5TH UTANAN SA TUGKARAN: MANOLO FORTICH CROWNS GARDEN CHAMPIONS ACROSS 22 BARANGAYS

Manolo Fortich's fifth Utanan sa Tugkaran competition reinforces environmental commitment by honoring top gardeners across all barangays

Communities across Manolo Fortich’s 22 barangays transformed soil into sustenance as the Local Government Unit of Manolo Fortich crowned garden champions during the 5th Utanan sa Tugkaran, Communal Garden, and Gulayan sa Paaralan Awarding Ceremony on November 25, 2025, at the Municipal Gymnasium in Barangay Tankulan.

 

From Vision to Movement: 18 Years of Impact

What started in 2007 as Mayor Rogelio N. Quiño’s answer to widespread malnutrition has grown into a local movement. The Utanan sa Tugkaran, Communal Garden, and Gulayan sa Paaralan programs mobilize communities, barangays, and schools to cultivate vegetable gardens that put nutritious food directly into children’s hands. These initiatives are now a major part of the mayor's 8-Point Agenda, focused on ending hunger and improving local food security.

 

Mayor's Commitment to Continued Growth

In his opening remarks, the mayor highlighted the program’s sustained effectiveness in combating malnutrition and expressed gratitude to all contributors: “Kung makit-an nato sa tibuok lungsod sa Manolo, ochentay singko ang adunay naay tanom, garden, tungod sa program. For 18 years nga naa nay Utanan sa Tugkaran, magpadayon pa jud kini siya nga programa. Salamat kaayo sa inyong suporta.”

 

Evaluation Process

The Municipal Agriculture Office initiated the evaluation of participants last October 2025, encompassing barangays, communities, and schools. Across the 22 barangays, the top three winners were chosen from the hinterland, midland, and highway categories for Utanan sa Tugkaran and Communal Garden, as well as for Gulayan sa Paaralan.

 

Winners Announced

Utanan sa Tugkaran

HINTERLAND:

1st – Barangay Guilang-Guilang

2nd – Barangay Mampayag

3rd – Barangay Dahilayan

 

MIDLAND:

1st – Barangay Lingion

2nd –  Barangay Sto. Niño

3rd – Barangay Mantibugao

 

Highway

1st – Barangay Damilag

2nd – Barangay Tankulan

3rd – Barangay Dicklum

 

Communal Garden

Hinterland

1st – Zone 3, Santiago Communal Garden

2nd – Zone 2, Mampayag Communal Garden

3rd – Zone 3, Guilang-Guilang Communal Garden

 

Midland

1st – Zone 11, Lingion Communal garden

2nd – Zone 3, Mantibugao Communal Garden

3rd – Zone 4, Sankanan Communal Garden

 

Highway

1st – Zone 7, PHC San Miguel Communal Garden

2nd – Zone 2, Lunocan Communal Garden

3rd – Zone 4, Dicklum Communal Garden

Gulayan sa Paaralan

Elementary Level

1st – San Miguel Elementary School

2nd – Lingion Elementary School

3rd – Camp 1 Elementary School

 

High School Level

1st – Awol Integrated School (Junior High School)

2nd – Manolo Fortich National High School

3rd – Ticala Junior High School

 

Champion Spotlight: San Miguel Elementary School

In a groundbreaking first-time win, San Miguel Elementary School Gulayan sa Paaralan Coordinator Josar Adrian A. Rosal highlighted the crops and resources that contributed to their success, including string beans, pechay, and kangkong. “Most successful gyud nako nga moment kay ang pagdaog sa San Miguel Elementary School. Financial resources, human resources, kini gyud ang makapadaog,” Rosal said.

The event was attended by Municipal Vice Mayor Reynaldo L. Bagayas Jr.; Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Committee Chair on Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Coun. Raquel A. Bacayag; SB Committee Chair on Farmers, Coun. Elzevir A. Dagunlay; along with personnel from the organizing office of the Municipal Agriculture Office, headed by Municipal Agriculturist Gemma G. Cania.

 

Desired impact for Utanan sa Tugkaran

Notably, the program persists in its fight against malnutrition by promoting home vegetable gardens, focusing on communities without existing gardening facilities but with the capacity to cultivate crops effectively. In the coming years, Manolo Fortich aims to eradicate hunger and poverty through accessible homegrown produce.

Written by Lance Tamayo