National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program DA RFO XII - Soccsksargen

19/02/2026

NUPAP XII extends its warmest congratulations to RED John B. Pascual, DVM, on his official oath-taking as Regional Executive Director of the DA XII.

Honored by the confidence of Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr., Director Pascual vowed to be a champion for our farmers and fisherfolk.

16/02/2026

𝗣𝟭𝟵𝟱𝗞 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗶 𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗖𝗼𝘁, 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗦𝗮𝗻

The National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP) of the Department of Agriculture 12 successfully conducted a simultaneous distribution of agricultural interventions worth over PhP195,000 across Tupi, Polomolok, South Cotabato and General Santos City on February 12, 2026.

The coordinated effort benefited a total of 29 urban dwellers and farmers who recently completed specialized technical training sessions.

As part of the initiative to modernize local food production, participants of the Training on Hydroponic Farming Systems received complete hydroponic kits. This soil-less technology is designed to help residents in densely populated urban areas grow fresh, high-value vegetables in limited spaces using nutrient-integrated water solutions.

By providing these kits, the program aims to turn residential backyards and balconies into productive food sources.

Simultaneously, a separate turnover was held at Udagri Elementary School for participants of the Training on Vegetable Production.

These beneficiaries received various essential garden tools intended to bolster traditional soil-based gardening and community crop production.

The distribution was spearheaded by the NUPAP 12 staff and assisted by City Local Government Unit (CLGU) NUPAP Coordinator Paz Chan.

This initiative is part of the NUPAP's broader effort to promote urban gardening and self-sufficiency, providing residents with the high-value inputs needed to maintain productive gardens despite limited space and rising food costs.

Via | Justin Aquino, MA

06/02/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗕. 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗮𝗹, 𝗗𝗩𝗠! 💚💙

​The entire NUPAP XII family celebrates your well-deserved success. May the Lord continue to guide and bless your leadership. Thank you for your unwavering support for urban farming in Region 12. 🌱

03/02/2026

Planting the seeds for 2027, today. 🌱

​We are kicking off Day 1 of our planning workshop with a clear goal: to transform our cities into 𝗵𝘂𝗯𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 and 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. 💚

03/02/2026

During the opening of the FY 2027 Plan and Budget Preparation Workshop in General Santos City, RTD Embajador emphasized the core mission of the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP).

​He reminded the participants that to bridge the gap between farms and urban communities, strategic preparation is the key.

03/02/2026

𝗡𝗨𝗣𝗔𝗣 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗬 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳; 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀

𝘎𝘌𝘕𝘌𝘙𝘈𝘓 𝘚𝘈𝘕𝘛𝘖𝘚 𝘊𝘐𝘛𝘠 – The National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP) formally kicked off its FY 2027 Plan and Budget Preparation Workshop today, February 3, assembling key officers and representatives from DA attached bureaus to lay the groundwork for future urban farming initiatives.

The activity aims to harmonize the program's strategic direction for the upcoming fiscal year.

During the opening session, the Planning and Budget Preparation Guidelines, along with specific directives, were laid down to guide the participants in crafting their proposals.

Aside from financial and operational planning, the agenda also includes updates on the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), which serves as the primary database for identifying program beneficiaries.

The workshop is scheduled to run for four days and will conclude on Friday, February 6.

Via | Justin Aquino, MA

22/01/2026

𝗗𝗔𝟭𝟮 𝗡𝗨𝗣𝗔𝗣 𝗺𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝟯-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The Department of Agriculture 12 (DA 12) National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP) convened community garden leaders, partner local government units (LGUs), and the academe for a Multi-Year Planning Workshop at General Santos City from January 21 to 23, 2026.

The three-day activity focused on synchronizing the implementation of urban farming initiatives across the SOCCSKSARGEN Region.

During the first day, Planning Officer I Sahod Aguil presented the Budget Proposal Guidelines and regional priorities to help participants align their Programs, Activities, and Projects (PAPs) with the current fiscal requirements of the region.

Complementing the budget discussion, Agriculturist II Harold Ramos discussed the NUPAP 12 three-year Program Policy and Proposal Guidelines for 2027–2029, providing a long-term roadmap for stakeholders.

