𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱 – 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

In a strong push to combat malnutrition and promote healthier lifestyles among Filipino students, the Department of Education- Davao del Sur conducted a two-day Capacity Building on the implementation of the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP) last July 17–18, 2025, at Hotel de Crisbelle, Crown Center, Digos City.

The event gathered educators and school heads from both elementary and secondary schools across the region, aiming to strengthen their role in integrating vegetable gardening into daily school activities.

The training was organized by the School Governance and Operations Division-School Health Section, under the banner of Oplan Kalusugan sa DepEd (OKD). Participants received intensive orientation on effective garden management, sustainable agriculture practices, and techniques to promote vegetable consumption among learners.

“This is more than just planting vegetables,” SDS Lorenzo Mendoza emphasized. “It’s about teaching children life skills, ensuring food security in schools, and directly addressing the root causes of malnutrition.”

The Gulayan sa Paaralan Program has long been recognized as an effective grassroots initiative in promoting nutrition, reducing dependency on outside food sources for school feeding programs, and cultivating environmental awareness among students. School gardens not only supply fresh produce for the School-Based Feeding Program but also serve as practical learning laboratories that enhance science, health, and values education.

This renewed capacity-building effort takes inspiration from the growing concern over student health and nutritional well-being, especially in underserved communities where access to fresh produce may be limited. By equipping educators with the right knowledge and skills, DepEd hopes to institutionalize gardening as a regular part of school operations.

The legal foundation of this initiative traces back to DepEd Memorandum No. 293, s. 2007, which encourages all public elementary and secondary schools to establish and maintain functional school gardens. The memo underscores the role of the GPP in ensuring a continuous supply of vegetables for feeding programs, aligning with broader national goals on food security and child development.

As the new school year (2025–2026) begins, the strengthened implementation of the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program promises not only greener campuses but also healthier, more nourished Filipino leaners.