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Misamis Oriental trains residents in backyard farming

November 13, 2025 2 min read

UMA sa Balay 1. Misamis Oriental Provincial Agriculture Office (PAGRO) consultant Perfecto Rom Jr. demonstrates container gardening, vertical planting, composting, and integrated pest management to participants of the “Uma sa Balay” (Home Farm) backyard farming training in Barangay Molocboloc, Alubijid, on Oct. 29, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Misamis Oriental Provincial Information Office)

TheMonitorMindanaotoday.com | Misamis Oriental trains residents in backyard farming

By: Shaun Alejandrae Y. Uy

ALUBIJID, Misamis Oriental — The Provincial Agriculture Office (PAGRO) has brought its “Uma sa Balay” (Home Farm) program to Barangay Molocboloc, Alubijid, training 35 residents in backyard farming.

PAGRO Consultant Perfecto Rom Jr. led the first module on October 29,, introducing participants to container gardening, vertical planting, composting, and integrated pest management.

Barangay Molocboloc Health Worker Dolores Magdugo said the program helped the community learn how to make and apply organic fertilizers.

“Sa among natun-an karon, usa gyud to nga nakahagit sa amo pagtulon-an kay about anang gardening ug pag-apply sa abono. Pwede ra diay nga di na ta magpalit og abono gikan sa mga tindahan. Pwede ra gyud diay nga diha ra nato makuha sa atong tugkaran,” Magdugo said.

UMA sa Balay 2. Barangay Health Worker Dolores Magdugo explains how the “Uma sa Balay” program taught residents to make organic fertilizers and practice sustainable gardening using household waste during the backyard farming training in Barangay Molocboloc, Alubijid, on Oct. 29, 2025. She thanked Misamis Oriental Governor Juliette Uy for sending agricultural trainers, saying the visit encouraged residents to adopt new farming skills. (Photo courtesy of Misamis Oriental Provincial Information Office)

(In what we learned today, one of the most challenging but valuable lessons was about gardening and applying fertilizer. We realized that we don’t actually need to buy fertilizer from stores. We can make and get it right from our own backyards.)

Magdugo said the training showed that even waste can be turned into useful materials, and that following the module’s practices could lead to lasting results in backyard gardens.

She added that the “Uma sa Balay” program offers residents practical skills that contribute to household food security.

Participants thanked Misamis Oriental Governor Juliette Uy for providing opportunities to learn farming techniques. Magdugo said the training encouraged residents to pursue new skills and called for more livelihood and educational programs to address child malnutrition.

According to the PAGRO, follow-up sessions will be held to track the trainees’ progress. The project is part of the provincial government’s continuing drive to strengthen agricultural practices at the community level. (SAYU/PIA-10/Misamis Oriental)

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