The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) pilot hydroponics program in Naic, Cavite, successfully helps about 4,000 students by supporting school feeding, teaching modern farming, and funding operations through crop sales. This initiative demonstrates how modern farming technology can address food security while providing educational benefits to young learners.
From School Feeding to Food Security and Livelihood
What started as a school feeding program in Naic, Cavite, has grown into a sustainable food security and livelihood project. Students learned to cultivate lettuce, tomatoes, and other vegetables using modern hydroponic technology, while proceeds from the harvest helped finance the continued operation of the facilities . Under the PRA Hydroponics Program, 2,000 hydroponic systems will be distributed across Cavite, with 200 units allocated to each municipality.
The program is particularly beneficial for fishing communities, where many families are vulnerable to typhoons, poor catch, and lean seasons . Unlike conventional farming, hydroponics allows beneficiaries to grow vegetables throughout the year and adjust their crops based on market demand . The facilities will also be placed in high schools to teach students environmental awareness, teamwork, modern farming, and entrepreneurship.
Nationwide Expansion: 700 Facilities by October 2026
The PRA will establish 700 hydroponics facilities in schools and coastal communities nationwide by October 2026 to strengthen food security and provide alternative livelihoods to fishing families . Each facility costs about PHP300,000 and will be financed through the PRA's Social and Environmental Fund, sourced from companies undertaking reclamation projects . The expanded facilities will use applications to monitor plant growth and the condition of the hydroponics systems .
PRA Chairperson Alexander Lopez emphasized that the program forms part of the agency's efforts to use reclamation-generated funds for poverty reduction and sustainable development. "We would like to be known as poverty reduction advocates," he said . The PRA expects to expand the hydroponics program further next year after evaluating the implementation of the 700 new facilities.
