Urban agriculture and environment experts shine in LS OSCI-sponsored TALAB classes

In line with this year’s Talakayang Alay sa Bayan (TALAB) theme in building inclusive and sustainable futures, the Loyola Schools Office for Social Concern and Involvement sponsored several TALAB classes. One of the classes was a discussion-workshop on Urban Agriculture System facilitated by NSTP12-Bigkis formators in partnership with Jimmy Ceguerra, a barangay councilman of Tumana in Marikina City.

Mr. Ceguerra shared his personal advocacies and how he used his knowledge and skills in his line of work which deals with issues on health, sanitation, and environment in Barangay Tumana. Specifically, his constituents were taught several strategies on how to deal with kitchen wastes and turn them into livelihood opportunities by making Bokashi bran and using the Bokashi method of composting. Mirasol Piza (Brgy Tumana, Bokashi Marikina Producers Cooperative) demonstrated to the students the proper way of the Bokashi method of composting.

At the end of the workshop-discussion, students were asked to write their insights, reflections, and pledges to sustain their learnings from the discussion and for a sustainable future.

One of the participants shared, “Urban agriculture is very interesting and I think it should be talked about more. I have to admit that I myself do not know enough about it but this workshop enlightened me. Because the world is becoming more urbanized, there’s less space for traditional agriculture so I think this topic should definitely be taught more”. 

Eliot Ti, a student majoring in Restaurant Entrepreneur added, “food waste has always been a problem and is repeated over and over again. With a way to convert waste to nutrients (for plants as) fertilizer. Furthermore, the items that can be used with Bokashi  like eggshells, paper, leaves, and ground coffee) are all seen in the industry. Hopefully, I will be able to utilize this in the future.”

For those interested to learn about Bokashi composting or to buy Bokashi Bran produced by residents of Brgy. Tumana, you may contact Floy Soriano (fsoriano@ateneo.edu) or visit MVP 104.

Rizalie and Michael Galang served as panelists to the panel discussion on “Sibuyas Kayo Diyan: Peeling back the layers of the Filipino Food Crisis” together with former Senator Kiko Pangilinan among others.