Bacolod City, Philippines – February 26, 2024 – La Consolacion College Bacolod and the Negros Economic Development Foundation Inc. (NEDF) have joined forces to establish a Culinary Garden at the school’s Amistad Campus.
The partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement signed by Sr. Joan Brigida Corazon S. Infante, OSA, President of LCCB, and Wilhelmina Gonzalez, President of NEDF. Witnessing the signing were Ramon Ponce de Leon, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NEDF, and Baniline Jone Abantao-Portal, Dean of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (SHTM) at LCCB.
The project aims to provide a multifaceted learning experience for SHTM students, allowing them to gain hands-on experience in identifying herbs and vegetables, apply their knowledge in culinary classes, and foster environmental stewardship.
NEDF will contribute by providing technical assistance, initial seedlings, hand tools, and a monitoring team for the initial two years of the project. Additionally, they will collaborate with SHTM students and teachers in designing a Culinary Garden Development Plan and offer research opportunities for students by connecting them with NEDF beneficiaries.
LCCB, through SHTM, will assign a dedicated Focal Person and manpower for the garden’s maintenance and future expansion. They will also provide materials for additional infrastructure, establish a sustainable management plan, and offer resource speakers to share their expertise with NEDF beneficiaries on menu planning, culinary techniques, and food preservation.
This collaboration is expected to benefit not only LCCB students but also the wider community by promoting food security, agricultural knowledge, and sustainable practices.