Cot Prov backs home-based gardening, livelihood project vs COVID-19

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato Province, Mar. 23 (PIA)--- The provincial government here is set to push home-based gardening and livelihood projects for its constituents amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) threat.

This, according to Governor Nancy Catamco, is due to possible food shortage brought about by panic-buying, hoarding, and scampering for food to eat. It can be noted that lockdowns and community quarantines are now being implemented in different places to stop the spread of COVID-19.

“Hunger is an enormous challenge and we shall combat this problem straight into its core. We will encourage our people to produce their own vegetables and root crops by providing them with seeds, knowledge, and technology. We will also provide them with upgraded native chicks that they can harvest as adult chicken produced in just over two months’ time,” Catamco said.

The governor added that while focusing on preventing the COVID-19 transmission by limiting movement of Cotabateños through a general community quarantine, a pro-active stance must be made to address the need for food of the residents.

Earlier, the provincial chief executive placed the entire province on a pre-emptive lockdown by virtue of Executive Order No. 21.

Based on the March 22 bulletin of the provincial government, there are 1,448 persons under monitoring, 277 of them already completed the 14-day quarantine, and 43 persons under investigation, 11 of them were already cleared while the 32 others are now under home quarantine.

Governor Catamco assured everyone that the provincial government is doing its best to protect the people against the dreaded disease. She also reiterated the call to support the Department of Health guidelines to ensure a COVID-19-free community.  (PIA-Cotabato City with reports from the Provincial Government of Cotabato)

source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1036914