Eleven (11) Rural Improvement Clubs (RICs), 4h Clubs, senior citizens groups, and farmers’ cooperatives and associations received seeds, seedlings and farm inputs last week as the Department of Agriculture (DA) launched the Gulayan sa Bayan (GSB) project in Catanduanes.
Under the High Value Crops Development Program (HVDCP), the project is one of DA’s banner initiatives aimed at enhancing the localized vegetable production to provide an affordable and accessible source of vegetables, increasing the availability of healthy food in communities, and providing additional income opportunities while supporting community-based feeding projects.
During the MOA signing and launching ceremony last Aug. 18, 2025 at the Provincial Multi-Purpose Training Center at the Capitol compound in Virac, the recipients were Antipolo Del Sur 4H Club (Virac), Tamburan RIC (Bato), District 3 Maligaya Village RIC (San Miguel), District 2 RIC (Gigmoto), Sta. Rosa RIC (Viga), MOVGA (Panganiban), Brgy. Quigaray RIC (Bagamanoc), Bagawang Agriculture Livelihood Association (Pandan), Hitoma RIC (Caramoran), Batong Paloway 4H Club (San Andres) and San Miguel RIC / Sagrada 4H Club (Baras).
They will be supported by the local government units, national agencies such as DOLE, DepEd, DOH, DILG, DOST-FNRI, NNC, NYC, DICT and private sector partners.
The Gulayan project is in line with the vision of AmBisyon Natin 2040 – “a strongly rooted, comfortable, and secure life” (Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag na Buhay) for every Filipino by 2040” of the administration of Pres. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.