As ornamental horticulture thrives across the Philippines and urban agriculture continues to turn idle spaces into sources of food and greenery, the country's agriculture community came together for the second edition of Pagsibol: Philippine Horticulture and Urban Agriculture Summit, held at the Manila Prince Hotel Grand Ballroom from September 30 to October 2, 2025.
This year's Pagsibol, which fittingly means "to sprout" or "to grow," centered on the theme of sustainability, innovation, and resilience. At the opening ceremony, Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Director Gerald Glenn F. Panganiban welcomed participants with a strong message of collaboration.
"This year's Pagsibol emphasizes our commitment to accelerating the growth of the horticulture and urban agriculture sectors while promoting greater inclusion of women and youth…We also support persons with disabilities, people deprived of liberty, and other marginalized groups in our country. These sectors are essential pillars of food security, climate resilience, and inclusive national development," Panganiban said.
Behind the success of the event was the joint effort of key bureaus and programs of the Department of Agriculture—including the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), and the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP)—in partnership with private collaborators such as Manila Bulletin and Bukid Amara.
Read more at Manila Bulletin
