KA - GULAY

13/08/2026

𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗭𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗬— 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗞𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗪𝗔 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀
​
Eighteen registered cooperatives operating KADIWA stores under the Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Information System (FFEDIS) of DA joined the Marketing Training for Cooperatives from July 28-29,2026 organized and coordinated by AMAS with support from the MV2C Project Team.
​
The training aimed to equip managers and merchandisers in KADIWA stores with practical skills to support customers in consuming more vegetables. The marketing skill of putting themselves in the shoes of customers (Customer-centric Approach) is an effective support to consumers for choosing, buying, and consuming vegetables to better daily diet. Resource speakers from the JICA-MV2C Project Team and the AMAS officers facilitated the training, while the participants from CAR, Region I, Region III, and Region IV actively engaged in the learning process and discussions.
​
At the end of the training, the participants became certified Gulay Masters, in recognition of their marketing knowledge and skills in supporting healthier lives for customers with vegetables. The same training is foreseen to be cascaded nationwide by AMAS to improve KADIWA stores nationwide and develop linkage, support, and cooperation among Gulay Masters to bring better service to their KADIWA customers.

07/08/2026

MANILA—Healthy Plates, Healthy Lives!
​
On July 30, 2026, the Market-Driven Enhancement of Vegetable Value Chain in the Philippines-Technical Cooperation Project (MV2C-TCP) under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) led a talk on increasing vegetable consumption for wellness, in partnership with Kitchen City and De La Salle University (DLSU) Manila.
​
In the event, Mr. Timothy John Estorque, RND, a Clinical Nutrition Specialist, shared how increased vegetable intake reduces the risks for non-communicable diseases, and emphasized on the importance of moderation, variety, and balance in our diets. After the talk, a cooking demonstration was held led by Executive Chef Steven Ivan Castro. Several dishes were prepared incorporating our local vegetables, showing that preparing meals with vegetables can be done in quick easy steps!
​
The event was attended by several faculty, admin, and students from DLSU Manila both face to face and online set-up. Through engagements like this, MV2C-TCP hopes to boost local vegetable consumption for healthier communities. Schools and universities like DLSU are considered important targets influencing society to achieve better diet and health through vegetable consumption.

31/07/2026

22/07/2026

𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗭𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗬— 𝗗𝗔-𝗝𝗜𝗖𝗔 𝗠𝗩𝟮𝗖 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗗𝗔'𝘀 𝗡𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗠𝗖𝗢 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵
​
NADAMCO Canteen at the DA Central Office celebrates Nutrition Month in cooperation with the DA Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS). The DA-JICA Market-Driven Enhancement of the Vegetable Value Chain Project in the Philippines (MV2C) joins them by displaying promotional banners, recipe leaflets, and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) cards that provide information on how vegetables can help keep the body strong and healthy.
​
Join us in celebrating Nutrition Month by having hearty veggie menus in your daily meals.

15/07/2026

Every month of July, the Philippines celebrates National Nutrition Month to raise awareness and encourage Filipinos to choose healthy food.

This year, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) released the theme “𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘆𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻, 𝗔𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗮𝗻” which highlights a powerful truth – we cannot secure our food supply without securing the earth. TRUE, health and environmental sustainability go hand in hand.

Ka-GULAY, as we strive to build and achieve healthier food sources, let’s always keep the environment in mind. Let’s cultivate eating habits that don’t just nourish our bodies but also protect and heal our only planet—Earth.

