COTABATO CITY – Considerable tracts of forestlands across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are slowly being converted into “survival gardens” amid the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis.
Abdulraof Macacua, BARMM's Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE) minister, said Monday the conversion of forestlands into agricultural areas was in line with the regional government's long-term plan to ensure food security.
"This is in pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act11469, otherwise known as the ‘Bayanihan to Heal as One Act’," said Macacua, who is also the concurrent BARMM executive secretary.
Earlier this month, Macacua ordered MENRE offices in the provinces to allocate food production areas in forestlands suitable for vegetables and short-term crops.
"This survival garden will serve as another source of food for the region’s constituents, helping them ease the shortage of food supply," Macacua added.
He said the program will be implemented by local environment officers and “palaw” (forest) rangers, most of whom are former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
"They have already begun implementing the initiative in their respective communities early this month," Macacua said.
Currently, he said PENRE offices continue to identify suitable planting areas in BARMM that are strategically located close to forest-dependent communities and where access to water is available for easy watering in preparation for the season.
"We would like to thank the BARMM Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) for providing us the vegetable seeds," Macacua said.
He also encouraged the Bangsamoro to practice vegetable gardening in the backyards during and even after the duration of the enhanced community quarantine to contain Covid-19. (PNA)
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