WHEREAS, two-thirds of the world is in recession, though the Philippines is not;

WHEREAS, it is not business as usual; government agencies must hit the round running;

WHEREAS, the government should take advantage of the window of opportunity, i.e., declining inflation and interest rates and good weather;

WHEREAS, the government has committed Three Hundred Billion Pesos (P300,000,000,000.00) to economic stimulus programs, including comprehensive livelihood and emergency employment program (CLEEP), that will save or create millions of new jobs.

WHEREAS, part of CLEEP consists of backyard food production programs like Gulayan ng Masa and the Integrated Services for Livelihood Advancement (ISLA) for subsistence fisherfolk.

NOW THEREFORE I, GLORIA M. ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by the power vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. The Gulayan ng Masa and ISLA shall be rolled out into a massive government food production program in the urban areas with the active participation of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the local governments and the Philippine Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

SECTION 2. The rollout shall consist of the setting up of urban vegetable gardens and backyard fisheries, including vacant lots and unused government land.

SECTION 3. All governors and mayors are enjoined to set aside funding for the purpose of the Gulayan ng Masa and ISLA in the urban areas. They are enjoined to designate project supervisors in their respective areas.

SECTION 4. There is hereby created a Steering Committee composed of the Secretary of Agriculture together with the Directors of the Bureaus of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Plant Industry, the Chairman of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, the Chairman of PAGCOR, the Chancellor of the University of the Philippines in Los Ba os (UP-Los Ba os), and other concerned groups with the approval of the President of the Philippines.

SECTION 5. UP-Los Ba os and other state universities and colleges shall lend their expertise in agriculture and aquaculture to the program.

SECTION 6. The DA shall set up provisions for water sources and mobilize breeder sanctuaries for the program.

SECTION 7. The activities of the program shall include:

• Developing various modules for urban gardening
• Producing and disseminating information materials
• Identifying beneficiaries, subject to the approval of the Office of the President for the program components funded by the national government
• Organizing seminars and site visits
• Distributing vegetable seedlings and tilapia/hito fingerlings
• Monitoring local government progress
• Holding a search for the Best Urban Garden/Fisheries

SECTION 8. The funds for the program shall come from the PAGCOR and the local governments, with the DA providing a one-is-to-one (1:1) counterpart.

SECTION 9. This Order shall take effect immediately.

Manila, 16 January 2009

(SGD.) GLORIA M. ARROYO
President of the Philippines

BY THE PRESIDENT:

(SGD.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary