PMO Surigao turns idle areas to vegetable gardens

As operations of motor launches plying the island routes are transferred from the city boulevard to the port of Surigao for the safety and security of island-bound cargo and passengers in the light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) crisis, additional dockworkers were hired on ‘pakyawan’ basis to augment existing cargo handling manpower. PPA SESC Business Manager Roed Pomoy said that this undertaking is in line with the cooperative’s social responsibility program and sourced from its community development fund. “Extending the cooperative’s help to co-workers particularly to our janitors and ‘pakyawan’ workers is unanimously agreed by all of our members in support of the ‘Bayanihan sa Pantalan,’” Pomoy said. (By Noli C. Nusog /PPA-PMO/PIASurigao del Norte) PMO Surigao turns idle areas to vegetable gardens By Noli C. Nusog

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte - To somehow ease concerns over food security amidst the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), idle areas at the Port of Surigao were turned into vegetable gardens to produce healthy food and vegetable products.

Launched over the weekend, the pilot site at the Surigao Baseport is just the first of the many vegetable gardens planned to be establish at idle areas in ports under the Philippine Ports Authority - Port Managment Office (PPA-PMO) Surigao.

With no less than PMO Surigao Acting Port Manager Froilan Caturla as lead ‘farmer,’ the Surigao Baseport garden is initially planted with eggplants, string beans, spring onions and lemon grass. He added that putting up gardens is good for the environment too, aside from the benefit of having a ready supply of nutritious food.

“This greening project is also a great help for us in attaining safe and healthy environment since plants lessen carbon dioxide and produce more oxygen. More oxygen means cleaner air,” Manager Caturla said. (PPA-PMO/ PIA-Surigao del Norte)