Undernutrition and poverty in the Philippines have been the biggest problems the country is facing. Most of its population do not meet the proper nutrition especially young children causing them to be stunted.
One of the poverty reduction strategies that the government is doing is community gardening through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). This project encourages its beneficiaries to plant vegetables as the source of their family’s nutrition and additional income.
To further enhance the resources of the beneficiaries and sustain the garden, the Local Government of Aringay, La Union allocated a fund to support the beneficiaries. Moreover, the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) helped them establish the Aringay Veggies SLP Association and formulate a stable source of income out of the community garden.
The SLP awarded a Seed Capital Fund for the SLPA for its operation and production. In addition, to boost the knowledge of the SLPA on Vegetable Processing and create innovative products, the LGU Aringay funded their training in partnership with theDon Mariano Marcos Memorial State University Mid La Union Campus (DMMMSU-MLUC) Food Technology Department.
The SLPA now offers five varieties of nutritious vegetable chips and noodles made with authentic veggies such as squash, eggplant, malunggay, okra, and string beans at an affordable price and tasty for kids.
“Masayang-masaya kami dahil malayo na ang narating ng aming mga produkto, umabot na ang mga ito sa ibang bansa tulad ng Amerika, UAE, at Canada (We are very happy that our product is thriving. It has now reached America, Dubai, and Canada),” Mariter Gordo, member of Aringay Veggies SLPA gladly shared.
“Masayang-masaya kami dahil malayo na ang narating ng aming mga produkto, umabot na ang mga ito sa ibang bansa tulad ng Amerika, UAE, at Canada (We are very happy that our product is thriving. It has now reached America, Dubai, and Canada),” Mariter Gordo, member of Aringay Veggies SLPA gladly shared.
The SLPA also represented the Luzon cluster of successful SLP beneficiaries in the Mall of Asia during the SIBOL: The Launching of the New SLP on 26 May 2023. They were able to promote their products and gained new customers from the National Capital Region.
Aringay Veggies SLPA was able to earn more than half million of their gross sales in their first quarter of operation. The enterprise now also supplies more than 50 registered suppliers in different areas of Luzon enabling them to generate jobs.
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa DSWD – 4Ps at SLP at LGU Aringay na tumulong sa amin upang maiangat ang aming mga sarili, mapaunlad ang aming negosyo, at makapagbahagi ng biyaya sa iba (We are thankful to DSWD – 4Ps, SLP, and the LGU Aringay for helping us uplift ourselves, flourish our business, and be able to share our blessings to others),” said Gloria Bugkang, SLPA Auditor.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 1, through its programs and services, in partnership with the Local Government Units are doing its best effort to alleviate those who are in poverty line as well as meet the adequate nutrition of each member of their family. (by: John Chris B. Zureta, Social Marketing Officer, details from Radz Bismonte III, Government Sector Partnership Officer, Sustainable Livelihood Program)
