PRESS RELEASE
July 5, 2009
Office of Caloocan City Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri
Ref. Public Information Office
Telefax 3244644
Caloocan City Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri yesterday honored some
1,500 urban gardeners in the city as he awarded the winners of the
Recom Inter-Community Container Gardening Contest.
A total of 38 federations of Caloocan urban gardeners, the biggest
assembled in Metro Manila, attended the awarding ceremonies held at the
well-maintained City Hall North Gardens in Camarin.
The yearly gardening contest was organized by the Caloocan City
Parks Administration Services and City Agriculture Office in
cooperation with the Department of Agriculture and Office of Liga ng
mga Barangay President Ricojudge “RJ” Echiverri.
The Caloocan Eco Park Gardens , a group of city gardeners based in
Dagat-dagatan Extension in Barangay 28 bagged this year’s top prize
after receiving an overall rating of 97% for being resourceful in its
use of recycled materials; effectiveness in soliciting community
involvement; and total produce harvested in the duration of the
competition.
Likewise, the San Roque Chapel Bukluran of Phase 9 Bagong Silang won
second prize with an 89.83% rating; while the Derladi Mission Center
Organization of Vista Verde, Llano in Barangay 167 placed third after
garnering an 88% mark.
Completing the list of awardees were the Robes I RCM of Camarin;
Masayahin Group of Bagong Silang; Samahan ng Organikong Gulayan sa Bgy.
188; Kalinga ng Kababaihan ng Malaria (KKM), Purok 6; Kalinga ng
Kababaihan ng Malaria; Tahanang Mapagpala Center; Samahan ng Clean and
Green sa Kaunlaran; Samahang Kapitbahayan sa Ph. 8-B, Pkg. 1&13;
Villa CCO Groups; and Mustang Organic Garden Organization.
A variation from the contest of last year, Parks Administrator Jesse
Acenas noted that this year’s entrees included community-maintained
gardens that have been sources of vegetables and herbs since early
January.
Acenas said it promoted container gardening as a strategy to cushion
the impact of inflation and hunger; encourage composting as a source of
organic fertilizer; and reduce urban waste.
He said the project even proved that a small community is capable of addressing the concerns of solid waste management.
"The residents progressively learn that their homes can be sources of organic herbs and vegetables," he added.