ANGELES CITY — Forty kilos of peanuts were harvested today, August 15, 2022 from the community vegetable garden of the city government located in the roundabout of MacArthur Hiway in Barangay Pandan here.
Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. thanked the efforts of the City Engineer’s Office — Environmental Management System headed by City Engr. Donato Dizon in maintaining the community vegetable garden.
According to Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel, all of the 40 kilos harvested were donated to the city’s reformation centers, Home for the Girls and the Bahay Pag-Asa.
Manuel said Mayor Lazatin has seen the benefit of using rotundas for planting.
Initially in the series of planting activities in rotundas which started on July 2021, 200 organic vegetable seedlings including okra, green chilis and eggplants were planted.
“Malaki po ang naging tulong nito sa ating mga kababayan. Ang kuwento [nga] po nila Engr. Don at ng mga EMS, patubo pa lang yung mga gulay, maliliit pa lang, naha-harvest na,” Manuel shared.
Manuel said she had a discussion with Engr. Dizon last June 2022 to also try if peanuts can be grown in the rotundas.
“After two months po, ito na po, nakapag-harvest na po tayo,” Manuel said.
Engr. Dizon further said that all three rotundas will be planted with peanuts, a legume crop, including the high lands also located in the major highways.
To recall, it was on July 2021 when Mayor Lazatin with Manuel, Engr. Dizon, Chief Adviser IC Calaguas started the first of the series of planting activities in all rotundas in the city. They were joined by Gender and Development Officer-in-Charge Mina Cabiles, and Angeles City Economic Development Investment and Promotions Officer-in-Charge Irish Bonus-Llego.
It was also then when Mayor Lazatin said that community gardens are open to all residents, and a project that serves as encouragement to the people to plant in their backyards.
Angeleño residents can also avail of free vegetable seeds from the City Agriculture Office.