03/07/2026

𝗟𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘇 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗩𝗲𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀
​
𝗟𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗭, 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗭𝗢𝗡 – The Lopez Municipal Agriculture Office officially launched a comprehensive training program on vegetable production using grafted seedlings on June 24, 2026. Held at the Municipal Nursery in Barangay Tan-ag Ibaba, the training welcomed 20 local farmer-participants.
​
The initiative was led by Ms. Venus Villaver, an Agricultural Extension Worker who previously completed the "Off-Season Shipment of Vegetables using Grafted Seedlings" course. This program is a flagship training under the Project for Market-Driven Enhancement of Vegetable Value Chain in the Philippines (MV2C Project).
According to Ms. Villaver, the training will run from June to September 2026, with sessions spaced two to four weeks apart. She emphasized that organizing this program fulfills their commitment to scaling and disseminating the advanced agricultural technologies they have acquired.
​
District Officer Manong Librando delivered a message on behalf of Municipal Mayor Sonny Obana. Mr. Librando assured the participants that the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Lopez remains fully committed to supporting initiatives that uplift local farmers.
​
Ms. Jeanza Atienza, MV2C Project Regional Specialist, provided an overview of the project, highlighting the benefits of grafting technology. She encouraged the participants to implement these techniques on their own farms and echo their newfound knowledge within their respective communities upon graduation.
The launch concluded with the first official lecture on "Production Plan and Record Keeping," facilitated by Ms. Lavenia Pakingan, an Agricultural Technologist from Pagbilao and a graduate of the Training of Trainers program.
​
The next session is scheduled for July 15, 2026, and will cover "Seedling and Nursery Management," alongside a highly anticipated hands-on activity on vegetable grafting techniques.

02/07/2026

18/06/2026

𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗮 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗢𝘂𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗩𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀
​
LUCENA CITY — The Lucena City Agriculture Office, in collaboration with Ouan’s Farm, officially launched a specialized training program focused on grafted seedlings and the utilization of new crop varieties on May 28, 2026. This initiative is part of the Action Plan Implementation developed by last year's training participants from both the Lucena City Agriculture Office and Ouan’s Farm, which aims to further disseminate this agricultural technology to the wider farming community.
​
During the launch, Mr. Dexter Landicho, Senior Agriculturist of Lucena City, emphasized the vital role farmers play in the community and encouraged them to actively adopt modern agricultural technologies. Supporting this sentiment, Ms. Louchiel Labay, General Manager of Ouan’s Farm, welcomed the delegates and expressed their full commitment to hosting initiatives that empower and benefit local farmers.
​
To provide context for the broader initiative, Ms. Martha Parrenas, the National Team Leader of the MV2C Project, delivered an overview of the project's journey—highlighting its inception, current progress, and strategic steps forward.
The afternoon session transitioned into the core curriculum, starting with a presentation on Basic Business Management led by Mr. Marc Barreto from the Quezon Provincial Agriculture Office.
​
The event was well-attended by staff from the Lucena City Agriculture Office, personnel from Ouan’s Farm, and officers from the MV2C Project. Together, they welcomed the 25 farmer-participants who will undergo the comprehensive training program running intermittently from May 28 to September 10, 2026.

Photo credits: Lucena City Agriculture Office

22/05/2026

From the depths of the seas to the richness of the soil, there are people who are often taken for granted.
​
This May, we celebrate those who rise before the sun—the farmers who tirelessly cultivate the soil under the heat of the day and the fisherfolk who brave the tides just so we have food on our table. Their harvest and catch are more than just a livelihood; they reflect a life-long dedication to nourishing us all. So, ka-gulay, when you see a farmer or a fisherman, take a moment to thank them.
​

-gulay

08/05/2026

𝗕𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗨𝗘𝗧—𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿 is now one of 𝗠𝗿. 𝗝𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗮𝗯𝗲'𝘀 areas of expertise. Mr. Nabe, a graduate of the 2025 MV2C Training of Trainers, is now a lecturer for the 2025 Action Plan Implementation of Cluster 3 in Benguet province. Mr. Nabe, a farmer cooperator of the project, shared his practical experiences on soil conditioning through the use of green manure crops, appropriate land preparation techniques, and fertilizer application, emphasizing these as essentials in maintaining soil fertility and sustainable crop production.
​
Through the lecture-discussion and hands-on fieldwork, the 27 farmer participants from the municipalities of Kibungan, Bakun, Kapangan, and Tublay gained knowledge and skills on sustainable practices in Sweet Pepper production.
​
Carrying home their interest in the 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀, these farmers vow to share and replicate what they’ve learned within their respective communities.