Part of the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) head office at Ortigas Center in Mandaluyong City will now be used as an urban farm, for employees to grow produce of their liking.

SMC said on Monday, March 1, that employees and support staff will be given a plot of land in the conglomerate’s Malasakit Garden. Whatever produce they manage to grow is already theirs, to either take home or sell at a market stall to be set up within the office complex.

SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said they partnered with non-profit SEED Philippines to teach the employees how to succeed at urban farming.

“Realizing the importance of food security, many are also exploring growing their own food. That is why we thought of this simple project to help our maintenance workers, as well as our own employees,” said Ang.

Ang hopes that SMC will inspire other businesses to “transform their spaces into functioning ecological spaces and help agriculture flourish.”

In February, the House of Representatives passed House Bill No. 8385, which aims to promote urban agriculture to address food security. The bill is currently pending at the Senate.

“We are excited to see how our participants will make this project their own. They will have freedom to decide what they want to plant, and how they will make the garden thrive. Our role ultimately is to provide them support so they can make the most of the lot,” Ang said. – Rappler.com