CONTACT INFORMATION
Quezon City Food Security Task Force
- QCFSTF
- 11th Floor Main High Rise Building, Quezon City Hall, Elliptical Road, Brgy. Central, Quezon City
- 8988-4242 local 1207
- growqc@quezoncity.gov.ph
- Official Facebook Page of Food Security Task Force
Office Hours
Monday to Friday
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
ABOUT US
Description
QC FSTF focuses on making food available, accessible, safe, nutritious, and consistent. As part of the city’s economic recovery plan responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, QC FSTF aims to mitigate the impact of the disease through initiatives on food security and food self-sufficiency by enhancing further The Joy of Urban Farming (JOUF) in the City, improving of food systems or better Food Trade, and the establishment of agriculture zones and food zones. Quezon City’s food security program is more commonly known as “GrowQC Kasama ka sa Pag-Unlad sa Pagkain, Kabuhayan, at Kalusugan” or “GrowQC”.
Mission
To ensure availability, access, proper utilization, and stability of food.
To augment and complement livelihood and economic recovery of supply chains.
To promote the consumption of nutritious food and better mental health for Quezon City citizens.
To create inroads for Climate Change Adaptation/ New Normal practices for QC food production and processing.
Vision
A food-secure and food-resilient Quezon City.
Legal Basis
Service Pledge
We aim to achieve food security in the City as defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: “Food Security exists when all people at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.”
SERVICES
FACILITATION OF CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS RELATED TO URBAN AGRICULTURE, URBAN AQUACULTURE, AND FOOD SYSTEMS
The QC FSTF partners with various National Government Agencies and organizations to provide capacity-building programs related to urban agriculture, food security, and other topics related to food systems to increase the knowledge and skills of the city.
CERTIFICATION FOR THE AVAILMENT OF IDLE LAND TAX EXCEPTION (ILTE) IN REAL PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS
QCitizens may avail of an exception in paying their idle land tax in their annual real property tax (RPT) payments if they engage their said idle lands in urban agriculture and food security-related initiatives.
PROGRAMS
The QC FSTF is anchored in the City’s “GrowQC: Kasama ka sa Pag-unlad sa Pagkain, Kabuhayan, Kalusugan Food Security Program.”
The GrowQC 7-Point Action Plan concretizes programs divided into two main pillars. First, urban agriculture, which is the food and input production component; and second, food systems, which covers the environment and enables the effective trade and flow of food.
DEPARTMENT DIRECTORY
Hon. Josefina G. Belmonte
City Mayor
Task Force Chairperson
Mr. Emmanuel Hugh F. Velasco
Co-chairperson and Action Officer
8988 4242 local 1207
emmanuel.velasco@quezoncity.gov.ph
Divisions/ Sections
| DIVISION | OFFICER NAME | OFFICE ADDRESS | CONTACT INFORMATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Economic Investment Promotions Office | Mr. Pierangelo A. Dominguez | 11th Floor, High Rise Building, Quezon City Hall | 8988-4242 local 1505 perry.dominguez@quezoncity.gov.ph |
| Small Business and Cooperative Development Promotions Office | Ms. Mona Celine Marie V. Yap | 7th Floor Civic Center A, Quezon City Hall | 8988-4242 local 8734, 8731, 8736 mona.yap@quezoncity.gov.ph |
| Public Employment Service Office | Mr. Rogelio L. Reyes | 4th Floor Civic Center A, Quezon City Hall | 8988-4242 local 8435 rogelio.reyes@quezoncity.gov.ph |
| Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department | Ms. Andrea Valentine A. Villaroman | 6th Floor Civic Center D, Quezon City Hall | 8988-4242 local 8349, 8361 andrea.villaroman@quezoncity.gov.ph |
| City Health Department | Mr. Ramon K. Africa | 2nd Floor, Civic Center Building A, Quezon City Hall | 8988-4242 local 8006 occupational.bpld@quezoncity.gov.ph |
| City Veterinary Department | Ms. Liza H. Africa | 2nd Floor, Civic Center Building A, Quezon City Hall | 8988-4242 local 8284 records.bpld@quezoncity.gov.ph |
| Parks Development and Administration Department | Mr. Joey Dela Cruz | F. Salvador Street, Jordan Plains Subd., Brgy. Sta. Monica, Novaliches | 8419-1409 |
| City Planning and Development Office | Arch. Pedro P. Rodriguez, Jr. | 5th Floor Civic Center D, Quezon City Hall Complex | 8988-4242 local 1012, 1013 pprodriguez@quezoncity.gov.ph |
| Barangay and Community Relations Department | Mr. Ricardo B. Corpuz | 5th Floor Civic Center A, Quezon City Hall | 8988-4242 local 8520, 8527, 8526 ricky.corpuz@quezoncity.gov.ph |
| Market Development and Administration Department-Programs and Projects Officer | P/COL. Procopio G Lipana (Ret.) | 3th Floor Civic Center Bldg. A, Quezon City Hall, Diliman | 8988-4242 local 8357 procopio.lipana@quezoncity.gov.ph |
| Committee on Micro, Small, and Medium Business and Entrepreneurship of the City Council | Hon. Estrella A. Valmocina | 2nd Floor Legislative Building, Quezon City Hall | 8988-4242 local 8233, 8234 ecvqchall@gmail.com |
| Committee on Parks and Environment of the City Council | Hon. Dorothy A. Delarmente, M.D. | 2nd Floor Legislative Building, Quezon City Hall | 8988-4242 local 8215, 8216 coundelarmenteoffice@gmail.com |
SPOTLIGHT
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PARTNERSHIP
Our City Government has partnered with the Department of Agriculture, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), and the Bureau of Plant Industry to strengthen our urban agriculture program amid the enhanced community quarantine.
