Quezon City remains true to its commitment to provide green spaces in the city and amid the pandemic, it has boosted its efforts to further promote this under the city’s urban agriculture program entitled #GrowQC: Kasama ka sa Pag-unlad sa Pagkain, Kabuhayan, at Kalusugan. With the Quezon City Food Security Task Force, the #GrowQC Program goes beyond setting-up more urban farms, but hopes to achieve a food secure and self-reliant city through the development of better food systems, establishment of possible agricultural zones, and food zones, and achieve SDG#2: Zero Hunger.

The cultivation of urban gardens is not new to the city as it has been a program of Mayor Joy Belmonte since she was a vice-mayor. With food security as an important aspect of responding to the pandemic, it has grown to a bigger initiative by transforming more open and idle spaces to become community model urban farms and provide QCitizens a sustainable source of fresh and nutritious vegetables right from their backyards and comfort of their homes. Through the distribution of seed starter kits, setting up of vegetable nurseries, and even aquaculture units from partners such as the Department of Agriculture, the QC Food Security Task Force aims to bring
urban gardening to a whole new level.

By exploring new ways of improving our food systems such as community-based mobile feeding programs and creating a circular economy—from urban farm to table— our residents are able to become food-self-reliant and self-sufficient. The city continues to support its residents’ health and nutrition in the fight of COVID-19 at sinisugurado nito na lahat ay Kasama sa Pag-unlad.