LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—Thirty teaching and non-teaching personnel under the Department of Education in Laguna (DepEd Laguna) completed the "In-Country Training on Urban Farming for Sustainable Cultivation to Support Biodiversity Conservation, Education, and Food Security in the Philippines" held on 29-30 October 2025 at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).
The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of educators to implement practical and ecologically sound urban farming systems that not only provide food but also contribute to environmental education and biodiversity goals.
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"This training is designed to empower educators, the frontliners in shaping mindsets, with updated tools and knowledge to implement ecologically sound urban farming systems that serve as living laboratories for sustainability," Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, SEARCA Center Director, said in her opening remarks.
Dr. Jose Camacho Jr., UPLB Chancellor, who also welcomed the participants, said the participation of the DepEd personnel to this training "reflects a shared commitment to making our schools greener, our communities healthier, and our learners more empowered."
This was affirmed by Dr. Elis Rosdiawati, Deputy Director for Administration of the SEAMEO Regional Center for Tropical Biology (BIOTROP), who said, "As educators, your role is very transformative. The skills you gain here, we hope, will not only support food security but also help students see agriculture and biodiversity as part of their daily lives."
SEARCA and Indonesia-based BIOTROP are two of the 26 specialist institutions of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO).
Mr. John Arnold Siena, Deputy Director for Programme and Development of the SEAMEO Secretariat (SEAMES), said, "the dedication of SEAMEO BIOTROP, SEAMEO SEARCA, and UPLB in organizing this event reflects the critical role that SEAMEO plays in promoting regional sustainability through strategic collaboration."
Mr. Jaypee Lopo, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, representing Dr. Editha Atendido, Schools Division Superintendent of DepEd Laguna, emphasized that "we aim to replicate and duplicate all these efforts so that this local action could lead to a global solution as well. We will make sure that everything learned from this training will be put into practice and shared with the rest of our schools here in DepEd Laguna."
The training consisted of two modules: hydroponics cultivation and urban agroforestry systems. Day 1 focused on hydroponics. Dr. Doni Yusri of BIOTROP introduced the concept of urban agriculture while Dr. Eureka Teresa Ocampo of UPLB discussed the benefits of hydroponics for biodiversity conservation. Ms. Dewi Suryani Oktavia of BIOTROP facilitated a hands-on activity on project planning and action plan development.
Participants visited UPLB's smart greenhouses in the afternoon, which showcased advanced technology like automated irrigation and data-driven crop monitoring for research and production. The greenhouses are managed by the Institute of Crop Science under the UPLB College of Agriculture and Food Science.
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Day 2 covered agroforestry. Forester Cary Maynard Olivar led the participants through forest therapy at the UPLB Makiling Botanic Gardens. They also visited the Learning Laboratory for Agroforestry, an 8.1-hectare farm showcasing different agroforestry-related production and protection technologies. The farm is maintained by the Institute of Agroforestry under the UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources. Dr. Lorena Sabino and her team discussed integrating trees and crops for sustainable urban spaces, and planning and implementing small-scale edible landscapes.
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As an output, the participants developed and presented their respective action plans for school-based urban farming. The 30 participants were representatives from 10 public primary and secondary schools, and DepEd Laguna division committee members.
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The training was co-organized and co-implemented by BIOTROP, SEARCA, and UPLB.