intending to institutionalize the project.

Contest judges were representatives from the DA, CVAO, City Mayors Office, the offices of Councilor Philian Weygan Allan and office of Alderman Joel Alangsab.

Gaby Keith