Grow kit bags are provided to our barangay captains. These contain seeds, garden soil, pots, seedlings, and other essential items that our QCitizens can use to start their own garden
Urban farming in Quezon City was initiated by Mayor Joy Belmonte back in 2010 as a means to achieve food sustainability.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE – BUREAU OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES PARTNERSHIP
The Quezon City Government and the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) distributed basic materials for the construction of aquaculture pens to 60 beneficiaries in Barangay Payatas. They are the residents whose livelihoods have been severely affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF).
Beneficiaries of the aquaculture support system were provided with a pump, 600 fingerlings of tilapia and catfish, a fabricated filtration system, and feeds sufficient for the growing period of the fish.
In addition, they were previously provided 50 e-trikes to be used in their livelihood. The City is also ready to support and provide an additional investment with the help of the QC Small Business Cooperatives Development and Promotions Office (SBCDPO).
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE – AGRIBUSINESS AND MARKETING SERVICES PARTNERSHIP
The Quezon City Food Security Task Force launched the Sunnyville Model Community Farm in Barangay Pasong Tamo and Barangay Tandang Sora for the Adopt-a-Community Program in collaboration with Concentrix Philippines.
Sunnyville Community Farm will help 40 farmer-partner beneficiaries and their families who are part of the Adopt-a-Community Program, 20 Homeless Federation, and farmers from the Food Share Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Kabisig ng Kalahi Program.
Concentrix Philippines beneficiaries were also provided with farming equipment and were able to build a greenhouse with the help of the Department of Agriculture.
The QC government started the GrowQC program to have enough food and use idle lands in the city to promote urban agriculture and help residents earn a living during the pandemic.
PLANTING FOR PRODUCTIVITY (P4P) PARTNERSHIP
The P4P Program is being piloted in Barangay Bagong Silangan where the city has an active urban agriculture landscape. The program has two phases: Agri-Kaya, which makes agriculture doable through household food production, and; Agri-Kita, which enhances knowledge and skills on agri-preneurship and financial literacy to gain or increase income.
AYALA FOUNDATION, INC. PARTNERSHIP
In 2022, the Quezon City Government through the QC Food Security Task Force represented by Mayor Joy Belmonte inked a partnership with Ayala Foundation, Inc., BASE Bahay Foundation, and Vincentian Foundation for the Planting for Productivity (P4P) Program which aims to build a more food-secure future for households and communities through urban farming.
FEEDING PROGRAM
As part of its efforts to reach more of its citizens, the City launched it’s Grow QC Mobile Kitchen visiting various communities in the city.
Last May 2021, the Quezon City government distributed nutritious meals to 1,600 residents in Barangay Bagong Silangan, specifically at the Yakap Day Care Centers in Rolling Hills, Asprer, Area 1, Area 5, Philside, Bakas, Covenant, and barangay hall. Meals served include ginisang mongo, kalabasa, dilis and spinach.
The Grow QC Mobile Kitchen Feeding Program is a project of the QC Food Security Task Force that aims to provide adequate nutrition to QCitizens in need.
Under the #GrowQC program, also aims to further promote urban agriculture, create more jobs, and give QC residents access to eco-friendly and alternative, and innovative forms of urban farming.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
“GrowQC Kasama ka sa Pag-unlad sa Pagkain, Kabuhayan, at Kalusugan and Food Security Program” is hailed as one of the Top 10 Galing Pook Awardees in 2021!
As part of the City Mayor’s presentation, she cites that “The solutions are not new. However, implementation strategies allowed the city to make more land productive and connected people, processes, and programs, to show that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
This is a testament to the local government’s efforts to make the city self-sufficient and sustainable through the improvement of food systems.
- 2021 Galing Pook Awards
Quezon City wins big at the first Healthy Pilipinas Healthy Communities Awards of the Department of Health.
Quezon City is among the local government units recognized for promoting health and wellness while responding to COVID-19.
The winning programs include:
1) GrowQC: Kasama ka sa Pag-unlad sa Pagkain, Kabuhayan, at Kalusugan and Food Security and Healthy Food Public Procurement Program under Priority Area 1: Nutrition and Physical Activity.
2) Camp Coordination and Camp Management Program of QCDRRMO under Priority Area 2: Environmental Health.
- Your Mental Health Matters: The Quezon City Community-Based Mental Health Program of the City Health Department under Priority Area 5: Mental Health.
- 2022 DOH Healthy Pilipinas, Healthy Communities Award
Downloadable Forms
For those interested in contacting and/ or being part of the activities of the QC Food Security Task Force under the GrowQC Program, kindly send a letter of intent addressed to the City Mayor. A sample form may be downloaded below:
Resources
CITIZEN CHARTER 2023
CITIZEN CHARTER 2022
SP-2972, S-2020: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 11, ARTICLE VI OF ORDINANCE NO. SP-91, S-93, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOW AS THE “QUEZON CITY REVENUE CODE OF 1993, PROMOTING URBAN AGRICULTURE BY GRANTING ADDITIONAL EXCEPTION FROM IDLE LAND TAX”
