Marcos Jr. to public: Put up community gardens

MANILA, Philippines —  To enhance access to nutritious food, President Marcos on Friday renewed his call for the public, especially in urban areas, to put up community gardens.

Marcos made the call during the distribution of electronic land titles and certificates of condonation with release of mortgage to agrarian reform beneficiaries in Quezon province.

He cited the importance of agriculture in urban areas as he urged government agencies and the private sector to promote community gardens in schools, homes and neighborhoods.

During the event, Marcos distributed e-titles covering 30.8 hectares of agricultural property to 15 agrarian reform beneficiaries.

A total of 11,497 certificates of condonation with release of mortgage were also handed out to more than 9,000 beneficiaries.

Through Republic Act 11953, or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, a total of P441.71 million in debts of agrarian reform beneficiaries in Quezon were condoned, including amortizations, interests and surcharges.

More than 600 farmer-beneficiaries in Quezon have received e-titles since July 2022, Marcos said.