QC councilor wants homes to have‘edible landscape’

MANILA, Philippines - A Quezon City councilor has filed a proposed ordinance promoting edible landscaping, or the use of vegetable and fruit trees in lieu of ornamental plants, in designing backyards and other open spaces.

In a draft measure, District 5 Councilor Allan Butch Francisco said households could benefit from having their own sources of vegetables and fruits if they adopt edible landscaping.

The councilor cited a 2012 United Nations report which said the Philippines spent P142 million in vegetable imports. He said the problem of vegetable availability is a never-ending concern for the government and has been the focus of agricultural problems in the country.

“Depressed communities in urban areas are the most vulnerable to problems of food availability. Within these zones, no tillable land is readily available and food commonly comes from external sources,” said Francisco.

He said these concerns provide good opportunity for the government and the public to search for solutions needed to produce safe and readily available food.

“If most households, barangays, private and public entities were to utilize the open space within their properties, they could benefit by having their own sources of vegetables even at the smallest scale possible,” he said.

Once approved, the ordinance would mandate the promotion of edible landscaping in Quezon City.

The draft measure said the concept could be promoted through training of household members, teachers and students, organized groups of women, senior citizens and the youth, government officials, businessmen and hobbyists.

It can also be presented in various exhibits and conferences through the creation of demo-gardens, added the proposal.

“Even though edible landscape is focused on food availability at household level, it is also intended to increase interest in the utilization of endemic edible plants and greening or urban spaces to alleviate environmental problems,” said the measure.

Francisco said the local government can request assistance from the Department of Agriculture and the University of the Philippines-Los Baños for technology transfer.