Flourishing of Mount Olive school’s vegetable garden
By Niña Jonalyn Gambe-Diamante
BUYUAN CITY (PIA) — Nestled in the heart of Bayugan City, the Mount Olive Elementary School has long been a beacon of innovation and community-driven education. But among its many achievements, one initiative stands out for its impact on both health and learning: the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP).
Established in school year 2012–2013 under the leadership of then-school head Fidel L., Mount Olive Elementary School’s vegetable garden began as a humble response to the Department of Education (DepEd) Memorandum No. 293, series of 2007, which called on schools nationwide to promote food security and nutrition through sustainable gardening.
Over a decade later, the school’s GPP has blossomed into a model of excellence, earning accolades including the ‘Most Sustained Gulayan sa Paaralan’ award from the Caraga Regional Nutrition Council (RNC), chaired by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Caraga.
What sets Mount Olive ES apart is not just the lush rows of vegetables that line its campus, but the purpose behind every seed sown. The garden directly supplies the school’s School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP), ensuring that students receive fresh, nutritious meals grown from their own soil. This sustainable loop has not only improved student health but also deepened their understanding of agriculture, responsibility, and community.
“Our school began this journey [GPP] to promote food security, better nutrition, and support for our School-Based Feeding Program,” said Jeffrey H. Gulay, current school head of Mount Olive ES. “Behind this success are the hands and hearts of many, such as the DepEd personnel, the local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs), parents, learners, and other community volunteers. They continue to work together to promote a healthier and greener future,” he added.
Indeed, the GPP has become more than a school project—it’s a community movement. Parents, barangay officials, and volunteers have rallied behind the program, recognizing its role in shaping not just healthier children, but more engaged citizens.
“As parents, we are very grateful to the GPP. Through this, our children are able to learn how to plant, harvest, and eat vegetables. They have also grown to be stronger and more active, and even more eager to go to school,” shared Charlito T. Landero, School Parent-Teacher Association (SPTA) president.
“We are one with the entire community in expressing our gratitude to the administrators of the GPP of Mount Olive ES, since we have witnessed firsthand how it has greatly contributed to the betterment of our children’s health, which is why we give our full support to this program,” declared Romel Montecalvo, Sangguniang Barangay member in Bayugan City.
Looking ahead, the school’s GPP administrators envision a future enriched by innovation and sustainability. Among its upcoming initiatives are hydroponic vegetable production, integrated poultry and livestock projects, and the development of the Mount Olive ES Eco-Learning and Recreational Park—an immersive space designed to promote environmental education and community wellness.
From its roots in policy to its fruits in the classroom, Mount Olive Elementary School’s GPP is a living testament to what can be achieved when education, nutrition, and community come together. As the school continues to cultivate both crops and character, it reminds us all that the seeds of change often begin in the garden. (NJGD/PIA Caraga with a report from Mount Olive ES)