The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a platform of the government to uplift the living condition of disadvantaged people. The Department of Social Welfare and Development is the sole agency which is responsible in implementing the said program.

In 2017, the DSWD revived and encouraged the Pantawid beneficiaries to resort to Bio-Intensive Gardening for the nutritional needs of their families.

Beneficiaries from barangay LUZVILLA, Municipality of Piñan, Zamboanga del Norte formed a group communal garden headed by the parent leader, Ms. Elizar Cabilao, as part of their efforts to supplement nutrition for Pantawid beneficiaries and start a possible augmentation in their income.

Luzvilla IP communal Garden was one of the entries in the fruits and vegetables festival in Piñan festival last August 2018. The festival was spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture and Municipal Mayor Ms. Ceily Carreon who presented the prizes to the group with the most beautiful, creative, and clean garden. The Luzvilla group IP communal was composed of 16 members of Indigenous People in the barangay.

Communal Garden started last MAY 2018 after the Pantawid Day
Area: Barangay LUZVILLA near barangay HALL.

Variety of vegetables: Pechay, tanglad (lemon grass), malunggay, kamatis, String Onio, bawing, bitter gourd, eggplant, okra, string beans, chili, and other herbal plants.

Communal garden validators check the fruits and vegetable during festival contest for modelong gulayan ng barangay.

During the Piñan Fruits and Vegetable festival 2018, IP Luzvilla Communal Garden won 3rd place with three thousand pesos as cash prize. The Luzvilla Communal Garden also won the biggest plants for kalabasa (squash), pipino (cucumber), and marang.

RENNIE T. SAPAL
Community Facilitator