Clark Freeport –The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) recently forged a partnership with the Provincial Government of Pampanga (PGP), Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) and Provincial Police Office (PPO) to ensure food security for families and communities in Pampanga especially during the pandemic.
As a response to the “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2)” program of the national government, CDC President and CEO Noel F. Manankil signed a memorandum of agreement with Board Member Cherry Manalo, Engr. Arthur Punsalan, PENR Officer Laudemir Salac, PPO Provincial Director Col. Jean Fajardo, Lt. Col. Dederick Relativo, and Maj. Efren David Jr. for the provision of a joint food security project dubbed as “Kaligkasan Food Security Project in relation to Balik Probinsya, Balik Pag-asa.”
During the signing, Manankil said that collaboration is important to make the project efficient.
“We are very happy to partner with PNP, DENR, and the Province of Pampanga for this undertaking and we really have to work together to make it very successful,” he added.
Under the said project, a community food garden will be established in a proposed site with an area of 1.5 hectares located within the Mt. Arayat National Park. The food garden will be a sustainable source of highlands vegetables such as potatoes, tomatoes, okra, eggplant, and hot pepper, among others, for various communities in the province.
This initiative also aims to promote a clean and healthy environment for all that exemplifies eco-tourism, environmental protection, and food security.
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility program under its External Affairs Department, CDC will provide financial support for the land preparation, planting, and development of a Small Water Impounding System in the area. Meanwhile, the proper and successful implementation including surveying, mapping, monitoring, maintenance, mobilization and other relevant processes for the project will be handled by PGP, PENRO, and PPO.