NUPAP Focal Person Harmie Jay Hechanova said that the primary goal of the workshop is to build a more resilient agricultural framework for city dwellers.

“This activity aims to strengthen the implementation of NUPAP and craft plans that will sustain urban farming in the region,” Hechanova said.

Hechanova also emphasized the need for creative project design to expand the program's reach.

“I encourage the participants to design PAPs that will encourage more to engage in farming and boost production in the cities,” he added.

The workshop concludes on January 23, with LGUs, academic institutions, and NUPAP beneficiaries scheduled to present their finalized agricultural plans to the DA-NUPAP technical staff for review and evaluation.

Via | Justin Aquino, MA

15/01/2026

24/11/2025

| 𝗗𝗔 𝟭𝟮 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗦𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝘃𝗲𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The Department of Agriculture (DA) 12 conducted a specialized training on vegetable production and hydroponics farming system today, empowering urban dwellers in Barangay City Heights, General Santos City, with essential skills for household food security and self-sufficiency.

​The initiative, implemented under the DA's National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP), aims to transform underutilized urban spaces into productive food sources, mitigating the impact of rising food costs and strengthening community resilience.

​Participants received comprehensive instruction across three critical areas of modern, sustainable urban farming. The resource speakers emphasized practical application and low-cost technologies.

Paz Cutamora-Chan underscored the necessity of self-reliance, giving importance to sustainable gardening techniques that maximize yield with minimal environmental impact.

Erika Jane Paronelmo led the session on hydroponics farming, introducing participants to soilless culture systems suitable for small urban spaces.

Mark Anthony Lomigo provided practical knowledge on pest and diseases management, equipping attendees with organic and integrated strategies to protect their crops and maintain healthy urban farms.

​Building on the success of this training, the DA 12 remains committed to relentlessly driving the NUPAP agenda across the region, focused on making nutritious food universally accessible and promoting climate-resilient farming methods among urban populations.

21/11/2025

𝗗𝗔 𝟭𝟮 - 𝗡𝗨𝗣𝗔𝗣 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝗔𝗣 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆

The National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) 12, successfully concluded a two-day comprehensive training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for its beneficiaries.

The training, held from November 20 to 21, 2025, in General Santos City, aimed to elevate the standards of urban farming and ensure food safety across the region.

This initiative provided Region 12 NUPAP beneficiaries with essential knowledge and techniques specifically designed to boost productivity, minimize environmental impact, and guarantee the safety and quality of their urban-grown produce.

​Resource Speaker Aiza Mae Godornes, Agriculturist II, led the intensive sessions, focusing on the core principles of GAP.

These principles included maintaining Food Safety by minimizing chemical, microbial, and physical hazards; practicing effective Environmental Management through the sustainable use of soil and water resources; ensuring proper Worker Welfare by addressing the health, safety, and hygiene of urban farmers; and adhering to strict Produce Quality standards for the harvesting, handling, and storage of crops.

​"The adoption of GAP is crucial for NUPAP beneficiaries. By learning these practices, our urban and peri-urban farmers in Region 12 are not just producing food; they are producing safe, high-quality food that meets local and national standards," Godornes said.

This training is part of NUPAP's continuing effort to provide technical support and capacity building, ensuring beneficiaries are well-equipped to transform urban spaces into thriving, certified, and economically viable food sources. # # #

Via | Justin Aquino, MA

19/11/2025

𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐍𝐀𝐍 | Pormal na isinagawa ang turnover ceremony para sa bagong Greenhouse with Hydroponics na ipinagkaloob ng DA-RFO XII, sa pamamagitan ng Regional Agricultural Engineering Division at National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program sa local government unit ng Brgy. New Isabela, Tacurong City noong Nobyembre 18, 2025.
Ang nasabing proyekto ay nagkakahalaga ng mahigit sa Php 955,662.29 at magsisilbing mahalagang suporta sa pagpapalakas ng urban agriculture sa siyudad

(✏️📸Nick Paul Agapay 💻Dann French)

19/11/2025

Happy Birthday, RED John B. Pascual, DVM! 🌱 Your NUPAP 12 family wishes you a day full of smiles and love. 💚