Community garden and poultry project on Pag-asa Island

Supplies of vegetables and eggs to families and children

A community-run garden and poultry initiative on Pag-asa Island is providing fresh food to local households and children, a report from the Philippine Information Agency says. The project is organised by the Kalayaan Palawan Farmers and Fisherfolk Association and operates with support from unspecified local and national agencies.

According to the PIA report, the community garden supplies free vegetables at each harvest to about 81 families on the island. The poultry component of the project delivers eggs to 109 children every month. Project organisers say these interventions aim to strengthen food security where regular access to fresh produce and protein can be limited.

Small-scale gardens and backyard poultry are common solutions in outlying barangays, where supply chains can be irregular and market access limited. On Pag-asa Island, the association’s combined agricultural and fisherfolk approach focuses on immediate household needs and improved child nutrition.

Community-run food projects like this are often valued not only for providing direct food assistance but also for building local skills in vegetable production and poultry management. They can reduce dependence on infrequent deliveries of fresh food and offer a model for other small island communities in Palawan and the wider Mimaropa region.