Fernandino health workersurged to engage in urban agriculture

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO— Health Workers from all barangays of the City of San Fernando were urged to engage themselves in urban agriculture during the technical briefing on container farming and edible landscaping for health centers launched here on Wednesday.

The activity was organized by the City Agriculture and Veterinary Office (CAVO), in partnership with the City Health Office (CHO), in line with this year’s Nutrition Month celebration.

During the program, the participants were oriented on the different methodologies of farming from land preparation to harvesting. They also underwent hands-on training on container farming with the assistance of CAVO personnel.

Agricultural Extension Wor ker Claudette Mendoza said that after the seminar, all health centers will be joining the best in edible landscaping contest. Each will be adjudged based on vegetable clustering such as pakbet variety, chopsuey variety, salad garden, go, glow and grow garden and combination of herbal and medicinal garden.

“This is the first time we will do this in health centers so we will conduct weekly monitoring and documentation to guide them well. We will first give them the farm inputs and after 45 days judging will be done on their gardens,” she added.

for the construction needs in and out of the province. However, Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office head Engr. Art Punsalan yesterday disclosed that despite heavy rains, quarrying in and hauling of sand and gravel from the province has been capped to a certain volume and remains regulated.

“So far the replenishment is not yet that much particularly in the areas of Bacolor and Floridablanca since the areas in Porac where sand was over extracted has to be filled up again,” he told Sun.Star Pampanga.

As an initial measure, quarry permitees have taken the initiative to rehabilitate the over extracted quarry sites, he said.

“Another thing is that our quarry permitees are doing rehabilitation in their respective areas by addressing problems in the over extracted portions which they have to level. They themselves are self-regulating quarrying in their jurisdictions to bring back the previous allowable volume of sand,” Punsalan said.

Integrity of structures, compliance

Punsalan furthered that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has created a composite team to assure the integrity of structures near over extracted quarry sites and the compliance of quarrymen with laws.

“The composite team is headed by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), local government units and the Environment Management Bureau which will ensure that the integrity of structures are protected near quarry sites based on provisions. These include bridges and dikes where buffer zones are needed. Additionally, quarry permitees should also comply with the ECC or environment compliance certificate,” he stressed.

Responsible mining

Despite revenues generated from Pampanga’s quarry industry, which, as of last week of June stood at P2,516,945,000— Punsalan noted that officials are wary that over extraction might become bigger if not regulated.

“The concern of Governor Lilia Pineda and Vice-Governor Dennis Pineda is that over extraction might be bigger and may not compensate revenues, so they are advocating for responsible mining to cushion the impact. While the accreditation of haulers is ongoing, the provincial government is also continuously monitoring overloaded trucks and haulers whose trucks are not covered to avert threats these pose to commuters and motorists alike,” he added.

No engineering interventions at this time

Punsalan noted that man-made or engineering interventions may not be necessary at this time due to some concerns.

“There was a study conducted on the natural compaction of lahar deposits in the upstream. At this point, the team sees no need to blast the compacted deposits. To do so, we will need a permit from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Other than that, we will need experts who are adept at blasting. For now, we will let nature take its course,” he said.

Saving sand for Pampanga

Punsalan said that the provincial government is coordinating with agencies in saving sand for priority projects.

“There is a need to address quarry supply because of the Build Build Build program. We are coordinating with the Clark Development Corporation and Bases Conversion and Development Authority that priority be given to Clark projects and other expansion programs across Pampanga. In fact, I have been reminded by DPWH Undersecretary Pie Yabut that we need to regulate and save sand for Pampanga, that we should limit and regulate quarrying until such time that our projects are completed,” concluded Punsalan.— JTD