Meralco's bio-intensive garden: Sowing the seeds of social responsibility

MANILA, Philippines - More than the usual vegetable and fruit crops, the latest corporate social responsibility (CSR) project of the Meralco Millennium Foundation, Inc. (MMFI) has sown and harvested yields of camaraderie, social responsibility, and community spirit.

Dubbed the “BIG” project, the Bio Intensive Garden’s main goal is to help depressed communities fend for themselves by establishing a backyard farming community to cater to the immediate need for food and nutrition.

“Although it is viable, our main objective is not really a livelihood project where they can harvest products to sell. The BIG project aims to teach members of indigent communities how to grow vegetables and fruits which they can pick everytime they need food to serve to their families,” said Joane Sotto, part of the project staff.

The CSR team believes that directly addressing the immediate need for food and nutrition will teach the communities the value of saving – instead of spending money on groceries, the families who will benefit from BIG can focus on other expenses such as those for utility and education.

Project BIG began only this year, starting in one of Meralco’s supported communities – Gawad Kalinga (GK) Banyuhay in Rizal. For BIG, the plots to be established were tilled on areas where Meralco Sibol Schools are located.

Two more GK areas are targeted to stage the company’s latest CSR endeavor: Camp David in Cavite and Brookside in Quezon City.

“When we already had a place to begin BIG, it took us almost a month of research and inspection regarding the plots to be used. Then it took almost the same time to prepare the soil and educate the community on what they can do,” said Sotto. The first BIG plot is located on a hilly part of GK.

Banyuhay. The area used to be a wasteland of grass, swarming with weeds and garbage. After a month of preparation, the plot was ready to be tilled.

Volunteers from the Haribon Foundation extended their help on educating families on how to take care of the community farm. A three-day seminar was held where local planting and harvesting techniques were taught. A total of 109 families were targeted to benefit from BIG in GK Banyuhay.

Aside from the seminars, Meralco also provided the seeds, organic fertilizers and raw materials needed to start the farm. Fencing tools were also provisioned.

“At the start, families had no idea on how to begin planting. We had to monitor them regularly regarding their progress. When the first batch of fertilizers was consumed, we also gave them information on how to make their own using discarded food like fish and rice water,” added Sotto.

All their efforts paid off in the end. Today, the BIG plot in GK Banyuhay is filled thick with string beans, kangkong, and ampalaya. Three more plots have been planted with okra, chili, tomato and fruit trees like papaya.

The BIG program is part of Meralco’s CSR principles of volunteerism, timeliness and sustainability. The company continues to look for ways to excel in business not just with work but by catering to the community it services through responsible corporate citizenship.