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TACLOBAN CITY — The municipality of Arteche, Eastern Samar has been recognized nationally after its “One Barangay, One Gulay Program” was named among the Top 10 Outstanding Anti-Hunger Initiatives during the Walang Gutom Awards organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) held on Tuesday, May 12.
The recognition came with a P2-million grant that will support the expansion and strengthening of the municipality’s food sustainability and community gardening programs.
Acting Mayor Roland “Boie” Bowad Evardone and Municipal Agriculturist Antonio Luceres Jr. received the award on behalf of the local government unit during the awarding ceremony, where Evardone presented Arteche’s anti-hunger initiative before a panel of judges.
The “One Barangay, One Gulay Program” promotes backyard and community gardening as a strategy to improve food security and ensure that families in every barangay have access to fresh and nutritious food. The initiative encourages participation from residents, farmers, barangay officials, and local government agencies in sustaining vegetable production at the community level.
Local officials said the program has become a model of grassroots collaboration in addressing hunger and promoting self-sufficiency among communities.
Arteche was the only municipality from Eastern Samar included among the national awardees. Also recognized during the Walang Gutom Awards were the local government units of Palompon and Baybay City, both in Leyte.
The Walang Gutom Awards is a joint initiative of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Galing Pook Foundation in support of the national government’s campaign to achieve a hunger-free Philippines.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
