Smart greenhouse for fruits, crops to rise at former Baguio trash dump

BAGUIO CITY (January 12, 2025)— The Baguio City government is dreaming for a smart greenhouse for fruit crops and a hydroponic greenhouse at the former garbage dump, transformed into now Irisan eco-park, this year.

Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong said this pioneering project aims to expand the city’s agricultural production through efficient technologies like soilless and vertical farming and use of renewable energy and labor-efficient methods.

City Veterinarian Dr. Silardo Bested and Supervising Agriculturist Marcelina Tabelin of the City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO) which is spearheading the projects said the smart greenhouse for fruit crops like strawberry, tomato, bell pepper and cucumber is a joint project of the city government and the Dept. of Science and Technology (DOST). The city will construct the structure with a budget of P3 million while the DOST will take charge of the automation component amounting to P1 million.

The facility will come with complete drip irrigation system accessories, dosing pumps, solar power system as alternative energy source, and complete growing paraphernalia. Once completed, it will be managed by the CVAO. Technical plans and designs for the project are being finalized preparatory to bidding procedures.

Aside from the smart greenhouse, two more hydroponic greenhouse production facilities – one big and one small -- will be built at the Irisan eco-park also to be managed by the CVAO. The big hydrophonic greenhouse costing P1.4 million is now undergoing bidding while the smaller is being built already. Both are intended for the production of leafy vegetable crops like lettuce, pechay, mustard and the like.

Five other hydroponic greenhouse production facilities are also being built. These will be turned over to the barangays for management, added the city government. The recipient barangays are Imelda Marcos, Kabayanihan, Outlook Drive and Bayan Park. One facility that will be constructed at the Smoke-Free Park at City Hall will also be managed by the CVAO.

A hydroponic community garden serving as a model at present is being managed by the South Central Aurora Hill barangay. The structure was funded by the barangay based on the plans and designs of the CVAO. CVAO also provided the first cycle production inputs as well as the hydroponic farming training for the barangay officials and constituents.*