Over 4.3 million households across the country are now producing fresh fruits and vegetables from their own backyards through the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Halina’t Magtanim ng Prutas at Gulay (HAPAG) sa Barangay project.

As of the latest monitoring, a total of 4,374,445 families have established their own vegetable or backyard gardens. Region VII posted the highest number with 2.9 million households, followed by Region X with 323,000, and Region XI with 167,000.

Under Memorandum Circular 2023-001, the DILG has urged all barangays to promote family vegetable gardens and encourage the planting of fruit-bearing trees in available open spaces, alongside the establishment of community gardens.

The Department emphasizes that backyard gardening is a practical solution to food insecurity, especially when disasters affect large-scale agricultural production. With food grown nearby, families have better access to nutritious meals even during emergencies.

The HAPAG sa Barangay program aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s directive to strengthen food security and reduce hunger in Filipino communities.

The DILG calls on more families to grow their own food, not only as a way to address hunger but also to build a culture of preparedness, sustainability, and self-reliance for generations to come.

Original Article At: https://dilg.gov.ph/news/Bawat-Tanim-May-Pagkain-Over-43M-Households-Now-Planting-Their-Own-Food/NC-2025-1087