Hoping to create “a community of growers at the Philippine Red Cross,” PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwendolyn T. Pang led the Backyard Gardening Seminar at the 3rd floor multi-purpose hall of the PRC Tower in Mandaluyong last May 29, 2023.

This is in line with the PRC’s food security program that started through the vision of PRC Chairman Dick Gordon. PRC began a sustainable farm in Marikina to provide produce for its hot meals on wheels operations.

Chairman Gordon, who authored the Food Donation Law (RA 9803) in 2009, reiterated the many efforts of the PRC to address the hunger problem in the country. “It has been one of my top priorities to promote food security; that’s why we, at the Philippine Red Cross began a 2-hectare sustainable farm in Marikina, possible expansion is underway, that’s where we grow and harvest our crops that we’re using for our hot meals on wheels operations in times of various disasters and emergencies. This seminar that we provided to our PRC employees is just a piece of the whole cake, and there are more agricultural seminars and workshops to come” said Gordon.

PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwendolyn Pang mentioned the significance of creating a backyard garden as one of the practical ways to fight inflation, “We want to teach you how to grow your own food. Kahit wala kayong malawak na lupain, maaari kayong mag-umpisa sa bakuran ng bahay n’yo. Basta’t mayroon kayong paglalagyan, tutubo ‘yan. I think that one day, it will be very difficult to find food to eat, kaya mas maganda na marunong tayong magtanim ng sarili nating pagkain na maibabahagi rin natin sa iba, lalo na ngayon na mataas na presyo ng mga bilihin. I hope you find joy in planting.”

At the end of the session, 350 eggplant seedlings from the PRC farm in Marikina and a variety of high-quality vegetable seeds donated by its international partners were distributed to PRC employees to encourage them to start their backyard gardens.