52nd IB enhanced organic farming in Samar

By DPAO, 8ID PA
April 20, 2016

CAMP VICENTE LUKBAN, Catbalogan City – Major General Jet B Velarmino, Commander, 8ID lauded the 52nd Infantry (Cadre) Battalion under the leadership of Lt.Col. Nedy Espulgar for its Organic Farming Technology at 52nd IB headquarters, Brgy Caticugan, Sta Rita, Samar.

Lt. Col Espulgar, promotes a “people centered” organic farm utilizing new farming technology for Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit, soldiers, nearby communities, civilians and former rebels.

The formal launching generated numerous educational tour and camp visit such as the Students of National Defense College, AFP, Elias Canayong, Regional Director of Department of Labor and Employment of Region- 8, Imelda Calagos, Area Manager of Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace Process (OPAPP), farmers organization from Brgy Mabini and Loog, all of Basey Samar, Pastor Anesito Candole of Palo Christian Church, Zion Bible College and the New Baptist Church, LGUs, LGAs and Civil Society Organizations all over Eastern Visayas.

This long-term community based project is a combination of vegetable and herbs gardening, livestock production and aqua culture. On gardening, they propagate high value crops like Chinese pechay, hybrid pechay, mustard green, chili pepper, spring onions. They also cultivate herbs and ornamental plants while on livestock production. They showcased the hog raising (baboyang walang amoy), caber chicken, goat and lamb raising, as well as aqua culture (Tilapia).

Generally, it is designed to have self-sufficient detachments and camps in order to lessen the expenses of our CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) and soldiers’ daily food expenses and have an alternate source of income while performing peace and security operation, Espulgar Added.