With the ever-increasing inflation rate affecting today’s economy, people are left with no choice but to find ways to save as much money as they can. Growing your own food is one of those ways. Aside from not buying food again, it can also be sold, which is a great way to earn additional income.
However, in a densely populated and highly urbanized city such as Cebu, finding an area to plant can be a difficult task. New ways of farming are needed to be utilized to maximize the limited spaces available. The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of Barangay Lorega-San Miguel took this as a challenge and decided to spearhead the Lorega Microfarm Project.
The Lorega Microfarm Project is the first urban micro-farming initiative implemented in Cebu City by a Sangguniang Kabataan. It aims to address the need for sustainable food production and skills development in Barangay Lorega-San Miguel, an urban community with limited green spaces. Although the project is already in its conceptual phase, support is still needed to fully realize the said project.
The Visayan Electric Kaibigan Batch 7 heeded their call and decided to help them through their collaboration with the VECO Employees Multipurpose Cooperative (VEMCO). Various urban farming tools and materials were donated to the project such as hydroponic supplies including packs of cocopeat, NutriHydro Lettuce Nutsol, and seeds.
Moreover, the Kaibigan Batch 7 also assisted with the finishing touches of the growhouse, ensuring everything was ready for the official launch.
Hon. James Bernard Cabido, SK Chairperson of Brgy Lorega-San Miguel extended his gratitude to Visayan Electric and VEMCO for supporting their initiative to help their community.
“This partnership inspires us to keep going and create an innovative and green impact for our LGBTQIA+, out-of-school youth, and single parents. With VECO, VEMCO, and Kaibigan Batch 7 covering Php 75,000 worth of expenses for the hydroponics set, seeds, and supplies, we can sustain our stocks for the next 4-5 years,” he said.
Visayan Electric has always championed sustainability not just in its internal practices but also in driving communities towards it and this is manifested in the support provided by the company to initiatives such as the Lorega Microfarm Project.