Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) bested the other four Centers of DSWD Field Office (FO) 1 during the Search for Best Implementer of Gulayan sa Center initiated by the Supplementary Feeding Program Management Office. The activity aimed to promote vegetable production among DSWD FO 1 Centers’ staff and residents, provide a fostering environment for sustainable gardens, and improve food systems of the Centers.

RRCY residents, with the assistance of the staff, were optimized in tilling and maintaining the gardens that also serves as their recreational activity. Grouped into six, these residents were given the decision to prepare their gardens and plant various vegetables such as but not limited to tomato, okra, bottle and bitter gourds, kangkong, and sweet potato around the Center. The yields are bought by the Center based on the current market price and served during meals. Residents used the income in purchasing their personal necessities and the remaining amount is put in their savings which they can acquire once they are reintegrated with their families.

“Dahil sa Gulayan sa Center, bumaba ang insidente ng mga paglabag dito sa RRCY kasi naging abala ang mga residente sa pagtatanim at pagpapaganda sa kanilang mga gulayan. Sa proyekto ring ito, nagkaroon ng karagdagang kaalaman ang mga bata (Through the Gulayan sa Center, the violations in RRCY declined because the residents became busy in planting and improving their gardens. This project also provided additional skills to the residents),” shared RRCY Center Head Leah Mylen L. Lucero. RRCY received PhP10,000.00 cash prize to be used for sustainable gardening that would both benefit the Center and the residents.

The Best Implementer of Gulayan sa Center was judged based on utilization of garden space, variety of plants grown, sufficiency and resourcefulness of garden tools, appearance of the garden, and sources of water supply. # By: Darwin T. Chan, Social Marketing Unit